Converting a tubular key into a tubular lock pick

[keyh0le]

Hey,

I'm thinking about modifying an existing tubular key and converting it into a simple and reasonable tubular lock pick by:


- Cutting the grooves of the key all the way down with a dremel, or by using a key copier machine at store for better accuracy.

- Inserting hairpins or something that resembles a pin -- onto the grooves, and then covering them tightly with rubber band on the side of the key that doesn't enter the lock.


Do you think this will work? suggestions are welcomed
Farewell

[pin_pusher]

i'm imagining this process, the thing i would worry about is any modification to a tubular key like that might make it easier to bust during the tension/turning procedure. tubular picks usually are not hollow like a key is, the brass might fray to pieces. also, holding the makeshift pick might be a little more difficult because of the size of the key as opposed to a tubular pick. might have to consider shaving off the outer guide so's it don't get stuck. i'd like to hear how the progress comes along. interesting idea.

[raimundo]

I get a key cut to the eighth depth on every position, (I think fort lock co has the 8 depth, which might be the same as ace depth 7, i havent' checked that out.

behind the cuts, I groove the tube to its upper end. and I also use hard silversmiths solder to fix the handle to the key tube before cutting off the back side of the key handle part where it needs to be removed for the fourth slider.

bobby pins are what I use for the sliders, but they are a bit thick for entry into the keyspace, so the last quarter inch of the sliders is filed and sanded smooth to thin it where it enters the keyway.

I have used fimo and plastic wood on the handles of the various ones I have made. There may be a sticky post of this, I have shared it on the site before.

to cut the grooves back from the key cutter placements, center a needle tricorner file on the top of the keycut and make a guide line to the end of the tube. cut this deep enought that you can follow the groove with a round tapered needle file which will open out the v groove to a U groove. then use a knife file with an un cut back edge to make the grooves sharp edged at the bottom, so they dont help things slide out of the groove, /_\ even lean in a bit if necessary.

You might want to try a different method, perhaps a rod welded to the end of the keytube or a bolt put through the key tube.

you may have difficulty fixing a pickup inside the tube for turning the stem of the lock, but the tool will work without that key pickup if the pins are pushed by the edges of the keycutter grooves, so it's not actually necessary to make a pickup for that stem, but if you are inventing as you go along, your groove pickup could be part of the bolt through handle extension and could even be made for change out to another pickup such as the left or right or eight pin, in fact, just make it the 8 pin pickup, as that satisfies all the 7l and 7r changes.