Lever picks

[Houdini Locksmiths]

Hi there, I just wondered what the difference is between the standard 78 key pick set sold by SKS etc and a 15 key set sold by Multipick (not for 3 lever). If I've read it correctly the set sold by Multipick is only for Chubb where as the latter set is designed for Era, Chubb etc. Do you know/ think the Multipick set is any good?

Thanks

Harry

[pinky]

no set of just 15 try out keys will work on a chubb let alone chubb and era, though i do know a 101 member who managed to open an invincible with 3 lever jigglers.

the 78 key set is about 50% effective, you are supposed to give it a minute a key, thats one long lock out, for the money these picks are a waste, you can cut down the time with these keys by taking a plastercine impression with a homemade reader key, read the key and you will at least know the shape of the key and reduce your time by only trying the relevent keys.

buy these picks and i guarantee like all the rest of us you will either sell them to another unsuspecting newbie or grind them down for tension tools and buy the pin and cam kit that works in under 10 minutes.

if you dont buy a pin and cam then fine , but please dont waste money on these try out keys, otherwise in months to come i will say i told you so.

[mbell]

I think the 15 piece set from Multipick is for really old chubb locks or cabinet locks. As pinky said, no set of 15 try-out keys will open even the majority of any make of five lever mortice lock.

On a different note, the three lever try-out sets are really handy. Especially with two and three lever locks that have side wards on the keyway & you can't fit normal 2 in 1 picks in.

[pinky]

the 3 lever try outs are a must for any tool kit, they also open alot more 5 lever locks than they should, the moral i suppose is try everything as you never know.

the 5 lever try outs are an expensive toy of little use.

a skill well worth learning on all lever locks is to read the lever, you will need a scope to do this, basicaly you look inside the keyhole at the belly of the levers with an endoscope, where the key picks up and drops off the lever it scratches leaving a shiny area of lever, each cut will leave a different length mark, you can then decode the key by eye, it takes practice but works.
i know a locksmith who opens lever locks this way, he looks at the bellies types the code into his machine and cuts the key.

[Houdini Locksmiths]

Thanks, I suppose if I had a Chubb key lever reader I could take a lever reading and make a new key from scratch. This would then eliminate the need/ use of a decoder/ pin&cam? Do you know what Chubb locks these lever readers work on?

[cred]

when i have a 2 or 3 lever lock to open and having trouble with the try-out keys if the lock has side wards i just take a small file and file till i can get the 2 in 1 through the key hole,i agree though the 2 -3 lever are a must for your kit, the way to id a 2 or 3 lever lock in a door is if you put a 2 lever try out key in the keyway of a 3 lever it will feel sloppy,it should be a snug fit,saves time going through all 15 keys

[Rockford]

Regarding the lever readers - to do this, you'd need the levers from the lock in order to decode them. Not possible if you're on a lockout. Same with the key reader - only of use if you want to decode a key in order to check the levers are in correct positions, or change the levers to fit a new key.

If I've misunderstood - please correct me.

Cred - is it the 2-1 pick you're filing, or the keyway ?.

Rockford.

[pinky]

you file the keyway not the pick, file keyway to make pick fit.

you didnt missunderstand lever reader, i think houdini has missunderstood.

as rockford said the lever reader set is only any use if you have the levers in your hand.

you can read the belly of the lever with a 70 degree endoscope by sight only, you need to be bloody good to do this as by eye you decode the lock by the length of the scratches on the belly, the endoscope will cost you alot more than a pin and cam.

everybody is looking for the cheap way to beat a bs3621 lock, trust me there isnt one, you can waste a fortune trying, but in the end you buy the tool, save yourself time and money and buy one now.

there is only 1 cheap way to beat a bs3621 lock , its a 24 volt drill and a 20mm hard plate drill bit, guaranteed opening, but not the opening of a locksmith.

[pinky]

i think that houdini refers to the plastercine reader key you use with the pin and cam, yes you could read this and try making the key, though the plastercine impression only narrows it down fromm 1000 key possibilities to 81 possible keys, if you want to stand and cut 81 keys then so be it.

if you want another way, buy all 1000 key possibilities, though even this is dearer than a pin and cam, as is cutting 81 keys every time

[Houdini Locksmiths]

I fully understand now, Thank you. I will have to bow down and purchase a Bs lock tool.

Harry

[cred]

sorry if i wasnt too clear as pinky said you file the keyway,just enough to get the 2 in 1 in

[Rockford]

No need to apologise mate - just curious what you were filing. I've learnt the hard way not to mess around too much with 2-1 picks, and have been forced to buy replacements as a result. Lot cheaper to widen/lower a keyhole !.

[pinky]

not such a costly mistake mate, get yourself a few 7 lever safelocks, file the pick some more and broaden your horizons, they probably still fit a number of locks.

i carry about 40 2 in 1 picks, filed down for various mortice and safe locks.

for houdini , i was a bit blunt earlier mate, its just i hear it all the time someone trying to find the cheaper way of picking a chubb.
the pin and cam is by far the quickest and easiest way to achieve 100% openings, it also allows you to rekey the lock easily, but the only effective cheaper way of doing this , is with a curtain pick and alot of practice, i use the curtain wheel pick alot and swear by it, it takes alot of practice but is by far the most skillfull opening, the pin and cam removes the need for skill and commercialy makes sense and makes money, but its good to pick it.

[Rockford]

Well - If someone didn't keep buying-up all the safe locks !!!!!

[pinky]

i know im a swine for them, sad thing is i sit and pick the lot before fitting them.
start with sks 7 lever safe locks approx £6 each then progress up.