noob spool pins insight

[sosuke]

as the subject states, i'm fairly new to picking, but i'm learning in leaps and bounds. the other day, i figured i'd try my hands on a brinks deadbolt, that advertised spool pins on the package. having read lots of posts, and seen a lot of footage explaining how to defeat security pins, i thought i was going to have to use the slightest amount of tension on the wrench. how i finally was able to open, though, kind of surprised me. i pick with a very light touch anyway, and it seems like i had to put pretty heavy tension on the wrench to feel where the spools were (probably around an ounce or two), then, by simply "bouncing" the tension on the wrench, and pushing up pretty hard with the pick i could get the pins through the false set and into a true set. after taking the lock apart, i confirmed what it felt like, and there were only two spools out of five pins. it almost felt like i was brute-forcing the spool pins into set. is this the right way of picking these locks? or in the long run does it increase the chances of causing damage to the upper pins? any insight is welcome. thank you.

[Romstar]

Generally speaking, security pins will set first. Not always though, but once you have found where they are, use a light touch to get them up to the shear line, and then just a touch more force to keep them there while you lift the other pins.

In some cases you do have to use the technique you described because of the position of the pins, or the construction of the lock.

Thats what is so good about this as a hobby. Even the same make and model lock can be different in the way it picks.

Romstar

[sosuke]

thank you for your reply. i've found that even with a kwikset deadbolt i have, that excepts the same key on both sides,...picks differently. i'm a little embarrassed, but essentially the same lock, and i can open one in about 3 seconds consistently, but the other i have yet to open even once.

[Romstar]

thank you for your reply. i've found that even with a kwikset deadbolt i have, that excepts the same key on both sides,...picks differently. i'm a little embarrassed, but essentially the same lock, and i can open one in about 3 seconds consistently, but the other i have yet to open even once.

I wouldn't be embarassed at all. I would be puzzled.

Like you said, its basically the same lock. It happens though, keep at it and you will find the difference.

[sosuke]

i think its one of those "unintentional high security through craptacularness" the plug is a little looser in the hull, and so i think the pins have a hard time binding. i've had the same thing with a cheap "helping hands" brass padlock. not only could i not open the thing, but i passed it around to a lot of freinds who have more experience than me. they couldn't get it either. at least i know its not me.

[Romstar]

With that in mnd, I would say that you have a different picking order on the other side because of the fit of the plug.

This happens a lot believe it or not.

One of the funniest things is when you get parts from two different manufacturing runs. The cylinders were drilled one week, then the drills replaced, and the plugs drilled a different week. In some cases, plugs can sit around for weeks after they are broached before they are drilled. Not common, but it does happen depending on how things are going at the factory.

Romstar

[sosuke]

thanks. i'll keep at it, and let you know WHEN i get it. its gotta happen eventually.

[Romstar]

Good luck then.

Romstar

[cracksman]

I don't mean to hijack this post but I have an observation/question I would like to ask. In my experience with security pins I have found there is a balancing act. If I (hypothetically, I have no idea how much pressure I actually use) place 1 ounce of pressure on a security pin I have to apply .9 of an ounce on my wrench to let it come back and hit the shear line. I can also place 3 ounces on the pin and 2.9 on the wrench (or vice versa, can't remember which I place more on) and I get the same result. I find as a practice more it takes less pressure to on both pick and wrench to open the same lock.

I guess my question is whether other people experience the same thing? I imagine most people do, in which case I am offering this as advice, If what I observe is not normal I'd like to know too.

P.S. Sosuke, I have had a Brinks with security pins that drove me nuts for a year, thus my post, cheers

[Romstar]

Security pins wobble.

No matter how you cut the silly buggers, once you have half in the bible, and the other half in the plug they move around. That's the point.

It's also why you relax tension, so you aren't tilting the pin stack so much, and the security driver will move past the shear line properly.

Otherwise they do what they were designed to do, tilt in the stack and get caught before passing the plug.

Romstar

[sosuke]

i just managed to pick that other kwikset deadbolt! the plug will only set in the opposite direction of the other lock. is this normal, even for essentially the same lock?

[5thcorps]

That's what plug spinners are for.
As fas as your technique, if it works consistently then you've found your "style"