Training padlock with cutaway

[Black85vette]

My son and grandson indicated they would like to learn about lock picking so that made a good excuse to get in the shop and make a padlock to demonstrate how it works and enable a complete disassembly / reassembly. I used a Wilson Bohannan that I had on hand because it was not working properly anyway. It would unlock by just inserting any pick in the keyway. No skill needed! I milled off the end with the pins until the plugs were mostly gone and then picked out the rest. I made a new pin with a top on it to replace the retainer pin that secures the plug in place. Then I made a new cover to hold the springs down and keep the retainer pin in place. With one screw to remove the cover is removed, the springs and pins dumped out, the retainer removed. The plug can then be slid out and the latch / spring will drop out the side hole. In the side of the body is a port to view the pins, shear line and plug rotating. I only installed 3 pins that are very close to the same height and pretty easy to pick. I am happy with the results even though it was pretty much winging it without a master plan. In hind sight I would have removed the springs and pins prior to milling out the view port. Maybe next time.

[GWiens2001]

Very creative! Never thought of making a practice lock in that manner.

Perhaps in a future iteration, you could drill another hole on the milled edge that you use for dumping the pins, put in a spring and the ring retainer pin from a Schlage, and a tiny hole on the matching location on the rotating cover. That way you can use a needle or bit of music wire as a tool to free the rotating cover, making it even easier to change out the pins.

Gordon

[jeffmoss26]

ooooh my favorite lock!