an easier way to re-pin the lock

[Hugokhf]

I have been trying to re-pin my cylinder rim for ages, and using the tweezers technique to put the driver pin is quite a pain

so I have found another method.
put double sticky tape on the tip of your tension wrench's handle. very small size is fine.
then stick the driving pin on the tip of the wrench, so that 1/3 or driving pin is sticking out.

afterwards, you can stick the pin on top of the spring, with only one hand, so you can prepare with your plug easier.

Not the most ground-breaking thing, but helps me a lot.

[spoonzor]

i was thinking the same when i was reassembling a lock couple of days ago but i was scared about glue being left on the pins.

[alockguru]

get a plug follower with the slot in the back the one that looks like: |U|, Or make something simular. Then you can just toss the driver pin in, twist the follower if needed to line up with the chamber, push pin down and push follower up to next chamber.

[keysman]

get a plug follower with the slot in the back the one that looks like: |U|, Or make something simular. Then you can just toss the driver pin in, twist the follower if needed to line up with the chamber, push pin down and push follower up to next chamber.

picture of the type of follower being discussed in this thread :
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=49657&p=375157#p375157

[cledry]

A regular follower and pin tweezers work fine for me. Perhaps it is just your technique that needs a bit of practice. You hold the pin so about a third is exposed, starting with one of the middle pins you place the pin on the spring, push down a little and at the same time push your follower against the pin to hold it in place, then with the tip of your tweezers push it down completely whilst maintaining pressure on the pin with the follower. Slide the follower over that pin and work on the next closest pin to you. Then repeat the process from the opposite end starting in the middle next to where you started the first time.

It will become second nature and is a skill worth learning. Gets a bit trickier with spool drivers or hollow drivers but still quite easy. I think I did about 50 or 60 Corbin locks in the field today and all had to be loaded with spools in 5 of the six chambers.

[bjornnrojb]

I don't know why you guys need tweezers. It is pretty easy for me to grab a pin with my finger and thumb and drop it into the channel of my follower, line the edge of the channel up with the pin chamber, and push the top pin down into the chamber over a spring with the flat side of my tension wrench.

[GWiens2001]

Some of us use either completely hollow followers or solid follows without grooves.

Gordon

[phrygianradar]

I don't know why you guys need tweezers. It is pretty easy for me to grab a pin with my finger and thumb and drop it into the channel of my follower, line the edge of the channel up with the pin chamber, and push the top pin down into the chamber over a spring with the flat side of my tension wrench.

I agree for the most part with this, but there are a few locks that are just way too difficult to pin with just your fingers; like a Kaba dimple lock for instance. In my opinion, a good pair of tweezers can be invaluable, but a poor quality pair can be way more frustrating than nothing at all. Some locks can be done easily the way you describe with your tension wrench and some are a bit more challenging which necessitate another tool to manipulate small drivers etc. Not to mention those of us with big clumsy hands. And like Gordon said, some of us don't have a plug follower with a groove... I like my tweezers. Just my two cents.

[cledry]

I don't know why you guys need tweezers. It is pretty easy for me to grab a pin with my finger and thumb and drop it into the channel of my follower, line the edge of the channel up with the pin chamber, and push the top pin down into the chamber over a spring with the flat side of my tension wrench.

Probably because most locksmiths I know do it this way. I use a Keedex Master pin follower generally and I don't see how using fingers (at least not my manly fingers) would work. When you are rekeying 100 locks or more a day you do it the fastest way possible.

[Raymond]

Pin your cylinder any way you want. Dont worry about presenting a silly variation. The more ideas people become aware of, the easier it is to make the choice that is right for that specific job.

My first impression was to say just wait until your muscle memory adapts. Stop being a ninney. Bite the bullet and learn the skill. The owner of my shop can pin a Best core faster than I can using her long fingernails, but, she had to have my heavy handed help to replace the retainer on a Kwikset. So, if this technique is only for hobby work it doesnt matter.

After 50+ years pinning all kinds of locks my tweezers are like an extension of my big, fat, calloused fingers. They remove plug retainers, pick up stuff off the floor of my van so I dont get brass slivers in my fingers, remove snap rings, reapply snap rings, pick up .030" master wafers, sort spilled pins, apply Illinois/Duo springs and wafers in the inner slot, etc., etc. And I cannot understand how anyone can eat rice with chopsticks!

Good day!