Those tricky spools

[ruuitazura]

so i was just wondering what the SOP was for getting those pesky spool pins to set, i have been trying to just use less torqe on the tension wrench and it seems to work some of the time but not always. Also since i repinned the lock i know the position of these spool pins but how does one identify them in an unknown lock? Thanks in advance for any tips

[fizzmahon]

Well first in order to pick spool pins you must understand how they work. The Deviant website is great for understanding these. Check out http://deviating.net/lockpicking/02.02-mushroom_pin.html and go through all the slides.

The trick to spool pins is knowing when they are false set. It isnt difficult it just takes practice. Normally when you set a pin you will feel the plug turn just a tiny bit. When you set all the pins in a lock as well as the spool in its false set, you will feel the plug turn quite a bit more. Now to determine where the spools are, you use your feeler pick and gently push up each pin. You will know when a pin has no pressure on it that it is set, but when you encounter a spool pin there will be pressure. Push up just a bit more and you will feel the plug start to turn back, this is it coming out of the groove. keep pushing up until you hear it set. Now you will either be in a position where one or two pins need to be set or the lock will open. It will false set again if there are more pins and they arnt quite at the sheer line. Just follow the procedure again and hopefully you will pop the lock.

Happy picking,
FiZZ

[Eyes_Only]

Maybe this video will help a little. http://youtube.com/watch?v=YBZTNBf9AEI

[freakparade3]

Check out this link http://locksport.com/LSIGuide/lsiguide.pdf It's the Locksport guide. It shows how to use a pencil to mark your pick so you know when you are under the pins. If you know what chambers the spool pins are in, it should help you alot.

[rrrrrrkevin]

that deviant slide is incredible,its mostly simple stuff but its like a complete all around package that blows that MIT guide out of the water

[Eyes_Only]

I think Deviants animations will be the replacement to the archaic MIT guide. All the people who are just getting into this sport chose the perfect time to start.

[Charodei]

Those diagrams are very nice, but it feels like a good powerpoint presentation: concise bullet points, self-explanatory illustrations. I think it would benefit by adding more text to describe/analyze what's happening on each page.

[jhl]

In my somewhat limited experience:

Spool pins are easily felt out by feeling for feedback through your torsion wrench while pushing (reasonably hard) on each pin.

Setting them is then a matter of applying lots of pressure to them, and (depending how much torque you were using) backing off the torque a little until they pop in.

Magic! And very satisfying.