Some help, insight, and advice needed.

[serpentine5]

Ok, I came across a pack of picks my uncle had stashed away in am RV he had stored in my back yard before he died. I was cleaning it out before getting it hauled away and came across the pack and some slim jims.... he always worked in the automotive industry and did do repo work for a while so this wasnt a strange find. When i opened the pick pack, it had 7 plastic handled picks, 2 tension bars and a piece of paper with hand writing on it giving color codes for the handles such as: Yellow - Ford, VW, Datsun & 2 sided keys.
Anyway, after searching some on the net, and watching god only knows how many lock picking videos on you tube.... I have come to get familiar with the picks, tho they have shown them selves to be very cheap picks, made out of very soft metal and bend in all directions easily, but I have been able to use them to pick a few locks around the house. I have gotten friends to donate to the cause, and have come across several of the locks I have rat packed away over the years.
One of the locks I rat packed away is a small (1 1/2" x 1 1/2") all brass pad lock that has CHANNELL stamped on it that I picked up years (minimum of 5) ago when I was working for a cable company that used these to lock their under ground peds. I am not sure if there is a security pin or pins in this, but from what i have been able to gather on the net, security pins are rather new compaired to the age of this lock, and the length of time it was on a ped before it ended up in my truck.... What is the chances of there being a security pin in her? I am having the dickens of a time trying to pick her. I spend atleast an hour a day playing with her using a small half diamond, a small hook, a rake, a double circle, a snake, and have gotten no where with her....
I also have a BRINKS brass that is about 2x2 with chrome hasp that is giving me the same issues.
I do not have keys to either of these two locks, but neither are in the locked position, but the CHANNELL is half locked: the hasp is as close to the body of the lock and in a down position allowing the rear lock to engage onto the hasp even tho the hasp is not in the hole.
Then i have a Master 140 that I have slight issue, but can do in about 2-3 minutes. Then I cant do it again for 30 minutes and have to set her down....
The quicksets in my doors have proven to be the easiest to pick by far.

Ok, let me shut up here, and I will await replies.
Thanks

[ToolyMcgee]

I'm not getting anything on Google for the Channell lock except some little blond kid picking one on youtube. Is there anything else written on it? It's age isn't much of a factor, since security pins aren't anything new. Your little brinks probably has some spools and serrated pins, and the Master 140 definately does.

That's one hell of a long introduction story. Do some nosing around with the search function on spools or your specific locks for some technique ideas. Good to see new faces, welcome.

[raimundo]

not familiar with the channell brand, but you say its half locked, that sounds odd, perhaps you could shim it open. I understand that your about picking, but if its half locked, thats something to explore.
key to picking is don't over pressure anything, and don't ground the tensor against the cylinder wall at the bottome of the keyway. All commercial picks could use some sanding. bending picks could mean that the metal is soft, but more likely it means your using too much pressure and not enough finesse, that will come along as you learn. keep reading the forums, and the stickies, especially DB's 7 habits one.

[serpentine5]

Thanks guys.
Yeah, the Channell lock is the only brand this particular cable company used on the underground pedestals in the area I worked. I am not sure about other territories they serviced. As for anything else writ upon the lock, on the bottom near the key opening above the pins, it is stamped: "CHINA 32MM".
It was extremely tight, but I was able to shim it completely open.
Yeah, the metal these picks are made of is extremely soft. It doesnt take anything to bend them, and I have to take extra care not to bend them as I am trying to use them.

[ToolyMcgee]

The "China 32mm" probably means it is a generic brass lock and the Channell stamped on the side could be it's function. Like when the power company stamps locks with their name or the function. The spelling of the word makes me think I am wrong as that's usually a brand distinction kind of thing. Anyway... did you figure out the reason it was jammed? Dirt, rust, etc?

That's the second time you have expressed the softness of the picks you are using. You might be using to much force, or it could be time for new picks.

[serpentine5]

Jammed? It being half locked? I did that in an attempt to see if the full side of the hasp would catch the lock and unlock when twisting as some double sides locking locks will do....
I think the picks are cheap to begin with, and then that are very old... I am guessing late 1970's or so.... I cannot make out the logo on the pouch that were in.
I am going through reading several things on the site, and will be making my own picks from hack saw blades. Is there a favored brand of hack saw blade or pretty much any will work?

[ToolyMcgee]

Oh, half locked. I didn't reread before I posted earlier. I've only made enough hacksaw picks to burn up 3 blanks, so I don't have a prefered brand. Favoured brand of hack saw blades among members seems to be whatever's cheapest or available. Once you go for the more expensive ones they start mess with steel hardness and use alloys that make the blade brittle. You want steel that if it bends doesn't break. Some people have good luck with feeler guage's as stock because it's stainless and pretty springy. Right now I am hooked on the metal wiper blade inserts because they are made from stainless spring steel and you don't have to burn off so much stock.

[serpentine5]

I saw that the inserts were used for tension wrenches, but not for picks... what are you using for a handle?
I have a neighbor who runs a auto parts store... I figure i could get him to collect several of the inserts for me....

[ToolyMcgee]

Yes, you are in the perfect position to hord some wiper inserts. They make great picks, and they don't rust and ruin your case. Very tough to bend as well. You can used anything you want for a handle. I usually choose to make the handles sandwiched between two others and use strong advesive to bond them, then cover it with heat shrink. Heat shrink tubing is used in electronics for binding together wire and is avaiable at Harbour Frieght, mendards, Lowes... etc. There really isn't any limit to the amount of different handle types you can make though. Check out the manual lockpicks section if you havn't already and I'm sure you'll see what I am talking about.

[straightpick]

Are the picks wide, about 1/4", with a pattern cut on the ends. If so, they are rocker picks, made specifically for automotive locks. They are not used like regular picks.

[TOWCH]

Are the picks wide, about 1/4", with a pattern cut on the ends. If so, they are rocker picks, made specifically for automotive locks. They are not used like regular picks.

I agree. The labeling by make sounds like automotive rocker picks, and I suggest you put them away and get some cheap southords before you break them. They shouldn't be bending all over the place. That is an indication of excessive tension and picking force.