Opened my first pick-resistant lock (weird though...)

[Schuyler]

Hi!

I'm relatively excited. Today I picked my first spool pinned lock. (quite an ego-boost, until I saw what else was inside...)



Sorry, all I have is a cell phone camera, and it sucks. So, 4 spools, 1 normal pin. Then I see the two extra tiny (flat) pins that were in line with the 2 and 3 pin. (This is what they use for a master keyed lock? Please correct me if I'm wrong) So, there's 2 extra-easy pins, deflating my ego a bit. THEN! I saw the ball bearing (ok, as I was picking I thought "that front pin looks an awful lot like a ball bearing...but still) Now, is that what is used in the construction-keyed locks?

Is there any reason the ball was on pin 1? If that's the standard, it got me thinking about Raccoons idea of construction keyed apartment locks that the renter could put a change-key (is that the correct term) into to change the locks at a moments notice. If the ball is in the first slot, doesn't that become fairly obvious to people? Also, if you were to place the ball back further in the lock, would you be risking it jamming up? I'm still not 100% on how exactly the ball leaves the lock, but I'm getting off track...

Anyhow, pins 1, 2 and 3 being pseudo-compromised, I was a bit bummed, but still surprised at everything I found inside the lock.

I'm sure I'll pick a genuinely secure lock at some point, but at least I'm discovering new things as I go.

[Schuyler]

Oh, also:

It was Corbin brand. Not sure what that means as for quality, but I thought I should mention it for posterity sake.

[Kaotik]

Yes, I would say that the small short pins that look similar to driver pins are for master keyed locks.

[NewcombAll]

I heard about this ball bearing design somewhere else on lp101 although I can't find the thread, someone said the steel ball is used as a wear resistant piece. Assuming that pin 1 of most any lock attains the point of most wear, the ball is placed accordingly.

[illusion]

Those are masterkeying pins. They make the lock easier to pick, but the really thin ones can fall out.

The ball bearings are used on locks in construction sites, urmh, really don't have the patience to find the thread right now...

[Schuyler]

I heard about this ball bearing design somewhere else on lp101 although I can't find the thread, someone said the steel ball is used as a wear resistant piece. Assuming that pin 1 of most any lock attains the point of most wear, the ball is placed accordingly.

how interesting.

SO...I didn't have the right tools for this job, (and I lost some pins on the floor, so I had to swap some of the wrong size) but I had a hacksaw and some aluminum tape, so I figured I would make a second first for the evening:

My first cutaway!




and with this? I resolve to buy a digital camera. Promise

This may be the ugliest cutaway in the world, but I was absolutely clueless going into it how I should go about it. Now? I am developing a clue. I still have little else available to me than a hacksaw, but this time I cut way too shallow and wish I had left the top bit in place. 3 of the 4 exposed channels work though, you can pick at them and watch the pins do their thing. Ugly as it may be, I'm pretty happy with these last few hours.

[illusion]

Nice work.

The only issure with this kinda cut away is that when turned the pins can fall out... Not really a big issue if you're careful, but there's always a time when your mind is elsewhere... that's the time you end up doing that kinda thing haha.

[Schuyler]

Those are masterkeying pins. They make the lock easier to pick, but the really thin ones can fall out.

The ball bearings are used on locks in construction sites, urmh, really don't have the patience to find the thread right now...

That's what I had thought. No worries on finding the thread, I was just wondering if that was, in fact, what I had run into. Thanks!

[Eagerpicker]

I came across ball bearings inside the driver springs of a Zeiss Ikon lock. Still have no idea what the use of those little balls may be. I put the question to the community here back then, but I don't think anyone was able to provide a definite solution to the puzzle.

[UWSDWF]

and heres the thread

http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=14573

[pinsetter]

Here's another link. It is to my thread, also concerning Corbin locks with ball bearings and master wafers.

The ball bearings in the lock you are talking about are NOT construction balls.
Construction balls sit between pins/wafers in a master keyed system. The balls in these Corbin locks sit directly on the key when the key is inserted.

OK, here's a link to my thread about these locks.

http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=14149

[Shrub]

Balls can be anti drill, for construction keys or to reduce wear,

[pinsetter]

I think the OP had already lost some pins and got the placements wrong when the picture was taken. I've taken apart all 4 of my Corbin cylinders they're all pinned this way and even 2 of my Russwin's are pinned this way with the balls.

In each lock, the front 2 chambers contained ball bearings and master wafers.

Since I never got my camera back yet I made up a diagram of the setup.

Here it is:

[raimundo]

the bearings are a corbin thing, against wear, and ruswin also became a corbin thing quite a long time ago.

[Schuyler]

I think the OP had already lost some pins and got the placements wrong when the picture was taken. I've taken apart all 4 of my Corbin cylinders they're all pinned this way and even 2 of my Russwin's are pinned this way with the balls.

In each lock, the front 2 chambers contained ball bearings and master wafers.

Since I never got my camera back yet I made up a diagram of the setup.

Here it is:

Yes! I actually took apart a second one (I'm getting a bit better at disassembly every time I pull one apart, just need to get a better surface to do it on and a better follower [I use novelty pens that we sell at my work, presently]) and that's exactly how it looks. Also, thank you for the link to your thread. Very interesting.

Thanks, everyone, for hopping back on this thread to set me straight. It's appreciated.