Upgrading lock security with new pins?

by **GrEmLiN** » 2 Mar 2004 18:29

I'm pretty sure the answer is yes..but then again I'm asking, aren't I?

Is it possible to change the pins inside a say.. cheap/easily pickable lock to spool or mushroom or something harder to pick? Possibly alternate the different kind of pins to make it tougher? I'm curious, because knowing how easily a lock can be picked, one might want to upgrade locks themselves. Curious I am. Thanks.

by **Chucklz** » 2 Mar 2004 18:47

Its possible if the lock was designed to be rekeyable. For example a Master #3 lock, well youd have to do some drilling or grinding to get to the plug. Most padlocks that I know of that are rekeyable generally have spool/mushroom pins. The most notable exceptions are the Master #21, which is rekeyable, and many IC's which often do not have security pins.

But, as far as most security issues go, picking is often a minor concern. Cheap locks are often built poorly and are subject to prying/hitting with a hammer. Even an easy to pick lock like a Master #3 is pretty resistant to smashing attacks.

by **GrEmLiN** » 2 Mar 2004 18:51

Woops, was referring mainly to door handle, but I'm glad you mentioned those locks.. I now have something to look for to practice on(model numbers).. - I'm curious, one of the locksmiths I helped out at / frequented had a BUNCH of locks on the wall for display purposes.. I wonder if they would let me pick those... :lol:

by **salzi684** » 5 Mar 2004 0:31

Even with door locks your biggest worry isn't usually someone picking the lock. To increase home security I would be more worried about someone kicking in a door or breaking a window than I would about them picking my locks.

by **plot** » 5 Mar 2004 6:16

hobbyist pick locks. detectives pick locks. spys pick locks. locksmiths pick locks.

criminals and theives smash open a window or kick down your door. make sure the locks on your house are qaulity locks that can take a beating, and then look at other ways of entry to your house before you worry about the pickability of your locks. (don't get kwik sets either, not sure you even need a pick to pick those)

see this link for what i mean on good qaulity locks:
http://www.thenationallocksmith.com/Nat ... /index.cfm

nice picturs of cheapo locks being destroyed.

in short, an unpickable lock isn't going to make your place secure, in fact, it probably won't help much at all. there's MUCH more to it.

by **GrEmLiN** » 5 Mar 2004 16:31

Yes yes I know. I just wanted a straight answer.. and I got it. Thanks.

by **Luke** » 5 Mar 2004 17:15

Somthing that I find interesting, is when a locksmith comes accross a hard to pick lock like a medeco or bi-lock, they go to the back door and open the standard pin tumblar lock, people forget about the back door.

by **plot** » 6 Mar 2004 6:22

Luke wrote:Somthing that I find interesting, is when a locksmith comes accross a hard to pick lock like a medeco or bi-lock, they go to the back door and open the standard pin tumblar lock, people forget about the back door.

i've never actually lived in a house with a backdoor that has a lock. in america, most houses i see have sliding doors that don't neccessarily have locks that you can get through from the outside.

however... most people do have side garage doors that they never use and neglect.

right now i live in a house with 3 roommates, and we dont have lock on the front door, and the backdoor is always open, we just lock our rooms. heh. but, in the future i've decided i'll probably go with medeco for my front door lock and any other doors will be multlocks. switching up what kind of locks they are can fool alot of lock pickers coming through, cause they only come prepared for pin tumblers.

by **Chucklz** » 6 Mar 2004 11:23

I doubt you will ever have a picker attempting to gain entry to your house though. But, It seems like a nice way to justify the cost of some "practice locks"

by **plot** » 6 Mar 2004 17:51

Chucklz wrote:I doubt you will ever have a picker attempting to gain entry to your house though. But, It seems like a nice way to justify the cost of some "practice locks"

i know, but how else am i gonna convince my significant other that i need to spend 200$ on locks when you get can cheap ones at wallyworld for 20$?

I WANT A MEDECO!!! I WANT I WANT I WANT!

by **GrEmLiN** » 7 Mar 2004 14:54

Hahaha wally world. :lol:

Upgrading lock security with new pins?

Upgrading lock security with new pins?

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