Does anyone here use double diamond or figure 8 picks?

[Engineer]

I'm interested in if anyone actually uses the double diamond picks, or the figure eight picks, or even the full circle picks?

I've been using their "half" equivalents, the diamond pick, dual half-circle and the half-circle picks. I don't like them too much, but actually found the "full" versions of them all but unusuable. The problem was that the picks were too tall, even getting them in a keyway was difficult and I couldn't pick anything with them as the lowest pin was invariably lifted too high while trying to pick the other pins. Raking with them had the same problem as well.

The only use I've thought of for them, is in picking locks that have opposing sets of pins or wafers. They mean you can pick both sides without having to take the pick out on some locks (generally you have to use a tension ring with them, a simple tension wrench gets in the way of course).

So I got around to wondering if it was me overlooking something about them? Or are they not really used much by others as well?

[poor paperclip picker]

The only time I've used my double ball (what you called figure 8, looks like =====OO) was on a wafer lock. It did a pretty decent job, but I still prefer my half diamond.

[Major Boothroyd]

I'm still new to picking, but so far I've haven't find a use for the double ball and I don't have a double diamond. I dont really use the double half ball, or single half ball but that's probably because, like I said, I'm fairly new and still only picking padlocks.

[straightpick]

The only thim I have used a doubleball pick is on Chicago double bitted locks - the keys have a "wavy" pattern on both sides.

[raimundo]

theres a beautiful ball and a diamond, (not halfdiamond) on page six of tooly mcgees picks thread. both the ball and the diamond would go into a dimple lock and lift pins by rotating the pick so that one side of the picktip fulcrums off the bottom of the keyway, and the other edge lifts the pin.

[Engineer]

Raimundo! I'm kicking myself for not thinking of this use for them. I have some special "dimple" picks, but an ordinary ball or diamond should work well.

Just confirms what I've always said about keeping all picks, even when you don't seem to use them. I've been trying to use them to SPP or even SWP.

I'm off to go pull a Kaba off the shelves and give it a try now, a whole new use for some of my under-used picks. Thanks for that Raimundo!

[raimundo]

picking kaba, before picking kaba, do the search, I hear the search function works on this new interface, Zeke 79 has some good posts on how to avoid a pin drop out problem.

[talbuz]

I get good results with the single and double ball for the wafer locks found in some postboxes and filing cabinets here.

That's really interesting that they can be used for dimple locks in that way!

[khelben]

double ball pick is the first one i grab for a LO here as we have mostly kwickpick brand in use and a simple rocking up / down will open most.
as sit is me job i usualy go for the fast open at work and more times than not the double ball gets it done.

[talbuz]

I've just tried Raimundo's suggestion and opened a dimple padlock with a single ball rake. Tried double ball first but it felt cumbersome, so then went to single. Yes it really works great to pivot the rake against the side of the lock and push the pins with the other edge. It felt like it was straining my pick quite a bit though, so I prefer to work with my dimple pick, but great to know and use if caught without one.

[swaps]

Hi,
I use a ball or double ball for filing cabinets at work. They have never failed to open one in seconds. Have tried them on other locks but with no success.

Alan

[Riordian]

Full ball and double "full" ball are only for double sided wafer locks. However the smaller ball on the double ball can open luggage padlocks as you can see on the picture.

[unlisted]

Full ball and double "full" ball are only for double sided wafer locks. However the smaller ball on the double ball can open luggage padlocks as you can see on the picture.

...So can a good sneeze...

[exspook]

double sided wafer locks, the higher security L&F variety

I am going to give the KABA 20 a wiggle though

Dave

[Scott_93]

I don't like using my southord balls as they always seem to catch on the ins /wafers, but in saying that, one of my lockie mentors swears by them...just proof that it's each to there own .

Scott.