Need help with Best I core lock.

[lancoff]

I have been trying to pick a couple of the Best I cores that I have lying around for a couple of months now. I have rummaged through the different threads trying to find more information to help me but I feel I must now humbly ask for help. I was wondering if anyone had any tips for trying to pick these locks and yes these are my locks that I purchased myself. I have tried making tension tools like the Peterson's SFIC tension wrenches and still had no luck. I am wondering if I show just put up the money and buy one of their tool sets for these locks. Any advice on this would be helpful. Even if it is just pointing me to a thread that I missed.

Thanks

[yono]

hi there, Best I cores can comfortably be "turned" by light raking.. and when it is in its hanged position, follow it up by random picking, using the same normal rake pick. this is just based on my experience and they are just effective than picking the pins all the way. regards.

[Wizer]

I´ve been picking this 7-pin sfic for months too. No success.
I allso made a peterson-like tensioner, but I bet it doesn´t work since it has not helped me.
Lately I´ve been staring at the key trying to bind the pins where they should. I run outta patience!

I guess its just a hard lock.
You have my symphaties, lancoff
-Wizer

[MacGnG1]

so schuyler explained how they work at his HacDC presentation: the best cores have TWO shear lines, one to open the lock and then one for the control key. you have to pick all the pins to the correct shear line. so you cant have 3 pins picked to the first shear line and the other 4 pins picked to the control shear line.

(Thats how I understand it. if i got anything wrong please correct me.)

[CaptHook]

Correct on the 2 shear lines. The Peterson style I core wrench works if the control sleeve has not been modified. It is becoming more and more common to run into cores with elongated sleeve holes however.
A good trick you can try is a super thick wrench. Find yourself some flat brazing rod from a plumbing supply store. As it is, it will be too thick. Heat it and bend it into an L shape, then start thinning the head of the wrench out with sandpaper. You need to be able to firmly wedge the wrench between the warding of the plug and the bottom of the control sleeve. If you get it wedged tight enough, they will turn as one. This will help with the 2 shear line issue, but it wont completely eliminate it.
Chuck

[lancoff]

Great idea! To use a brazing rod. I may give that a try. I have a locksmith friend who told me to use a allen wrench with the head flattened out as a tension wrench. I wonder how well that would work for what you are describing. Thanks for all the information and the tip.

Lancoff