just for fun, a little conundrum

[pinky]

well guys a nice simple one, a method ive used to open a pin tumbler on a few occasions for fun, no prizes , but can anyone figure out how this was achieved, with the following items;

1 ) an aerosole can of plumbers pipe freeze
2 ) a tension wrench
3 ) a needle
4 ) a cigarette lighter

what was the method used ?
how was it achieved ?
what role did each item play?

[Shrub]

Well if its the way im thinking then well done i didnt think it was possable.

[pinky]

on many new cylinders its not, but on many it is!

[Lukekjackson]

I’ll give it a go.

Use needle to hold up (overlift) pins
Freeze entire lock / pin / cylinder area with pipe freeze
Use lighter to “defrost” driver pins while leaving the top pins frozen
When all the driver pins have dropped passed the shear line, turn plug using Tension wrench

It seems like it might work, but it might prove a bit difficult to “defrost” some areas and leave others frozen in such close proximity. Surley it can't me that simple everyone would be at it

[pizarro]

I'll give it a go, here is my guess.

use the needle to overlift all the pins.
Use tha can to freeze all the pins while still lifted (I don't know what that can is supposed to do, but any expanding gas released from a compressed canister will cool down).
apply a light torque using the tension wrench.
With the needle in the lock, heat the end of the needle with the lighter.
Heat should be transfered down the needle and to the lower pins (i.e. not the driver pins) and will unfreeze them.
Depending on the lock orientation, the lower pins will drop down freeing the shear line up to turn the lock while the driver pins are frozen above the sheer line.

[pizarro]

you beat me to it Lukekjackson.



I started typing my answer before you posted yourse.

[acl]

Martin you have far too much time on your hands!
Good trick if it works though

[SteveW]

Please tell me you dont do this on peoples doors !

[pinky]

pizza

spot on, the trick is to heat the needle to only defrost the bottom pins.

neat trick that works on many locks, an old trick though, never used on the door, but at many parties and on the bench for fun.

[workstation]

Pinky,

When do you apply the torque?

Do you wait until the bottom pins have all dropped, (thereby defeating spool etc pins), or do you need a small torque to keep the top pins up?

Also, when you say this method freezes the pins, do you know what actually freezes? Condensation? Lubricant?

Great idea, by the way. I wonder if there's any way to suck up the key pins on a euro cylinder?

[pinky]

If only !

its unreliable for opening locks on the door and takes too long as a rule, but when it works its a site to behold.

its not a reliable opening method and is very hit and miss, its a party trick and no more, but it does work.

apply torque after defrosting bottom pins.

[acl]

Remind me to decline any party invites from Mr P !!

[pizarro]

This may seem like its a bit off topic, but work with me here.

I can't remember which lock it is, but theres a bump proof lock that has extra pind by the main ones which the key uses, so that if you bump and,or pick the lock when you turn the barrel (without the proper key in the keyway) they jam the lock leaving the only option to drill it out if this happens. I saw this explained in one of the Toool videos.

Apparently they tryed the cotton approach, but due to the pressure of these little pins, they could not get past them (they even tryed a plug spinner, but no luck). They did state that they could turn the lock a couple of degrees after picking it before they encounter this security feature.

So (and heres where it gets back to the topic on this thread), if you pick the lock and turn it a fraction but stop before you trigger this security feature. If you then freeze the pins (which would normally touch the key) so that they are at the shear line (like they appear when you use the correct key), would you be able to turn the barrel of the lock past this security feature?

You may have to do something nasty like spray a little water into the lock to ensure that it can ice up, but if this goes wrong, you would need a drill to open the lock.


I appologise if this should not be in the public section (as the lock in question is a high security lock), but i can't access the restricted part to post there .

[security_lock]

Great idea, by the way. I wonder if there's any way to suck up the key pins on a euro cylinder?

Would a magnet work? If not, you can always try to spin the plug, I guess...but that would require an extra tool.

[What]

Would a magnet work?[/quote]
no, the pins are made of brass, not a magnetic metal.