Introduction
I recently got the lock "bug" after seeing someone use a bump key on the interweb. I've got a few locks lying around so I thought i'd see if I could replicate the results I'd seen. After mangling the first one using too much tension and a hammer, i got the idea of what was happening inside and i suppose this is the progression.
Got grinder, files of various gauges, wetordry paper, blow torch and hacksaw blades.
It is fascinating for me to understand these things - especially the "lever" locks, i think they are great, although i havent got round to getting one yet. Im concentrating on cylinder locks.
Problems
Lots. I havent been able to open any of my locks. The first lock was an E.U yale door lock - i understand I must've bent the pins by being over zealous, so I binned it and bought a new, ABUS 60/50 padlock because i saw one and it was only £5.00. This thing is tough. I can get the pins "set" but most must be false setting because of spool pins as far as my limited understanding of these things go. No biggie, more practice perhaps?
Now I've moved on to an ERA cylinder lock (yale style "normal" 5 pin door lock - £8) and I think im getting somewhere although no actual success yet.
Questions
Ive been making my own tools from the materials stated above. Im pretty sure my tension wrenches are crap, but the ones ive bent to shape with the blow torch end up being brittle and snap (forget about making a twist flex) despite my only heating once and quenching to try and keep the temper. Before being heated these BEND and dont really snap so my guess is ive got the wrong kind of metal or something?
Ive ordered the wrong set of picks (which have now been shipped). I got "normal?" when i should have requested slim line. I really only want them to get an idea of size so im not that bothered but can i use them for this purpose given I really need slimline? I feel fine about grinding them down somewhat to make them more fit for purpose. Also the tension wrenches - (I think this comes with 5) are they going to be useful to gauge what i should be "homebrewing"?
The EU keyways seem to me to be very tricky. My wrenches wont "grab" in the bottom and theres almost no space. Most are kind of "W" shaped so when pushing pins i get caught up and cant depress it all the way with out twisting it anti-clockwise a bit. Sometimes this puts enough reverse tension on the lock to allow any set pins to drop - is it me being heavy handed or is there a technique for these little keyways? Ive taken to applying tension to the top of the keyway, as this, thus far is the only place my wrenches will stay. Im hoping my purchase of "proper" wrenches will ease this as having never seen a manufactured one I can't really tell the correct dimensions.
This is turning in to an essay so I'll stop now. Thanks if you bothered to read, I appreciate your time - I have read many, many threads on this forum to gather as much info as I can but still felt inclined to post this to see if I was missing something.
Kind regards
ODD
