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American 1100-How Difficult?

Information about locks themselves. Questions, tips and lock diagram information should be posted here.

American 1100-How Difficult?

Postby MortimerDuke » 31 Aug 2012 10:08

I have a couple of American 1100 padlocks I'm trying to master. They are chock full of spool pins and serrated pins, and for me, the locks are difficult.
My question: How do all of you rank these locks in terms of difficulty? By that, what lock would you consider just a little easier, and which lock would you consider just a little more difficult?
MortimerDuke
 
Posts: 113
Joined: 31 May 2012 14:12

Re: American 1100-How Difficult?

Postby cyrano138 » 31 Aug 2012 11:11

The 1100's are pretty tough, especially if they're well used. If you want something with spools that is a little easier, the Abus 85/40's have spools and are a challenge but not quite as much. Having said that, though, and I say this only based on personal experience, the Americans seem to be a thing unto themselves. In other words, working with other locks (that I know of) won't get you any closer to opening an American, and opening Americans has yet to help me get anything else open. Maybe that's true to some extent of most kinds of locks, but I haven't noticed it until I got to this particular type.
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cyrano138
 
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Re: American 1100-How Difficult?

Postby MortimerDuke » 31 Aug 2012 12:38

Thanks. Watched your video about the 1100 last night. I wish more people would take the time to include thoughtful, clear audio as you did. I don't get much out of the 30-second "watch me rake this open! woo hoo!" variety of videos.
MortimerDuke
 
Posts: 113
Joined: 31 May 2012 14:12

Re: American 1100-How Difficult?

Postby raimundo » 1 Sep 2012 9:33

@ mortimer duke

when that package comes, look for a loop handle tiny tip hook and try that in the 1100 keyway. think of it this way, I don't have a caliper here nor any american lock but what is the measurement between the shortest pin and the longest, its not much, maybe a hundred thousands
and how many cut depths are there, the difference between those depths is very slight.
try the tiny hook and light very light tension, and light picking pressure, dont try to lift pins all the way up, try to feel a set as you lift.
and don't even think about those serrate pins, they are not really difficult and the spools will show themselves when they start to set.
do not think that spool pins must be set in the same order every time you pick the lock, this can vary, possibly because one of the serrated pins is overset and it will drop into place with just some very light tapping with the tiny pick

and when this works post about it.
Wake up and smell the Kafka!!!
raimundo
 
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Re: American 1100-How Difficult?

Postby cyrano138 » 1 Sep 2012 9:35

MortimerDuke wrote:Thanks. Watched your video about the 1100 last night. I wish more people would take the time to include thoughtful, clear audio as you did. I don't get much out of the 30-second "watch me rake this open! woo hoo!" variety of videos.


Thanks!
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cyrano138
 
Posts: 126
Joined: 5 Mar 2012 13:50
Location: Sarasota, FL

Re: American 1100-How Difficult?

Postby MortimerDuke » 1 Sep 2012 13:55

raimundo wrote:@ mortimer duke

when that package comes, look for a loop handle tiny tip hook and try that in the 1100 keyway. think of it this way, I don't have a caliper here nor any american lock but what is the measurement between the shortest pin and the longest, its not much, maybe a hundred thousands
and how many cut depths are there, the difference between those depths is very slight.
try the tiny hook and light very light tension, and light picking pressure, dont try to lift pins all the way up, try to feel a set as you lift.
and don't even think about those serrate pins, they are not really difficult and the spools will show themselves when they start to set.
do not think that spool pins must be set in the same order every time you pick the lock, this can vary, possibly because one of the serrated pins is overset and it will drop into place with just some very light tapping with the tiny pick

and when this works post about it.


Will do, I'm looking forward to it. I hadn't thought about it until I read your post, but I probably am overthinking the binding order. Thanks
MortimerDuke
 
Posts: 113
Joined: 31 May 2012 14:12


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