Help with a BEST lock

by **ady1989** » 5 Sep 2008 10:26

You are going to hear quite a lot of snaps, but that's because the lock is very stiff and loud not because I was forcing them in

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by **ToolyMcgee** » 5 Sep 2008 10:34

Oh, I know how it goes. I've got on I can release tension on completely and it still won't rotate back without carefully inserting another tension wrench to try to spin it backwards on pin click, but if I'm tense or going for speed then it's time to test that pick and see if I can get that SNAP! Usually though if the stack is master pinned it causes me to loose track of which set I actually have, so I try to restrain my urge to prybar the sucker. I read somewhere they are starting to use some spool pins for top pins. Very limited use of course. I'm curious to see what that does to the function of the lock. I'd like to think it would make it easier to decode, but the machining is so tight I have a feeling it's not the blessing I would hope for.

by **mkultra23** » 5 Sep 2008 12:53

Maxxx:"some of the clearances between a single pin stack of less than 1/2 a pencil lead" ??????????????? what are you refering to exactly? The minimum thickness of an A2 master pin or the shear line or just the space between to pins in a stack? First off they are definitely pickable it's just a "yale/egyptian" type of lock, not super complicated. The tolerances between the plug outer diameter,and the shells inner diameter are typically tighter than cheaper cylinders but this doesn't make it impossible. I wonder what odds you'd give on picking an IC with spool pins and seven chambers. Also Best has at least 72 different keyways, once you'v seen the Best premium keyway's TD doesn't look so tough. I f anyone is interested in a copy of the Best keyways let me know. There really is no lock that cannot be opened by covert means once enough effort has been devoted to doing so (Just look to Mechanical Development Company for proof of that).

by **ridinplugspinnaz** » 7 Sep 2008 2:26

maxxx wrote:Its not a matter to me about the glitches in my post log. Big deal. My point is that there is very little chance this lock was picked to the shear line of the basic key.

Odds of 10.000 to 1. 6 times 6 with some of the clearances between a single pin stack of less than 1/2 a pencil lead? Muliply that by 6 pin stacks? 1000s of shear lines. And you hit the the gopher key?

A2s are a tough nut to crack. Not a chance you picked it. With all due respect, you are blowing smoke. My pants dont have that particular straw placed in the seat at the time of purchase.

I sincerely hope you're kidding, buddy. In fact, if that is a mastered SFIC cylinder in the padlock, in 99% of cases it's going to be easier to pick than a "standard" 6 or 7 pin SFIC core. Heck, I can pick my mastered SFIC core in 10-15 seconds if I'm paying attention to what I'm doing. Did it tonight, as a matter of fact

by **ridinplugspinnaz** » 7 Sep 2008 2:31

mkultra23 wrote:Maxxx:"some of the clearances between a single pin stack of less than 1/2 a pencil lead" ??????????????? what are you refering to exactly? The minimum thickness of an A2 master pin or the shear line or just the space between to pins in a stack? First off they are definitely pickable it's just a "yale/egyptian" type of lock, not super complicated. The tolerances between the plug outer diameter,and the shells inner diameter are typically tighter than cheaper cylinders but this doesn't make it impossible. I wonder what odds you'd give on picking an IC with spool pins and seven chambers. Also Best has at least 72 different keyways, once you'v seen the Best premium keyway's TD doesn't look so tough. I f anyone is interested in a copy of the Best keyways let me know. There really is no lock that cannot be opened by covert means once enough effort has been devoted to doing so (Just look to Mechanical Development Company for proof of that).

I'd be very interested in seeing the different Best keyways out there. I knew there were a lot, but 72+? Holy cow! I've seen maybe a dozen of them myself, at most.[/b]

by **ToolyMcgee** » 7 Sep 2008 2:40

Yeah, I know 27, and then 44 W's. That's 71. I'm missing one... they probably have 50 newer ones since the last time I looked anyway. It's never enough with this company. When will it end!!!!

by **ridinplugspinnaz** » 7 Sep 2008 3:51

So, while we're on the topic of Best SFICs, can anyone recommend a good place to find tools for repinning these types of cores? The Peterson SFIC tension tools have already been mentioned for trying to work cylinders without the control key, but I'm interested in finding a fair price on tools like the A-1 core clamp / decoder block like the one that Matt Blaze demonstrates in his writeup on SFIC cylinders. Lockpicktools seems to have a similar block to the A-1 (though not as elegant IMHO), but $85 seems pretty darn steep to me. Is that just the going rate for a specially-designed block of aluminum these days?

