Fortress brand padlocks

[ElbowMacaroni]

Are the fortress brand padlocks just total junk or do they make some that would be a challenge too?

I have a 40mm one, and I can pick it just by sticking anything in there and applying tension, even a second tension wrench or the flat back of any of my picks. It doesn't even seem like I have to manipulate anything, and looking at the key the bitting isn't flat or even that close to flat either.

That just blew my mind, I picked it on the first try with no effort... it's just scary... Of course, alot that I'm learning about locks in general is just scary. I used to think that kwikset was a good lock LOL! I can open my deadbolt by them that I'd had laying around in no time flat, and it even has two long pins up front of the keyway, but no sec pins (I know shocker right?)

Just curious...

[MacGnG1]

fortress brand, like from target??? i got one on sale, its a decent practice lock.

[thelockpickkid]

I think they are junk! I have picked a few that did the same thing, you just stick anything in them and jiggle a tiny bit and they pop, I would expect to buy these in a dollar store!

[ElbowMacaroni]

Yeah, I picked this one up at Target. Thought it'd make a good practice lock, but when you can pick it practically by applying tension and blowing in it... (obviously an exegeration to make a point) IDK how good for practice it is... but it sure makes a good "confidence" lock! HAHAHAHAHHA

[thelockpickkid]

They are not good for practice at all in my opinion, your not going to learn much from a lock that opens when you just barely touch it. The club, has some padlocks that are cheap as hell, you can find them at almost any discount type of place, they are easy to open but at least they give you some feedack and put up a little bit of a fight at least!

[ToolyMcgee]

Seems like Fortress locks are just more Master's, except they are more prone to have tolerance problems more often. I have a few good ones, but mostly they are slop. Master brand factory seconds? Those brass Brinks locks at Walmart are better spooled locks, and if you can find one with a tough biting you are in for a treat. If you aren't used to spools, they can put up a decent fight.

[LocksmithArmy]

I have a few that I bought for my wall locker in basic(because they were the cheapest ) and some can be opened that way but a couple are pretty tough(2 out of 5). I think me and crappy tolerances don't get along though

[ElbowMacaroni]

Seems like Fortress locks are just more Master's, except they are more prone to have tolerance problems more often. I have a few good ones, but mostly they are slop. Master brand factory seconds? Those brass Brinks locks at Walmart are better spooled locks, and if you can find one with a tough biting you are in for a treat. If you aren't used to spools, they can put up a decent fight.

Cool, good to know, I don't have anything that I know has spools in it. I do wonder if that master #3 does because it seems to false set on a pin I know is a long one well before it should actually set. Of course since I'm trying to envision the insides of the keyway in my mind, I could be imagining things and actually overlifting and not realizning it or something. After all, I am fairly new to this addiction.

[lock2006]

The forstress lock i have is so easy to pick including the club padlock i have
i just got two brinks locks from walmart one disk lock R70 and the other one brass padlock 5 pins with spools in it
for this brass padlock i can open it just using my half dimond pick with some light tension and it just pop open
but for some reasons i can open this brass padlock with spools pins easier than the disk lock
the disk lock doesn't have any spools in it but it give you a better fight than the one with spools pins.

[BigRob40]

I have a chinese knockoff of the fortress disc padlock. I am trying to locate a key blank to impression this lock... to save some time i thought i would ask anyone here if they know what type of keyblank it might take? it resembles the m1 that fits the fortress but with an opposite profile..

[BigRob40]

After several attempts to find a key blank for a "fortress" knock-off disc padlock I decided to just disassemble it to see how it worked and retrieve the lock core. The core is a lot easier to open now that the tension of the shackle is no longer an issue. This small lock cylinder is a welcome addition to my practice locks, and if I come across this lock again in the future, perhaps I may be able to find the right key blank. If anyone on the site may be able to help I would appreciate it.

[chaos4zap]

FYI...I am almost certain that the Brinks Disk R70 does have at least one spool in it, maybe more. In my limited experience in the sport, I have found that just about all Brinks brand padlocks have spools in them. The same goes for the "ACE" hardware brand locks. Since they are still relatively cheap....if someone ask's me for a recomendation, I usually go with one of those two brands. Not oging to stop someone that really wants your stuff, but either brand is better than anything in Master's cheap-o lines.

[chaos4zap]

I forgot to mention...I know the Brink's R70 does not say on it that it has spools (most of their locks do clearly indicate inclusion of spool pins) I was having a hard time with it as well and I did some searching and found more than one person that had taken it apart and did, indeed, find spool pins.