tubular locks

[doyle1220]

hi all. im trying to venture into the realm of tubular locpicking but the prices of these picks seems way too much. is there anyone out there who knows how to make such a pick? i would greatly accept any help on this subject and shall take the opportunity to say thank you in advance.

[UWSDWF]

search around.... lots of talk little action though except from some who access to mill lathe equipment

[JackNco]

Yep, ive tried a couple of ways to make them but i really cant get the accuracy down without decent equipment.

[Shrub]

Tubular picks are a locksmith tool not a hobby pickers tool,

Spp them and forget the decoders,

[Eyes_Only]

The hardest part of picking a tubular lock in my view is having the proper tool to place tension on the lock. You can use a small allan wrench that is filed down on both sides to make it square so it'll fit snuggly in the notch in the plug. But if you get that down you can just use a stiff wire to press down on each pin to pick it.

The site here sells a simple tension tool for these types of locks that I hear some good things about from people who have used them. Take a look into it here, http://www.idealcreations.net/ls03.htm

The main problem with SPP a tubular lock is that once it is picked and you rotate the plug with the top pins over the bottom pins in the adjacent location it will re-lock and you'll end up having to pick it again and again until you can rotate it completely. But of course that is not really necessary if your aim isn't to really open whatever this lock is securing.

[Marco]

Tubular picks are a locksmith tool not a hobby pickers tool

I don't agree with this. I'd say both spp and using a tubular pick are both equally for hobby pickers. If you really want to explore the hobby completely, then why wouldn't you learn how to do it both ways? Both ways give you a different experience. I mean its not like we are talking about bump keys here which require very little skill, both spp and using a tubular pick both require practice and skill. Just because using a tubular pick may be easier, that doesn't mean that it wouldn't be a hobbiest tool.

[JackNco]

I think shrubs point is more that they are expensive tools and hobby pickers have no need for a decoder. and although im sure i will end up getting a tubular pick at some point I have no need for one atm.

John

[Marco]

Yeh i know they are expensive but if you the money then why not? Im not saying that it's an essential hobby pickers tool, im just saying there is nothing wrong with having one.

[raimundo]

I have heard before about the tensor that just fits the keynotch in the stem of the lock, and the other idea called a doeverything dragonwrench, which gets a two point spanner grip in the stem,
there is a third method, which is a tensor that is as wide as both the inner and outer notch, this creats a force between the notch that won't turn and the notch that you want to turn, and if the lock gives in to this force, it cannot over rotat because the force has a very limited stroke.

Think of a wide piece of wiper stiffener and a short blade on a conventional tensor.

Remember that until the lock is picked, the tension is all between an immovible object and irresistable force, do not over tension. this will bind it up very tight very quickly.

[plumber carl]

there very difficult to make ive had a few goes with little success spent much time its very difficult to get the small notch on the end as you need to braze and its tiny. you can if careful cut the groves with a junior hack saw i almost did it and ive got access to most tooling if you look around one site as just got theme on sale at 40 pound each which seems cheep compared to the restricted sellers at them prices it must pay back first job good luck

[doyle1220]

hiya guys. thanks for the rapid feedback. can ya remember where ya saw the picks please plumber carl or is it against the rules to divulge that sort of info? please forgive me if i seem a little stupid but im a forum virgin he he.

[doyle1220]

ok then. now to sound really thick! do tubular locks turn clockwise or anticlockwise? ive managed to fashion a tension tool that is adequate for holding the barrel with enough space to have a good poke at the pins but cant seem to get any noticable movement. please help guys. once ive refined this tool a little i shall make it available if anyone is interested.
thank you again. your all more helpfull than you can imagine.

[lunchb0x]

they turn both ways, one way to lock, the other to unlock

[JackNco]

look at the back of the lock. if there is no plate that stops movement they will spin either way.

[doyle1220]

is it clockwise to unlock then?