IBM ThinkPad Dock Lock

[missingdividends]

Hi all,

I have an old IBM ThinkPad Dock that's currently locked and thought it'd be fun to pick (photo: http://imgur.com/a/1u8YG). The size of the lock is posing some challenges; I've been trying to use a SouthOrd small half diamond pick and a twist-flex torsion wrench, but it's a really tight fit. I think I was able to position four pins, but it seems like there's either a fifth pin back too far to reach or a security pin in there somewhere. Unfortunately, I don't have a key to reference, so I was hoping someone here might be able to point me in the right direction.

Is there a different pick or torsion wrench I should be using for a lock this small? Is there a way (short of disassembly) to figure out if there's a pin farther back than I can reach? Any one know what security features I should expect with a lock like this?

Thanks in advance!

[Squelchtone]

That is a wafer lock, there are no security pins or pins, just wafer tumblers. It looks like either a double sided wafer, or a reversible key wafer where only one side of the key does anything to unlock the cylinder.

Because high school and college campuses may still use these to lock up equipment, I think we should skip on how to pick them, we don't need to be posting here where someone up to no good may find our posts and use them to steal laptops, but I will show you some photos that may help you pick the lock.

This is what a very simple key looks like, with just some shallow cuts:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/160956246918

This is what a complicated key looks like, with more deep and shallow cuts:



In general, to pick a wafer lock, you typically need a tension wrench and either a half diamond, or a snowman/double-ball pick.

Light tension, insert pick all the way, keep light tension and pull pick out of lock quickly.

I think that's all we should say about actual methods.

Hope this helps, and I hope you are with me on the reasons why not to give out very specific instructions to locks that hold down expensive equipment.

Thanks,
Squelchtone

[missingdividends]

That is a wafer lock, there are no security pins or pins, just wafer tumblers. It looks like either a double sided wafer, or a reversible key wafer where only one side of the key does anything to unlock the cylinder.

D'oh. I hadn't even considered that this might be a wafer lock. Now that you point it out, I realize this should have been completely obvious from appearance alone. I suppose I could try to blame it on the poor lighting, but I think the issue here was simply inexperience.

Because high school and college campuses may still use these to lock up equipment, I think we should skip on how to pick them, we don't need to be posting here where someone up to no good may find our posts and use them to steal laptops, but I will show you some photos that may help you pick the lock.

What you described was more than sufficient. Honestly, I feel pretty silly now.

Hope this helps, and I hope you are with me on the reasons why not to give out very specific instructions to locks that hold down expensive equipment.

I completely understand the need to avoid discussion of the specifics here. Thanks for the help!