Schlage IC cores

[Heliox]

I've purchased a quantity of schlage sc4 IC cores. Unfortunately, none have keys to them. I'm able to get most of the pins to set, but for some reason, one pin is binding in the wrong place preventing me from getting the 6th pin. Any ideas? Is the 7th pin significant if the core is arleady removed? Do they generally put security pins in these or am I missing something here?

This may give me an excuse to get my sc4 bump key made.

[n2oah]

You're probably talking of an LFIC core. The 7th pin is the "control" pin, and it is usually of a smaller diameter than the other pins. Once you are on the 7th pin, try to wiggle the core out with the tension wrench. Probably no on security pin, but I may be wrong. I had one of these cores, but I traded it with another member of the forum before I was able to pick it.

Heliox, did you get that caliper from Harbor Freight that we were talking about on IRC? I got it the next day, its working great

[Heliox]

Yes I got the micrometer. It' extremely helpful. Took me an hour to get the 10 miles ther ein traffic, but it was well worth it.

The cores are LFIC. They're ONLY cores.I broke down and took a dremel to one (I got 87) and tore the top off. Once I got the springs and top pins out, I removed the core and made myself a key that fit the pins. I've repinned 9 so the 3 have 1 pin, 3 have 2 pins, 3 have 3 pins. I'll do 4 and 5 tomorrow.

My goal with these is to have good locks that I can hand to my friends and teach them how to pick. As soon as I get a few other things in the mail, I'll be ordering a couple of sets of security pins (among other things) from Varjeal.com. I would like to be much better by next Defcon.

My next project will be some kind of retaining device to hold groups of them in place. We'll see..

[keysman]

Schlage commercial cores , the ones made of brass not pot metal are much tighter tolerances than say kwickset or wieser.

The control key for that would be same as any working key + 1 extra cut at the tip ie a little longer than a standard 6 pin schlage key. I believe the tip cut ( contol) is always a # 6 depth.

They come from the factory with standard (not security) pins, but they could have been changed by the previous owner.

BY the way .. no need to cut those locks .. they come apart very easily and go back together very simply too.

Pm me for some more information on exactly how to take 'em apart with out damage.

I might be interested in buying or trading for some of the locks you have,
let me know what you are looking for.

Don
[color=darkred]
Fixed email request. - Chucklz Don, why not post this for everyone.[/color]

[n2oah]

keysman@cox.net

Naughty Naughty

(I got 87)

[wsbpress]

I broke down and took a dremel to one

You should get some shims to shim them open. It's non-destructive and probably easier.

[Chucklz]

Shims are easy to obtain. Just get the security tags off DVD's, CD's, and hundreds of other products. The tags are the ones that are about 1cm wide and about 3 cm long, an are a bit "puffy" Inside are two lovely shims.

[Heliox]

I was lucky. All but 3-4 out of the 87 have the same key. The control pin appears to be a constant depth and appears to be at identical spacing to the other pins. Looking at how the control pin works, it appear that it can't be lifted 'too high' and as long as it is lifted 'high enough' it will engage the ring. Not as secure as the BEST sfic IIRC for core removal as it only has one shear line, but it seems to be pretty well put together. I'm a bit disappointed,though that ther isn't anythign special preventing the drilling of the pin stack. There's about a .5mm steel plate at the top, but that took about 10 seconds to go through with my dremel.

I've rekeyed 15 locks now for training. 3x1pin,3x2pin, etc. they're pinned so that the existing key opens them still. I've decoded the pins as well, so i'll be getting a code cut key soon. When I get my security pins from varjeal.com (not ordered yet) I'll be pretty well set for lockpicking practice. I've been waiting fo about 15 years to hav ethe resources to do this, and finding these locks at such an incredibly low price has made it happen. I've filed notches into the sides to represent the number of pins on the abormally pinned cores. I'll test them out with some friends on monday night.

Anyone have ideas on what I should tackle next after security pins on these locks? I've got some generic abloy vending machine locks on the way along with a cheap medeco electrical switch. Anything else?

[Heliox]

BTW, there's some moderate corrosino on a bunch of these. Can I soak them in something to clean them without damaging anything? Like paint thinner. (fronts are painted black too)

[n2oah]

Acetone, or so I've heard, works well.

[vector40]

Try Coke.

[Chucklz]

Coke, surely your joking. A sugar solution to soak locks in? Sure theres H3PO4, but you should be able to get that easily without adding sticky goo to your locks.

[ep3o]

BTW, there's some moderate corrosino on a bunch of these. Can I soak them in something to clean them without damaging anything? Like paint thinner. (fronts are painted black too)

If the fronts are painted black then those are temporary construction cores. The factory sells them painted in order to identify them as temporary cores. They also come in green and brown. They key them to three different bittings per color. If you check with the factory they can probably give you the three bitting numbers then it's just a matter of cutting three keys and figuring out which one opens your core. But if your just trying to pick it for fun then yes, in my experience you also need pick the control pin.

Shims are usually the easiest way to open up a cylinder when your have access to the back end.

[vector40]

Coke, surely your joking. A sugar solution to soak locks in? Sure theres H3PO4, but you should be able to get that easily without adding sticky goo to your locks.

You can always just rinse it off afterwards :/

[n2oah]

Coke, surely your joking. A sugar solution to soak locks in? Sure theres H3PO4, but you should be able to get that easily without adding sticky goo to your locks.

Not even nearly enough H3PO4 clean the lock off.