I just bought myself....

[immolate]

a 7-pin ace.. Been bored picking the regular deadbolts and padlocks.. too easy.. I just designed a new 7 pin pick.. I will be testing that out over the next few days.. Will take pics for all to see!

[JackNco]

new design or just home brew?

[immolate]

definately home brew.. But I think it will work very well.. I have planned it out pretty good!

[Safety0ff]

I've got one designed too, but i've yet to make it, still missing one component. I wonder if we both thought of the same thing.

[immolate]

All right in the last few hours i've designed most of it!
It consists of:

- a Bolt (40 cents) (bring a round key with you and guess measurement)
- a windshield wiper blade (free I found it in the garbage outside canadian tire)
- a washer (leftover computer washer)
- a pipe clamp (5 cents)
- a grinder (already have one)

total cost here of about 45 cents.. maybe 30 bucks if you didn't have anything.

First I started with the Bolt, I measured up an octagon shape and grinded the round parts down so they would be flat where my "pins" would be sliding down.

Next I Cut up my windshield wiper to make 8 "pins" - 1 of which will be my insert to actually fit in the keyway area for tension.

Then I grinded the inside of the washer a bit because it was a bit too small on the inside diameter.

Then I took the washer and put all the windshield wiper blades inside it and then inserted the bolt for a very TIGHT fit.

Then for added support I threw on the pipe clamp.

My next step is going to be soldering the windshield washer blades in place (so no movement) and probably removing the washer and clamp after this and adding screws directly into the windshield washer blades.

Total effort: 2 hours. Total cost for me = 45 cents.

Now I can pick 7 pin round locks.. such as the ace lock I just purchased!

Hooray!

Feel free to post comments/suggestions

[JackNco]

pretty sweet, does it work I take it?

[immolate]

I havent actually tested it for picking.. I want to solder it in place tomorrow so the blades don't move when im picking.. But after that it should work wonderfully! It fits in and grabs tension.. So I would just as likely assume it would pick wonders

[Safety0ff]

I had a very similar idea except it incorporate a smaller bolt, changeable tips and a handle.

[Safety0ff]

Nice job.
(Sorry for the double post, that got cut out of my last post while editing.)

[vrocco]

I must be missing something. How do you apply tension? It looks to me like the bolt just butts up against the face of the lock. I am not sure how you would tension it.

Could you explain it slowly for those of us who aren't so bright?

[Safety0ff]

hmm, if you're missing something for tension then you could drill a hole in the bottom of the bolt. Take a small allen key and grind it to the proper shape/size and then jb weld it in place or something like that.

[immolate]

Im glad you asked! I have already positioned a strategically bent windshield wiper blade into the position the key would normally turn with (as my tensioning point) that part that sticks out of the round key.. I guess I forgot to mention that

[CartooN_NetworK]

only problems I see with this idea is that the bottom needs to be hallowed out and a point for tension, creative though. If you're skilled enough, rotary tool, or whatever you are using to hallow, it out leaving the notch for tension in there, so you wont have to worry about jb welding somthing in there; if not, you could cut a slit down the side of the screw and solder a wiper blade in there? just some ideas. creative though.

[immolate]

You are right on this cartoon.. I should have hollowed out a b it.. I finished the project and its lacking in the tension department.. I can still open a lock with it.. but its more difficult to keep it in place.. I will use your suggestion and try to hollow it out a bit!