What Medeco to start with?

[Snakedoc]

I think it's time I try my luck with a Medeco. From my understanding all new mortise cylinder models come with top screws so the pins can be removed easily. I intend to remove all the pins and start from one and build from there. What model Medeco do you guys recommend for this?

[Squelchtone]

I think it's time I try my luck with a Medeco. From my understanding all new mortise cylinder models come with top screws so the pins can be removed easily. I intend to remove all the pins and start from one and build from there. What model Medeco do you guys recommend for this?

Can you easily pick a 5 or 6 pin Schlage, Arrow, Sargent, 7 pin BEST, American Lock and locks of similar quality to those I listed? If so, then you might be ready to try out a Medeco. A used mortise cylinder on ebay is going to be your best bet, either Original or a Biaxial, dont get an M3 for now. Try to get one with a key so you can turn the key and feel what a Medeco feels like when the sidebar clicks in and out.

pretty much best price I could find for one https://securitysnobs.com/Medeco-Biaxia ... -Used.html

ebay has one for $25 with key right now, www.ebay.com/itm/121511804698

or you can post a Wanted ad in the Buy Sell Trade area and see what members can sell you.

[Snakedoc]

Thank you Sir for the links. To answer your question.....Yes, I have experience with everything you have mentioned above except Sargent. I have yet to SPP a best but I have had great luck with raking them. Please do not misunderstand my interest in Medeco to be a declaration of mastery in lock picking. I just finished picking a few American and Abus padlocks and was looking for a new project.

[Squelchtone]

You're gonna enjoy it then, I wasn't sure how long you've been picking before finding the forum.

You never forget your first Medeco.

[billdeserthills]

I think it's time I try my luck with a Medeco. From my understanding all new mortise cylinder models come with top screws so the pins can be removed easily. I intend to remove all the pins and start from one and build from there. What model Medeco do you guys recommend for this?

The commercial keyway is about the largest I can think of medeco making but if you wish to pick the biaxial medeco you'll need a dif lock

[Snakedoc]

I think it's time I try my luck with a Medeco. From my understanding all new mortise cylinder models come with top screws so the pins can be removed easily. I intend to remove all the pins and start from one and build from there. What model Medeco do you guys recommend for this?

The commercial keyway is about the largest I can think of medeco making but if you wish to pick the biaxial medeco you'll need a dif lock

Roger that. Thank you.

[nite0wl]

Ebay often has listing for old Medeco payphone locks at decent prices. These are essentially the same as the more common mortice cylinders (still BiAxial, not classic) but with only four pin stacks. Every example I have seen had the set-screw caps on the bible which allowed easy repairs when something went wrong. These are the only Medecos I have ever had any luck with.
Beware of any that are listed as "NOS" or "new old-stock", when they came from the factory AT&T had them mounted inside a larger hardened brass or steel case to armor them against people trying to break into the phones. This is fine as long as you don't need to service the lock, otherwise you are looking at some broken tools getting it open (as we learned at HOPE X).

[Snakedoc]

Ebay often has listing for old Medeco payphone locks at decent prices. These are essentially the same as the more common mortice cylinders (still BiAxial, not classic) but with only four pin stacks. Every example I have seen had the set-screw caps on the bible which allowed easy repairs when something went wrong. These are the only Medecos I have ever had any luck with.
Beware of any that are listed as "NOS" or "new old-stock", when they came from the factory AT&T had them mounted inside a larger hardened brass or steel case to armor them against people trying to break into the phones. This is fine as long as you don't need to service the lock, otherwise you are looking at some broken tools getting it open (as we learned at HOPE X).

I was just about to get one of those payphone locks. Thanks for the heads up on the NOS.

[ggpaintballer]

I've picked one of those payphone locks while it was in the phone. Challenging little lock. There are pics of it in the advanced section.

[Snakedoc]

I've picked one of those payphone locks while it was in the phone. Challenging little lock. There are pics of it in the advanced section.

I'm waiting to get access to the advanced section, tend to read more than I post. I should have my Medeco by Friday and intent to keep you guys updated on my progress.

[nite0wl]

I've picked one of those payphone locks while it was in the phone. Challenging little lock. There are pics of it in the advanced section.

I referenced Hope X specifically because [redacted] brought three complete fortress phones (of the GTE style) into the lockpick village as a challenge while I was there. The prize was the winner successful picker could keep the lock and any money still in the phone. many experienced pickers broke tools that night. I understand that [redacted] subsequently broke many drill bits removing the locks that were not picked.

If you are really interested in getting to grips with Medeco locks using the Medeco Axial-rotation system (Original and BiAxial, and even possibly Duracam and M3 for a very clever person) I would suggest looking up Jon King (and the Medecoder) and the book 'Open in Thirty Seconds' by Marc Tobias and Toby Bluzmanis. Their respective web presences, books, etc may provide some helpful ideas and information on other information specific to those locks and I still get a thrill from watching their presentations at HOPE. There are also some potentially useful threads in the public areas of this forum that came up with a quick Google search using some of the names I just mentioned.

[Snakedoc]

I am familiar with open in thirty seconds. To be honest I thought the presentation was missing a lot of info (intentionally perhaps). I think the best way to move forward from where I am right now is to hold the lock in my hand and start feeling for the pins as I have never tried a medeco before. I'm sure that hundreds of questions would pop up as soon as I get to play with it for a while. Please continue posting tips if you got em, I'm sure more people would find it useful.

[ggpaintballer]

What really helped me understand what was going on was taking one all the way apart and putting it back together. For mind mind I it was helpful to see the sidebar before I tried to visualize it while picking. I'm not sure the sidebars on those little payphones are removable.

[nite0wl]

What really helped me understand what was going on was taking one all the way apart and putting it back together. For mind mind I it was helpful to see the sidebar before I tried to visualize it while picking. I'm not sure the sidebars on those little payphones are removable.

The payphone Biaxials in my collection can be taken down exactly as a full sized mortice cylinder, with some minor differences where the actuator/tailpiece is concerned. I just disassembled one that was misbehaving to confirm this and the whole thing goes to pieces just as its full size cousins do.

[Snakedoc]

Have any of you guys try the paper clip sidebar bypass on the Medeco m3 cylinders? I bought a biaxial so I doubt it would work but I intend to try the credit card technique since I'll have a working key with it.