Help with EVIL BEST Padlock

[bprzybyl]

Hello all,
I know it's a little late (3:42AM Local), but I had to tell someone. That someone is you (individually you, not anyone else who is reading this). I need your help with this.

I have had this EVIL BEST Padlock for a good while now, but have not made ANY lee-way on it. Pic-


This thing has plagued me for a long time. I have picked and picked it, but nothing. It greatly helped in my decision on the I-core tools...nothing. I lubed the heck out of it, to the point at which wd-40 was coming out of the shackle ( I know, WD-40 BAD. Cleaning, cleaning). Until now it's been in a paper towel so I don't get my hands all oily. Well, tonight, magic happened-


Considering I got it that far, I figured the shackle would pop out. Nope, apparently the lock was sleeping while I was picking it, but awoke once I got it to turn, and decided to be a royal pain in the rear again.

Now, I ask of you, what would be your next move? I was figuring on making one of the plug spinners using a mouse trap spring and try flipping it around. I would at least like to get the shackle to pop. Ultimately, I want to remove the core. But I'll leave that for another post. Any ideas???

Thanks everyone for your help up to this point,
Brooks.

[Omikron]

Well first of all, you turned the plug in the wrong direction. The shackle will not pop in that direction, and neither will the core. If you want to open it, you will have to plug spin it clockwise or re-pick it. To get the control shear line, you will have to pick it clockwise and when it stops rotating at 15 degrees, just pull the core out.

Good luck with the latter.

[p1ckf1sh]

Now, I ask of you, what would be your next move? I was figuring on making one of the plug spinners using a mouse trap spring and try flipping it around.

Some people have reported that in absence of a plug spinner stuffing the keyway with dental floss was the way to go. You basically want to put so much of anything into the keyway, that the pins are embedded in it properly, so the springs can't push them upward when rotating through the zero degree, but not so tightly that the stuff itself pushes on the tips so much that they are driven into the housing. Dental floss sounds good because it is thin, can be crammed pretty well and it won't rip leaving half of the stuff inside when trying to remove it. You might find something else in your household.

I actually got this tech to work with something completely different: solder wick. This is a kind of flat metal wire, made up like a wick out of lots of interwoven copper threads in a meshlike pattern. If you have some old coaxial cable lying around, cut away the insulation, the shielding is pretty much the same as solder wire, although round. Put some of this inside and cram it over the pin tips with some very hard, stable pick. Add some more for good measure. Make sure that for every length of material you insert, you leave a good amount (at least 1/2 inch/1cm) sticking out, so you can get it out later on. It might happen that individual wires in the mesh rip, but because these are meshed so tightly, they will be removable with the remainder of the stuff.

Use at your own risk though.

[CapnCurry]

My next move? I'd chalk it up to a milestone, say "I got it once," and reset the lock. Then I'd start picking in the other direction.

This is under the assumption that you're doing this for an educational benefit. It's one thing to have picked the lock once, but it's another entirely to be able to pick it when you want to. I'd work on developing that skill.

Of course, if you are doing this because you need the plug for something, then yeah... plug spinner.

[Lock Jockey]

What does that lock have inside it? (security pins? # of pins?)

[bprzybyl]

Omikron:
I didn't know wether or not it would open when turned that way. But as to the 15 degree business, control lines, etc, that's what I was aiming for.

p1ckf1sh:
That sounds like a neat idea (floss or coax).I think I'll go for the plug spinner first, and then try the floss, then coax. I think I'll go pick up some solder wick as you said though. It can't be too expensive.

CapnCurry:
Believe me, I've chalked it up. I've been working on this lock for quite a while now. I have been picking in the correct direction the whole time. I just got aggrevated last night and decided to do it the other way. I would love to be able to pick it the right way, but my ability doesn't permit me (apparently) at this point. As for needing this for something, I just need it to open. If I can get the core out, I know a guy who will make keys for it, as it never came with any. I bought this lock for picking.

Lock Jockey:
I believe 5 pins. I doubt any security pins because I have heard that BEST has only recently been offering them in cores.

Thank you everyone for your help.

I'll make a plug spinner tonight. I don't know if we have any mousetraps anywhere, but I can drop by Wegmans or Walmart tonight on my way home.

I'll keep everyone posted on the outcome of this. Thank you everyone for your help in this matter,
Brooks

[bprzybyl]

VICTORY!!!

And here's proof-


Thank you all for your help. As for picking this thing to the control line, that should take me a while, but I'll be sure to post here once I accomplish it. I used tshock's plug spinner to do it, and it was very very awesome. I'm off to post there now.

Thank you all again,
Brooks

P.S.- should I apply for advanced groups now? Do you guys think I'd get in?

[Wade]

P.S.- should I apply for advanced groups now? Do you guys think I'd get in?

No, and no. read the faq and it will tell u the minimum that you need to get in. But I guess it wouldnt hurt for you to apply...

[bprzybyl]

Why shouldn't I?

1. If you have less than 40 posts and/or less than 3 months in, please don't apply. You'll get denied, guaranteed.

This should be my 51st post, and I was over the 3 month mark 2 days ago.

The only other rule which could hold me back would be that they all be quality posts. I checked and most of them were either sharing information or requesting it. If a mod/admin would chime in or PM me, I would be greatly appreciative.

Thanks everyone,
Brooks

[What]

did someone take bolt cutters to that lock?

[bprzybyl]

I haven't a clue, but come to think of it, that does kinda look like what would have made that impression. I figured a hacksaw blade, and never even noticed the fact that they were the same on both sides (HEY, I'm not oblivious, I was just very focused on picking).

I acquired the padlock, 2 cores in mortise/rim cylinders, and 2 mortise/rim housings, all for around $20. I picked one core to the shear line the 1st time, while the other is an easy rake, but I've never gotten control line. I'm still learning the I-core tools.

Too bad you can't reverse pick a control line and then plug spin it (I've tried). If someone has, lemme know.

Thanks all,
Brooks

[Wade]

Why shouldn't I?

1. If you have less than 40 posts and/or less than 3 months in, please don't apply. You'll get denied, guaranteed.

This should be my 51st post, and I was over the 3 month mark 2 days ago.

The only other rule which could hold me back would be that they all be quality posts. I checked and most of them were either sharing information or requesting it. If a mod/admin would chime in or PM me, I would be greatly appreciative.

Thanks everyone,
Brooks

My bad man, I thought it was a min. of 60 posts. Nevermind what I said, b/c you should be fine.
If you do get in, its not all that great. There arent many posts, or any new posts very often. But there are more advanced locks discussed which is cool. I guess the more people in the advanced forums the better b/c there would be more posts/threads.

[EGOOT247]

Good luck applying!
I think you'll make it.
Go for it!

[bprzybyl]

Thanks for your encouragement, EGOOT247, I'll keep everyone updated.

As to the lock,
I've been trying to pick it with the shackle open. Should I close it when attempting to get the core out? I'm off to go give it some lock-ease right now and try to disappoint myself a little more. Yesterday I picked a small Brinks all brass padlock. They keyway made it a huge pain.

Thanks all,
Brooks

[fjardeson]

I have a couple o' Best IC padlocks, and if you're trying to hit the control shear it's up to you whether to lock the shackle. You can't remove the plug thru the shackle hole anyway.

On my pair there isn't any tension against the plug until about 20 degrees of rotation, so that won't interfere with picking of any kind - you're just looking to hit the control shear where it stops at 15 degrees and the plug (usually falls out and rolls under the table).

The control shear won't reverse pick. If you keep hitting shear lines that reverse pick, look for other shear lines on pins 3,4,5,6.. good luck!