american Locks

[bumpit]

Cool looking brass American lock. If you ever get frustrated try fileing down one of those extra keys into a bumpkey. Don't worry I have not been able to pick my American yet

[outlawcajin]

i think what the problome is, is that the pins lock so you can't take the key out once you turn it very slightly. and i mean very slightly.
i belive that is the a feature i am fighting with.

[Ermis]

These padlocks are difficult because of the tension techniques required. I've sat on one or two for hours and had not opened it. Eventually i got it opened and i realized it had nothing to do with my picking techniques but my tension pressure, angles and position. The mushroom / serrated pins are not difficult it's the cylinder moving around thats the hard part, slam this sucker in a vise, lube it up and keep practicing.

[Gordon Airporte]

Heh, I just got my first American so I'll take any chance to talk about them. I feel like I've recently made a breakthrough with mine - picking it four time without feeling like I was just flailing around.
I agree with Emis that it's all about the tension: very light so you can effectively ignore the serrations.
Another gotcha is that when using this little torque, you might open the lock and not know it. If it feels like all of the pins are firmed up and set, crank down on the tension and you might just be golden. Otherwise, go hunting for spools.