Just to get this right (EU pickgun)

[Stinger]

I'm having the Southord manual pickgun and some eu slim picks.
I'v heard alot about this EU/US problem where the pins are places in another way.
But now I want to understand it.

When looking at a Ruko lock (the FAR most used locks in Denmark)

[img]http://www.ruko.dk/visArtikel.asp?artikelID=240[/img]

You can see the pins are hanging DOWN from the top of the lock - meaning there is space to insert the gun needle in the bottom of the lock.
So when picking you have to push UP on the picks (or the gun does)
Is this the standart EU pin system? Or is this how the locks in US are?

basicly - will I have to hold my gun upsidedown on one of these hanging pin locks?

The thing that really confuses me is this animation
http://www.multipick-service.com/en/start_en.htm

If the Ruko locks (hanging pins) are the EU way - this must be a normal US lock due to the standing pins - but the fact thats it's on a german page and that the animation itself has some german text confuses me.

It would be really nice if the hanging pins turn out to be the locks that the pickgun is designed for, then I'm just lucky to live in Denmark where hanging pins are everywhere..

A long and confusing post - I know I just want to get things straight.

Thaks alot

[Stinger]

Okay, sorry - it didn't post the image right, you will just have to use the links..


Thanks

[Stinger]

Man- I hate not being able to change my posts -

To view the animation just enter the 'Picksets & Accessories' picture in the last link given. The first link should lead you straight to the drawn picture of the Ruko lock I am talking about.

[marso]

Preview button is your friend. In short yes your picks and the pickgun will work on EU style locks. Things that are sometimes different may be the lock is installed upside down a bit more in europe (aussies sometimes mount locks upside down too) and the keyway is sometimes smaller. When the keyway is smaller you may need to have a smaller sized picks (width is the main thing) or perhaps modify your current picks. If the pins are at the bottom it just requires a bit of a different feel but the technique is the same. It is just instead of working with gravity you are working with the springs.

Hope this helps. Btw I am from Australia so I have no idea if I am actually speaking out of my behind. Just some information I have picked up alone the way, but it could be chinese whispers time

[Stinger]

well, thanks..

So - the pickgun is designed to pick HANGING pins? I don't have to turn it around? GREAT! I just heard that almost every EU lock was different and that you would have to turn the gun.. But this sounds good.

Any other?

[Stinger]

well, thanks.. When you say some EU lock are installed up side down. Then what do you mean, Up side down compared to what? Do you mean hanging pins?

I take it that you mean the pickgun is designed to pick HANGING pins right? Then I don't have to turn it around on the ruko locks. GREAT! I just heard that almost every EU lock was different(standing pins) and that you would have to turn the gun.. But this sounds good. Cool that Denmark uses US standard locks.
Can anyone confirm this. What is EU and What is US standard? Hanging/Standing? And I take it the gun is made for the US standard.
Any other?

[CitySpider]

In the US, pins are usually at the top of the cylinder. In the EU, I'm given to understand that they're usually at the bottom.

[Stinger]

Thanks alot.. This means I can use my US pickgun in almost every Danish lock without having to turn it.. Thats nice.. Thanks again.

[marso]

I might be reading this wrong but the "This means I can use my US pickgun in almost every Danish lock without having to turn it." comment is wrong. You do have to use a torque wrench to turn the lock, the pickgun just moves all pins at once and does it many times really quickly. So for some locks it lets you in quicker than (say) single pin picking. But you do have to turn the lock.

[Stinger]

Marso: Oh I know that - but thanks. I was talking about not having to turn the gun UPSIDE DOWN. Due to the fact thats it's made to pick hanging pins and this is almost the only lock types here in DK.
If we have US locks in Denmark, then where are the upposite locks? UK? AUST?

[Chucklz]

I think its a mistake to call tools "US" version and "Euro" version. Seems as though its an easy classification, but there are plenty of US locks with tight keyways, and plenty of locks in service in Europe that have not so restrictive keyways. Seems as though lots of newbies stress that the slimline set they just got wont "work" on a kwikset, or that their standard set wont be of much help against that Abus they are trying to pick. My favorite pick is a custom made half diamond, that has a very very thin "tapered" section , something like this
(]]]]]]]]]]]]]]])>------^

While it is approximately the same thickness as a standard pick, it still can maneuver easily in tough situations.

[Stinger]

Okay i get your point - So I basicly will have to get a normal pickset too?
I'm getting a snapgun and a 5 piece slim set. Should I also order an 'normal' set? What about a jackknife? And also, the Snapgun comes with 2 extra needles, I heard that it's a good idea to buy some extras. I'm buying them from the german multipick site - but they've got like 13 different needles.. Are any of them really worth buying for a newbie besides the normal plain one? Also, how many exstra should I buy? 3,5,10?

Thanks

[plot]

Stinger: while i know nothing about pick guns, i've read plenty on Jackknifes, and pretty much every thread on here says do NOT get them. They are cool looking little gadgets, but when learning to pick, a standard set is much better. From my understanding, you just can't feel anything with the jackknifes.

[JN]

Hello Stinger,

How did it ever go with this?
Did the snapgun work on the hanging pins?

rgds
JN