Where to get plug followers?

[shakyjackson]

Hey Again.

Just in the middle of dismantling a 5 pin yale replacement cylinder and realised I needed a follower for the job (being a newbie and all!), so I went to various locksmiths in my city and all said they had them but were unable to sell them to me.

Just wondering if anyone knows where I can get one from, preferably a metal not plastic one.

Many thanks.

Shaky

[random]

Try your hardware/DIY store for a piece of dowel of the right diameter (usually half an inch or so), or I tend to use the handle of a wooden kitchen spoon. Hope this helps

[UWSDWF]

use wood dowel

[illusion]

I've repinned a fair few locks with a rolled up toilet roll tube.

[Shrub]

Check my www button out for some more suggestions,

Fingers, pens, wooden spoons etc etc anything can be used as long as its around 12mm 1/2" diameter,

[JackNco]

A "AAA" battery with tape (Scotch tape works better than electrical) wrapped round it works perfectly for me. the edges curl up if u pull it tight and the pin slid in to the lock much easier than anything else ive tried.

All the best

[pauly003]

www.lockpickshop.com
www.southord.com

[Pic_monkey]

I was having that problem. So I went to a art supply store and picked up some 1/2 inch dowel works great at least for Kwik set

[mercurial]

Shakey,

I can understand a locksmith wanting to use professional looking tools, but I cannot see any reason a hobbiest would need to buy a follower - there are just so many alternatives.

You don't need to buy a commercially made plug follower - there are several suggestions as to what you can use above in this thread.

There are more in this thead : http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=19437

There are many many more if you use the search button.

You will find simple questions like this have been answered many times before. People will get less tolerant of such simple questions if it is clear you haven't searched first.

The stickies are a must-read for any newbie, too - the answer to most questions you are likely to have for a while will be there. If my tone sounds harsh, that isn't my intent.

Welcome to the site! Hope you stick around and learn about this fascinating hobby!

...Mark

[JackNco]

I can understand a locksmith wanting to use professional looking tools, but I cannot see any reason a hobbiest would need to buy a follower - there are just so many alternatives.

I can see ur point, but im also one of these people that likes to have nice stuff to work with, i dont really NEED a case, but its nice to have the propper stuff and know its all correct if you are really in to a hobby.

Just my 2 cents

[Chucklz]

You can get followers from most of the lock pick websites. However, even then you will occasionally find a lock of a strange diameter, for which none of the commercial followers will work. In that case I do this

1.) Drink a beer.
2.) Cut up the can, and roll it tightly around a pen.
3.) Use this as a follower. The rolled up can will expand to fit.

Note, you get a beer out of this deal as well.

[Shrub]

Push the plug out with your little finger and leave it in there while you repin the plug

[linty]

if you buy a mul-t-lock cylinder that hasn't been pinned yet it comes with a little follower, that's where i get mine :)

seriously though, best bet is to make one, i made one out of steel now whenever i see something cylindrical i wonder if maybe i can use it as a follower for some weird lock i might encounter some day.

[parapilot]

Push the plug out with your little finger and leave it in there while you repin the plug

I can't get my finger into any of my locks Must have fat hands lol.

[ForFun]

Push the plug out with your little finger and leave it in there while you repin the plug

That's funny. Last time I got a finger suggestion I was trying to learn driving on the left side in London