I don't do this often, but...

[rayman452]

I did it. I finally did something that really impressed my dad. While talking to Oranger on MSN, I took my dads "Club" (the car one), and sat down to fiddle with it. Playing with the plug with the back of my half diamond pick, the plug seemed broken. The arm slided in and out easily. My dad then tells me its unlocked, so I proceed to pick it locked. This lock, the ever secure one it seems to be advertised, has a pretty restricting keyway, weird ward placement, and pins on both sides. I manage to pick it locked by picking one side of the pins, inserting my other tension wrench, and taking the other one out, so I can pick the other side. It goes, and I feel this rush of satisfaction as I lock it shut. Now comes the hard part, unlocking it. I do the same as unlocking, but mess up a few times, not having enough tension when I switch wrenchs to the other sides. It finally goes, and I'm sitting there with the club unlocked again. Feel pretty great actually, I wanted a challange, and thought this could give it to me. Sadley, this was almost as easy as picking my bike lock. The lock, double sided granted, has three waffer pins on both sides, making it a joke almost. The only thing that makes it hard is its keyway, and weird wards. What lock is next guys?

[Chucklz]

I recommend a GOOD master lock (Ie somethign in the Pro Series) or a COMMERCIAL grade Schlage. When you begin to play with these, you almost feel ashamed for ever buying from their inexpensive lines.

[Elijah]

I have a highly respectable Master Lock. It says "532" on the bottom, it's heavy chrome with an extremely tight body, has a very tight keyway, and 5 sticky little pins. They sell it as "contractors grade," and it was the only Master Lock that has given me a hard time. I picked it for ages without opening it. I also recommend the Brinks Shrouded padlock. I think that one has 6 pins and is unshimmable. It's pretty good stuff though - almost on terms with the Abus Discus. Good luck, and congratulations on your first club!

-Elijah

[digital_blue]

I had an entirely different experience with the Master 532. It was early on in my learning and I picked it up expecting to have a challenge ahead of me. I was disappointed that it took me longer to get the thing out of the package than to get it open. It is a fairly small keyway. I used a small SouthOrd hook. Seems to have one spool pin in it, but mine opened pretty quickly. In fact, one night I was teaching a friend to pick and I gave him a small hook I'd made, and a tension wrench and set him to work on that lock. He had it open in under 10 minutes and it was the first lock he'd ever picked. (Don't ask my why I gave the poor guy a lock with a spool pin for his first lock. I'm a cruel hearltess jerk).

Mind you, this only proves the point that even two "identical" locks can be vastly different in their pick resistance.

db