Tri-Circle Padlocks

by **Billy-Whizz** » 29 Jul 2004 5:16

Hi there,

Bit of a newbie at all this lock-picking lark but am profficiant with the wafer locks and small padlocks...However, I have just bought 2 larger Tri-Circle Padlocks and am having extremely hard times trying to open them...One is a 6 pin tumber (Or so it appears anyway) and the other is a 'Normal' 5 pin. I was wondering if anyone knows if these types of locks would have 'Mushroom/Spool' pin and are therefore harder to open? Or do I just need to practice harder?!

Thanks!

by **Eagerpicker** » 29 Jul 2004 5:45

Billy-Whizz, I have a Tri-Circle 6-pin tumbler (if you bought it, wasn't there a key with it? otherwise you can take a feeler pick and count the key pins). It is my main frustration at present. A friend gave it to me about a year ago and I wasn't able to open it then for a few weeks. Then I decided to rake the lock a couple of times quite fiercely, making the pins jolt up, then pin by pin pick the remaining tumblers. And tadaah, it worked like a charm. I used a SouthOrd regular half diamond and a strong, heavy tension wrench from the Brockhage Navigator set. Once I had figured it out, I was able to open it time and time again in a matter of minutes.

Then I left it alone for awhile and picked it up a week ago. Now I find I am again unable to open it, even though I remember how I used to do it. It feels as if I have forgotten how to pick -- other locks suddenly present the same problem. Maybe I need to go on holiday...

Anyway, if you feel comfortable taking my advice after this, go with raking the lock forcefully and rapidly six, seven times, then pick the rest.

Good luck!

by **pinky** » 29 Jul 2004 5:46

tri circle are easily beaten by bypassing with 2 padlock shims, 1 on each shackle.

by **Billy-Whizz** » 29 Jul 2004 5:59

Thanks guys, that's really helpfull...what a wicked site, soooo much info!

Just one more tho...where do i get the shims from, I'm sure I could probably make them tho?!

Thanks again!

by **pinky** » 29 Jul 2004 6:04

all locksmith wholesalers who stock souber and hpc tools and petersons.

by **Eagerpicker** » 29 Jul 2004 6:09

But where's the fun in shimming? The trick, the art, some claim, lies in being able to pick the lock.

by **pinky** » 29 Jul 2004 6:15

depends whether you are picking for fun or whether you are working commercially, or working like i do to gain entry quickly under a court warrant.

easily picked too with a full rake or wave pick and light tension, picked also with a hook pick in under 2 minutes on the whole for fun, but when in a hurry on a warrant 5 seconds with shims.

by **pinky** » 29 Jul 2004 6:24

some may say that the art is in picking, and when sat at home on a bench i have this luxury, and pick simple locks like tri circle in under 2 minutes by raking or individual pin picking.

though on a warrant picking is not practical especialy if the premises is hostile, the art is getting in quickly with no damage and without alerting the occupant, ie in seconds, no time for the luxury of playing.

so i have to disagree , the art is not always in the picking of the lock.

by **mbell** » 29 Jul 2004 6:59

I'd tend to agree with pinky - Commercially, I'd use whichever method that was successful non-destructively.

Some of these extremely cheap and nasty tri-circle padlocks have five spool type pins of a kind of deformed shape. They're usually quite easy to pick though.

by **Eagerpicker** » 29 Jul 2004 12:22

Well of course you're right.

It was my mistake to assume Billy-whizz wanted help picking the Tri-Circle lock not shimming etc. It goes without saying that when time is an issue, there are better ways to open a lock/gain access.

by **pinky** » 29 Jul 2004 16:19

not having a pop mate, i actualy agree with you that the skill is in picking/impressioning any lock, one must develop these skills, but must at times use alternative means.

i would ask you to forgive me sometimes if i sound cocky, i dont mean this, im on a number of locksmith forums with trading locksmiths, i forget sometimes that many on this forum are in it for the challenge and sport.

you are right the skill is important, and i appologise if my post suggests otherwise.

by **Darek84CJ** » 30 Jul 2004 15:12

I have a Tri-Circle 6 pin padlock, and I find it rediciously easier to open. A few stokes from the rack and mine just pops right open. However, all the pins on mine are about the same height, which makes it ten times easier.

by **Buggs41** » 30 Jul 2004 16:03

Quick question on shimming a padlock. I have some shims in inventory, yet have not figured out how to use them, without destroying them at the same time. Are they supposed to be disposable? ( as in my case. )

by **hzatorsk** » 30 Jul 2004 20:41

Quick answer on shims... Yes! You may get a few uses from each... but in the end, they are disposable.

by **Buggs41** » 30 Jul 2004 23:17

Thanks Hzatorsk.

I will make sure I have plenty more on hand.

Tri-Circle Padlocks

Tri-Circle Padlocks

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