mortice locks and spools??

[mattdonut]

hi all can anyone help me on these to questions
1 what pick should you use on a mortice lock.
2,ive been trying to pick a mila euro cylinder after taking it apart i found some spools there where 2 of them i managed to pick 3 of the normal ones but the spools have stopped me from fully picking the lock
any help would be most helpfull..
many thanks matt

[plot]

what pic you should use is ALWAYS the pickers preferance. very rarely is there a particular type of pick that should be used on a particular type of normal pin tumber lock.

i prefer short hooks, others prefer diamond picks, and so on...

Now, onto picking spools. if you know it's a spool then when picking, let off the tension a little bit after the spool pin falsey sets, then continue raising the pin until it sets again... it's all about feel, and will take alot of practice. put in 2 normal pins and a spool in into the mortice lock, and practice this technique from there.

[S&G]

It's tricky picking spools such that you have back off so much tension there is almost none to keep the rest of the tops up.
It takes a feather touch and a feel for which bottoms still have spring pressure dispite having been "picked".

Some cylinders like ilco's 04-lockwood rim with spools are simply easier to impression than pick because the cylinder is cast, on those days when a rotory pick is not an option.

[Shrub]

For a mortice lock you need to use 1 of 3 differant tools, 2 bits of wire, a curtain pick or a 2 in 1 pick.

[S&G]

I am always interested in learning new things, but I use only the rytan diamond pick, a pick gun to supplement my off days.
That said, would you please explain the bits of wire approach to spools?

[illusion]

Hmm..Shrub was talking about lever locks - they are commonly known as mortice locks in the UK. These are different to what you are talking about.

Wire can be used to beat spools - yes, but have a think about how it might be possible.