UK Practice Locks

by **tokf** » 13 May 2007 5:50

Hi
Just started, got the southord 9 piece kit.

Firstly, just like to just say that in reading this forum, what an intelligent, friendly bunch of people. Makes a change to the normal imature behaviour you see in some forums.

Ideally like to take a lock apart and strip it to 1 pin as in the tutorials on this site but have no kit to do it.

Can anyone recomend some good UK starter locks ?(done the samsonite suitcase lock, but rather crude raking used)

Any help much appreciated.

by **NickBristol** » 13 May 2007 6:14

You don't really need any special kit to strip a basic pin tumbler lock down. Nip down to B&Q/ Screwfix/ Wickes / local hardware store and buy the cheapest Yale-type lock replacement cylinder. Something like a 5-pin ERA would be good. A Bird would be perfect. DONT buy a Yale X5 or anything like that, at least not yet. You want a basic lock with no security pins or anything fancy.

To strip it down all you need is a small flat screwdriver or needle-nose pliers to get the circlip off (by the long tail at the back), a plug follower (basically a stick- a AAA battery wrapped up in several wraps of electrical tape makes a good one) and a clear plastic bag to open the lock up in as springs sometimes bounce off all over. A pair of tweezers is always handy too.

Lever off the circlip until it slips off. Remove the tail if it hasn't already dropped off. Put the key in the lock, turn it 45 degrees left or right and leave the key in. Put your plug follower at the back of the lock and gently push the plug out the front, keeping the follower touching the plug at all times. Make sure the key stays at 45 degrees. Keep pushing gently until the plug is free at the front. Lay it down gently to one side and made sure the follower isn't going to slip out. If you're not already doing this in the bag, put your lock in it now and slip the follower out slowly. The top pins and springs will fall out as each chamber is uncovered. You're now ready to repin your lock and do DB's exercises.

by **Shrub** » 13 May 2007 7:45

Yup, a Yale or ERA replacement cylinder is all you need,

Click my www button for a pictured explanation of what Nick has written above,

by **tokf** » 13 May 2007 8:34

superb guys. many thanks for the prompt and informative reply.

B&Q it is this afternoon.

by **parapilot** » 13 May 2007 13:13

Forget B&Q, go to a local lockie and say what your doing and offer to buy some old locks, with no keys. You will proberly find you will get a fair few for very cheap / free and have a good chat to.

by **tokf** » 15 May 2007 13:45

Good point. B&Q only had X5's so bombed out there.
Purchased a Yale EED8 for a fiver and managed to 'pick'(or Rake more like) it with only marginally less neanderthal action than the suitcase lock.

Have now orderd a cheap Yale cylinder online to break apart and train properly.

will look for local locksmiths also.

thanks for the advice.

by **tokf** » 15 May 2007 13:53

Just reading the LSI guide. Superbly written. Nice one. This will help loads.

by **Bump** » 15 May 2007 15:15

If you complete your profile and let us know whwre you are someone might even have a few locks destined for recycling they could let you have for free.

by **Mark A** » 15 May 2007 16:05

Bump,

How times have changed, a few years ago it would have been "Destined for the tip"

Mark

by **Bump** » 16 May 2007 15:53

Mark

Thats what I meant really but my wife insists that I'm "green". She's happy to think that the darling little brass thingy wingys are being re-used.

by **Mark A** » 16 May 2007 16:15

Bump,

Yer gotta keep them happy mate :lol:

Mark

by **tokf** » 17 May 2007 13:39

Nice one. I'm in Poole in Dorset. I'd be grateful for any locks going!

Tonight is the first repinning! leaving one pin to start with. Grateful for the advice as my victorious moment with the yale padlock has degenerated into unsuccessful further attempts (as this site had of course previously warned me!). Repinning it is.

by **tokf** » 17 May 2007 15:14

Ok, problem, I think. Following the LSI guide, repinning a cheap (Â£5) Yale nightlatch replacement cylinder. Got the key pins out which were all different lengths as expected.

Put lock in plastic bag, removed driver pin and as LSI guide said, springs/pins 'sproinged' out into the bag. But... the driver pins are all different lengths and two of them are security drivers!.

Should i have removed the drivers out one at a time? Not sure which driver to use for my first pin (or any of the others for that matter).

Any help much appreciated.

by **Afisch** » 17 May 2007 16:53

The driver pins can be put into the lock in any order as far as i know, inless the lock has a master key. Reposition the security pins as you wish to make more/less of a chalenge. Its the key pins you will need to line up with the key before repinning to make sure you can use the same key still.

by **cjames73** » 17 May 2007 17:14

the 2 spools go into chambers 2 + 4.
if there's a steel pin, that goes into 1.
the other pins match up by pairing short bottom pins with long top pins and vice versa.

do a search for compensated drivers and this will explain a lot better.

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