Thank You LP101

[Blackford Oakes]

I just wanted extend a huge thank you to this website.

My wife and I have a shed on our property that is outfitted with a Master 6271 closed shackle lock. We lost the only remaining key a few weeks ago, but with the holiday weekend coming up and we needed access to the beach chairs and such that we keep stored in this shed.

Before I bit the bullet on having someone come out to remove the lock and make a key for it I decided to do a little research into what was involved in picking such a lock. I was at my office today cruising the interwebs for some instruction and came across Lockpicking101. I spent a fair amount of time here craming whatever knowledge I could on how to fashion the tools to acomplish my mission. I ended up with a homemade snake pick and rake pick made from sturdy brass-looking paperclips and employed a small jewelry screwdriver as my tension tool. I know paperclip picks are frowned upon in this community but time was a factor and I knew that wouldn't be able to order and receive a kit before we left for the weekend.

With my rag tag pick set I practiced on a 3 pin lock on my desk. Within 1 or 2 minutes and had picked it with the snake. My jaw dropped. I tried another 3 pin lock on a file cabinet -- same result.

I returned home this afternoon to try my hand the 6271. I knew I was up for a challenge as I had read in a product discription, "maximum pick resistant 6 pin lock". I used the snake and screwdriver again and had the lock off with 5 minutes.

Thank you again guys. I know my methods were crude, but I plan to order a 5 piece kit this week and really start learning the fine points.

I will try to get some pictures posted of the tools used soon.

[thededer]

Wow! what a great way to get into lock picking. congratz on picking your first few locks and keep at it

[Blackford Oakes]

I couldn't rotate the image for some reason, but here is what I used:

[thededer]

pretty good for spur of the moment but if I were you I would try to find some old garbage wiper blade preferably above 18 inches long and use the wiper inserts to make some picks here take a look at my pick that I made out of a street sweeper bristle and some heat shrink tubing

[thededer]

for some reason it would not let me upload my photo so i uploaded it on tinypic take a look http://tinypic.com/r/2nv6q36/6

[Legion303]

We don't really frown on paperclips as such, we just recommend that people use something more durable for the hobby. If you really need to get into something, use whatever you can. But I would suggest you replace the lock with a new one with key that you know will work properly. :)

-steve

[jondoe]

I couldn't rotate the image for some reason, but here is what I used:

That's great! This is a case in point that necessity is the mother of invention... or discovery.

[oORusHOo]

. I spent a fair amount of time here craming whatever knowledge I could on how to fashion the tools to acomplish my mission. I ended up with a homemade snake pick and rake pick made from sturdy brass-looking paperclips and employed a small jewelry screwdriver as my tension tool. I know paperclip picks are frowned upon in this community but time was a factor and I knew that wouldn't be able to order and receive a kit before we left for the weekend.

You were innovative and successful - I cannot think of anything I would rather come and read on LP101!
What might be frowned upon was that you picked two in-use locks in your office before trying the beach house lock. That generally considered a no-no, because you could have broken the locks ( for example, if your paperclips snapped off in side the lock... which is unlikely for brass, but I wouldn't want other people trying it ).

Still - good job mate. Really good job!

[Blackford Oakes]

Thanks, thededer. I'll look into that although I don't really have any tools for metal fabricating. What all is involved in cutting out patterns in the wiper metal?

We don't really frown on paperclips as such, we just recommend that people use something more durable for the hobby. If you really need to get into something, use whatever you can. But I would suggest you replace the lock with a new one with key that you know will work properly.

-steve

Steve, do you think that the lock is in good enough shape to have another key made and continue using? Did I likely damage it by using the paperclip pick?

[thededer]

a dremel tool or a rotary tool with some grinding stones would be great for shaping the picks but they can be completely done with metal files and a vise.

[raimundo]

I doubt that you did any harm to the lock, with paper clips, actually you are more likely to do harm with some stiff picks that are sold, with sharp edges etc.

harming a lock could be something such as destroying one of the tiny springs that are in some wafer locks when the picks thin end enters an area where the key cannot go.
other harm is when some foreign object is broken off in the lock. this is often a problem with inprovised tools.

Most new pickers use too much tension, you apparently are a natural though.

[Legion303]

Like Rai said, it would be hard to unintentionally damage a lock with paperclips. As for getting a key made, I don't know what the cost would be--it might be cheaper to buy another padlock. But then I've never had it done, so I can't even guess what it might cost.

-steve

[nostromo]

OP-

You've been such a successful do-it-yourselfer, may I suggest you research "impressioning"? If you have a round file and pair of vise grips you;d need only acquire a few key blanks that fit. May not even need the visegrips. Some folks use a bolt and long bodied nut to fit. You seem ingenious enough to come up with something! Looking forward to hearing more from you.

ORRRRR- if you can disassemble the lock, get a keyblank and cut the depths from the plug and pins. The Locksport International Lockpcking Guide is a good overview of how to take a lock apart and how things work.

Best of luck to you!

[Blackford Oakes]

nostromo,

Thank you for your suggestions.

I am more than intrigued by the impressioning process. Although I cann't quite wrap my mind around how by simply inserting a blank and binding the pins that they will leave marks of the correct pin depth combo on a the key blank blade.

I have found a a service procedure .pdf of the Master 6271/6270 ProSeries family of locks. This document illustrates exactly how to break this sucker down. This could be the easiest route for filing my key, but I would like to learn the art of impressioning -- just need to figure out how it works.

[Oaklandishh]

http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1396
hope that helps