American Padlocks

[Andyv]

I've picked several locks - Master Padlocks, Deadbolts, Kwik, Schlage, etc. I cannot pick any American Padlocks. Even the cheaper ones ($10)
I've tried all types of tension, even an electric pick. They just won't open for me. Can anyone help?

[SFGOON]

Move on, seriously - they're hard as all get out. That is the reason the US Army uses them almost exlcusively.

[quickpicks]

spools, serrated pins. sometimes the wards in the keyways of some of the locks make me freak out but they are fun locks.

[vector40]

You might have luck with bump keys.

[Andyv]

They should still be pickable - I just can't understand that if they were so impossible - why don't all the other manufacturers make them the same way?

[Chucklz]

Some auto companies make cars that get 40mpg. Why don't they all ?

[raimundo]

american are difficult to pick but you can do it, if you are using commercial picks, they may be too big for the keyway, start to make your own picks, thats the only way to get it right. and a little three in one oil in the keyway will make those serrated pins forget all about security, the hardest part about the american, is the tension which is against a relocking spring. you will get that too if you try, Make a pick that does not have any more height above the pick shaft than the middle level of cuts on the key. remember the pick will be able to work from angles that are not possible for the key.

[SFGOON]

And one last thing, don't try to shim it, it just won't work and will definitely ruin your shims.

[Chucklz]

GOON, I hope you mean don't attempt to use padlock shims... not that shimming the cylinder would be impossible. It is, and its rather easy if you take your time, and use a pick, not a keyblank.

[vector40]

You can shim the cylinder from the front?

[Chucklz]

You can with careful application of a drill....

[vector40]

What did you mean, then? From the back?

[Chucklz]

Yes, I was trying to ascertain GOON's intentions.

[vector40]

I'm nearly certain he meant padlock shims.

[raimundo]

Chucklz may be refering to a technique that I have heard of which is drilling away the lip that protects the shearline from shimming. Rather than simply drilling the shearline and destroying the lock. this drilling of the lip would protect some of the information about the key, if the lock was part of a KA (keyed alike) system. Remember if you do this that the shearline left by the drill will have to be scraped open with a sharp point because of the burr and spalling where the drill tip worked. There are drill guards in front of the plug, so only small drills would work, and because your shim must be supported on both sides of the holes it will pass over, you may have to drill a line of holes along the lip, as there is no room for a large drill bit. You may also want to bring a jewelers burin to scrape the drillings to join the holes.