by **globallockytoo** » 7 Sep 2008 17:03

ridinplugspinnaz wrote:So, while we're on the topic of Best SFICs, can anyone recommend a good place to find tools for repinning these types of cores? The Peterson SFIC tension tools have already been mentioned for trying to work cylinders without the control key, but I'm interested in finding a fair price on tools like the A-1 core clamp / decoder block like the one that Matt Blaze demonstrates in his writeup on SFIC cylinders. Lockpicktools seems to have a similar block to the A-1 (though not as elegant IMHO), but $85 seems pretty darn steep to me. Is that just the going rate for a specially-designed block of aluminum these days?

I have an old set that I never use....pretty complete with original pinning kits and a few jigs (put together by the guy I bought my truck from. I dont use it at all (at least not in the last 18 months)......I'll locate it....snap a pic....make me an offer?

by **mkultra23** » 7 Sep 2008 18:23

anyone interested in a copy of the currently available BEST keyways PM me your e-mail and I'll send you a copy.

by **ridinplugspinnaz** » 8 Sep 2008 0:30

globallockytoo wrote:
ridinplugspinnaz wrote:So, while we're on the topic of Best SFICs, can anyone recommend a good place to find tools for repinning these types of cores? The Peterson SFIC tension tools have already been mentioned for trying to work cylinders without the control key, but I'm interested in finding a fair price on tools like the A-1 core clamp / decoder block like the one that Matt Blaze demonstrates in his writeup on SFIC cylinders. Lockpicktools seems to have a similar block to the A-1 (though not as elegant IMHO), but $85 seems pretty darn steep to me. Is that just the going rate for a specially-designed block of aluminum these days?

I have an old set that I never use....pretty complete with original pinning kits and a few jigs (put together by the guy I bought my truck from. I dont use it at all (at least not in the last 18 months)......I'll locate it....snap a pic....make me an offer?

Check your PMs

by **mkultra23** » 8 Sep 2008 8:16

check out HL Flake if you need any decent locksmithing tools at a decent price. I think alot of the retailers out there mark up their prices @ 300% but flake is reasonable compared to most. I would go for the LAB IC pinning Annex and A2 pinning kit. Unless you intend to work Falcon cores in that case check out A-1 tools IC pinning and decoding blocks. Unfortunately there don't seem to be any IC tools available from New Sparkling or the like.

by **ridinplugspinnaz** » 8 Sep 2008 19:23

mkultra23 wrote:check out HL Flake if you need any decent locksmithing tools at a decent price. I think alot of the retailers out there mark up their prices @ 300% but flake is reasonable compared to most. I would go for the LAB IC pinning Annex and A2 pinning kit. Unless you intend to work Falcon cores in that case check out A-1 tools IC pinning and decoding blocks. Unfortunately there don't seem to be any IC tools available from New Sparkling or the like.

Well, I googled them and found their website, but they seem to be pretty serious about selling only to security professionals. Do you think that's going to be a problem for me, as more of a hobbyist who just wants to repin a couple of cores? I know that some companies are more serious than others about strictly selling to locksmiths.

by **mkultra23** » 8 Sep 2008 20:35

that's true, I forgot about that. however the products I mentioned are not really tools that are restricted. That of course doesn't mean Flake will sell them too you but if you contact them and explain that you just want equipment for servicing IC they might be receptive. These tools are often purchased by non-security professionals such as real estate agents, property managers and the like. If they are adamant you still have options, one would be a large lock shop that sells a lot of hardware; often they are wholesale suppliers of locks and other hardware for locksmiths and sell all the tools necessary to service them. They most likely won't have a problem selling you IC pinning equipment, but I would suggest avoiding the mention of locksport as this may cause some apprehension. If that doesn't work just google the products I mentioned or contact BEST directly and tell them you want to buy a small package deal, BEST is one company that actually WON'T sell you their product's if you are a locksmith.

by **Urbex** » 9 Sep 2008 8:34

You can put in your address, and make up some company name.

I've registered an account a while ago just so I could see what they had to offer. While I'm not completely sure I could order anything, my account was activated and I could successfully log in.

by **mkultra23** » 9 Sep 2008 9:11

Unethical or not, that would probably work.

Help with a BEST lock

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