Upside down or rightside up?

[geekyguy83]

So far I've been picking with the pins on the bottom of the lock. Does it make a difference whether you pick with the pins on the bottom or on the top?

[Solomon]

Nope. You'll find one way easier depending on your picking style, but it doesn't make any physical difference so there's no right or wrong way to do it. Although when picking static it's good form to mount it the correct way up; rim cylinders are fitted with pins up top and euros are mostly the other way.

[geekyguy83]

Thank you. Also, what exactly is the difference between euro and us cylinders?

[WolfSpring]

Only difference which way you pick is gravity... If you've got a bum spring and you pick it pins down you might not ever figure it out or get it open, other than that, it's all about preference.

From my understanding most euro style are pins down and thiner keyways.

[Solomon]

Thank you. Also, what exactly is the difference between euro and us cylinders?

It's just the format of the cylinder. US and european doors are different, as are the locks which fit into them. The standard residential setup in the UK uses a cylinder with a rotating cam, which is designed to throw the main bolt in a multi point locking door. We do use standard wooden doors with night latch setups aswell though, and those are pretty much identical to what you use over there. They can be deadlocking or not, and are often used in conjunction with a mortice. I've seen them on doors fitted with euros aswell.

I don't think US cylinders all use the same sort of tailpiece though; I have a few US cylinders which use the standard tailpiece I'm familiar with but the kwikset lock I was given has a weird sort of hollowed out cam on the back. Whatever the format of the lock though, internally it's all the same basic mechanism. We do use a lot of mortice locks on wooden doors aswell but those are a whole other kettle of fish, and the proper european high sec doors have some really insane stuff going on in them.

[raimundo]

euros tend to have stronger springs, as gravity could cause a malfunction over a weak spring,

They also seem to have a longer 'bible' and on some of them a comb pick could probably be used.

[theTastyCat]

I find that picking pins down gives me a much greater amount of feel and control, and thus allow me to open locks much faster than right-side-up. I can sort of naturally contract my hand, giving gentle but controlled pressure to the pick. Pins up means I have to push the pins rather than pull down, and it does make a difference for me. However, once I am able to conquer a lock pins-down I force myself to learn it pins-up.