using copperwire as a probe

[ridderhenck]

I,ve been reading a lot of topics on this beautiful site and after reading some topics about using different kind of wires for probing pins I was wondering why not using copperwire.I read that it could not be used because it bends easy,that is true but I think that is an advantage.When you take a syringe and a thin needle and within copperwire with different sizes of hooks per needle,you can measure the pins in a picked lock.Because of the thin wire you will know how high the pins are set because the wire wll bent the moment it has reached the pin,in my testing this wire it bends in a way you can see where the bending starts.So in my humble opinion it is useful
Let me know what your thoughts are!!

[lunchb0x]

i think a pick will still be alot beter than the wire, i have seen people pick locks and using the pick they can decode the lock by feeling the pin height.
I also find it easier doing this with a pick because its easier to feel the pin

[Shrub]

Im sorry but i dont fully understand your concept, a picture paints a thousand words and all that,

If i assume you are sticking a copper wire in a picked lock to measure the cuts then i assume you have the copper wire stuck out of somthing, maybe your syringe needle, what stops the copper wire bending at the point it exits the needle? that is where it will bend and not at the end like you suggest,

Also what keeps the needle at the right constant height to measure from? you cant have a needle held in your hand waving it up and down in the keyway or else you will never have the same reading twice and nor will it decode the lock in any way,

Unless of course i mis understand your explanation,

On reading your other post and this one i think you dont realise the tolerances locks have, its not somthing that a bent bit of wire can tell you, a bend is always a curve, that curve could give you readings from oversetting pins to undersetting pins,

You need definate known measurements to decode locks, it also gives the question of if the lock is already picked why not simply remove the plug and measure the pins?

You do realise an unpicked lock can not be decoded by simply pushing the pins up?
I realise this is not quite true but in this case for this suggestion its a reasonable thing to say i think,

[ridderhenck]

The copperwire comes out of the needle,but it has an angle of 90 degrees,so my thought is,when you bring the needle in the lock,measering the distance between the lockentrance and the last pin,you then know howfar the needle has to be brought in.When you use these kind of needle probes with various copperwirehook measurements wouldn,t it be possible to measure?

[ridderhenck]

What I try to say is ,the needle sticks to the highest point of the keyhole,away from the pins.Then a copperwire,bent at the end in a hook of 90 degrees,points down to the pin,in the example the 5th,when the hook is too long,the wire bends,when it,s to short,the pin has set lower and you will need a hook with a larger end.Do I make myself clear now?Do my words sound logical?Or is it time for a sabbatical in a warm exotic island?

[Shrub]

Can you stick a country in your profile at least?
I assume your in europe,

Yes i think i understand now,

I have a question,

What do you do when the biting is somthing like 12321 wouldnt the wire needed to decode the number 3 cut get bent passing the 1 and 2 cuts? if it goes past it even,

Just another quick qestion,

What happens when the wire is pressed onto a pin and you are slightly heavier handed than last time and the wire flexes slightly giving you a wrong reading?

Your method would work if the lock can be decoded without it being picked and a stiff wire could be used in fact its a way to decode wafer locks but i dont think your specific way of doing it is a winner,

BUT,

I want to see you prove me wrong, i want to see the tool, the prototype, and some pictures of it being used or even better a video of it, ideas get developed when things a re made and tried, most times you will find a simple reason why somthing wont work that you hadnt thought about but once in a while you get somthing that proves everyone wrong and works perfectly,

[ridderhenck]

A famous boxer once said IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING!!!!,My thoughts exactly,I come from the Netherlands,ok to answer one of your questions:

when a picked lock is coded 12321 it does not matter because the copperwire I use can be pulled in and when it comes out it still has the 90 degree angle,so when you have to decode some pins behind the number three,you pull the wire in just where the angle starts,that should do the trick I use electricity copperwire.The advantage is it is not stiff to be bend and then stay that way but it kinda keeps the shape you bend it even when you pull the wire back into the needle,at least when you pull it in untill the 90 degree angle starts,it pulls the tip up,and then you can get past the number 3,honestly to say I am still in the testing fase,but I have already recognized this problem and this solution came up.To be continued and in about three weeks I,ll show you what I made,by then a digital camera will be in da house

[Shrub]

Ok, sounding more promiseing then, i look forward to the next installment,

[ridderhenck]

I also made a set of hardwire hooks with different sizes and I must admit that the feel is quite different than the copperwire,a bright light and maybe the use of a blacklight and spray will help me see what I want to see But I am not quiting the copperwire design,I just keeep more options open

[ridderhenck]

It took some time to find the right material and answers but I think I have come a long way Shrub.

I changed the wire,copperwire is not suitable,but you knew already

so now I use different wire and ofcourse there was the problem of how to measure low-high-low pins,well I found a very small tube which fits in the keyhole,drilling a very small hole in it and place a wire through the tube,down the drillhole and I think every pin can be measured

I bought a tripod,used a cap and pvc tube and a different size screw so I could mount the measurement equipment on to the tripod and fix it right onto the keyhole,

So far my answers to your question,to be continued....

[Charodei]

Could you post some pictures of your device? I'm having a hard time visualizing it.

[ridderhenck]

I,ll try to get pictures on the net soon,

It is not completed yet but as soon as it is,pictures will tell what I can,t

[bumber]

Here is an idea, get a lock u have a key for and try to decode the same lock with your tool. make some kind of marks on a paper i.e draw a fake key with your code. then u can match what u drew to the origanal key to compare. you will soon see if you are close or if, and I think they would be, the marks are just off enough for it not to work. But like they said you might be able to get it right.

[ridderhenck]

It,s been a while since the last posting,I,m still working on it,today I found a way to actually make a better reading of the length of wire and built it inside the decoder,I also know I promised to make pic,s...haven,t finished this project,so a followup is in order....soon