Multi shear line cylinder modification

[FarmerFreak]

This lock was completely inspired by this post of Raymonds.

I once had to drill out a tubular lock that I just could not pick. I then took it apart and found two round, flat plates inserted between the normal shear line. Each plate was drilled exactly for all pins. Half of the pins were spools. However, there was one additional non-moving pin that would allow the plate to rotate about 5 degrees. So, if you picked the lock to the shear between the plate and the top part of the lock, you would set the plate in a position that was non moving and none of the pins would pick any more. The bottom plate was exactly the same. The key opened the lock by setting the pins at the shear line between the two plates. If trying to pick it you still would not know which plate you set your pins at and the spools would mess everything up. I wish I could remember the brand name. Happy planning.

It is proving to be incredibly difficult to pick.

[femurat]

Impressive!
This is one of the rare situations when a cutaway could be priceless.

Have you tried to pick it with just 2 or 3 pins? Can you feel any difference when setting correctly the pins?
Again, very interesting experiment!

Cheers

[FarmerFreak]

I keyed it up with regular pins and managed to pick it once. I think it took roughly 15 minutes. And I was knowingly and trying to pick all the pins to the second (correct) shear line. Which means that I had to keep ignoring the setting sensation of the first shear line.

Since I added the security pins, I haven't picked it. I've probably only played with it for 30 minutes with security pins. And no I haven't played with only 2-3 pins, so far it's been all or nothing.

[FarmerFreak]

I'll have to chalk that one time I picked this lock to some kind of beginners luck. I re-pinned it to a different combination this morning, without any security pins. And I haven't managed to pick it at all today. I have spent several hours trying to get it too.


I was thinking that these kinds of security pins below would be perfect for this lock. Supposing that it still works fairly smoothly with them.

The thin lines across the middle would show where the shear lines would be when the pins are at rest. I figured on the pin depths 4-9 they should have a false spool at all the same spot, just in case someone (like me) decided to look inside the lock and decode it visually.

I also think that a couple of barrel driver pins would be perfect for this lock. Something like two of them thrown into two chambers at random.

[femurat]

Nice pins

Don't forget to add a regular driver in the last chamber, just to keep the lock at 12 o'clock and avoid the other pins to catch on the false notches while inserting the key.

Cheers

[FarmerFreak]

I made another multi-shearlined lock today. In some ways it is a step backwards, because it only has one false shear line. On the other hand it is a huge leap forward because of how it utilizes the barrel pins I put in it.





The reason the barrel pins are so nasty in this lock. Is that if the lock gets set to the barrel pins the slider can (and will) move over effectively blocking the key pins from being lifted anymore. I also added two stiff springs over some of the shallow bittings, which seems to have put an immediate end to a co-workers pick gun attempts.

At the moment, I'm not even sure if this lock can be picked. At least without very special picks. Only time will tell.

[FarmerFreak]

Just an update.

I've gotten to where pick the dual shear lined one fairly consistantly with the barrel pins. Even though for a period of time there I almost thought it to be impossible. It's a different picking experience for sure though.

I've managed to pick the tri shear lined lock once more with regular pins. Haven't tried with the special pins as I have zero consistancy with the regular pins.

I now think the special pins in the picture for the tri shear lined lock is a better design than the barrel pins I am playing with on the dual shear lined lock. ...It's hard to go wrong with Assa drivers.

[ChemicalRobot]

Very cool idea and implementation. I wonder how drill resistant it would make a lock if it were to have one of these "floating shear lines" made from some sort of hardened steel. Due to the modular nature of the piece of metal it seems viable.

[mhole]

Now that's cool! That'll teach me to describe your experiments as fun but of no practical use... I can totally see that idea being used commercially.

[jdislandlock]

looks like a very cool lock and a very fun experiment, good luck ill try to keep up with the updates

props

[HirosStorageUnit]

Wow this stuff is way over my head.

very neat and very cool.

[LocksmithArmy]

the trishearline will be more complicated because on the double shear line you can overlift and still use couterrotation to set them... witht he tri shearline you wont be able to do this effeciantly...

[Raymond]

Check out the reference below. It refers to a pick proof lock that would freeze up if the correct key was not used. There is also a reference to many of Segal's patents.

http://www.segallock.com/history.shtml

[FarmerFreak]

I recently made another multiple shear line lock cylinder. I used drunken spools (stacked T drivers), plus a few other little oddities. The important part is that it works really really well and I can't pick it. Yes, even though it is a cutaway and I can look inside. I have yet to be able to pick it. Maybe if I made a custom rake, ...but when you know the bitting, it would be considered cheating.



The correct key in the cylinder.






A key blank in the cylinder.


Important things to notice with just the blank in the cylinder.
Many of the chambers have master pins above the springs, because of the T pins those master pins create a solid stop to prevent any of the pins from being lifter higher than a zero depth.
This is where the correct shear line is.
The key pins are all the same size, but cannot be pushed any higher than they are here. The key pins are essentially a negative two depth.

[MBI]

Dude, that is wild.