Lock Picking 101 Forum
A community dedicated to the fun and ethical hobby of lock picking.
       

Lock Picking 101 Home
Login
Profile
Members
Forum Rules
Frequent Forum Questions
SEARCH
View New Posts
View Active Topics


Live Chat on Discord
LP101 Forum Chat
Keypicking Forum Chat
Reddit r/lockpicking Chat



Learn How to Pick Locks
FAQs & General Questions
Got Beginner Questions?
Pick-Fu [Intermediate Level]


Ask a Locksmith
This Old Lock
This Old Safe
What Lock Should I Buy?



Hardware
Locks
Lock Patents
Lock Picks
Lock Bumping
Lock Impressioning
Lock Pick Guns, Snappers
European Locks & Picks
The Machine Shop
The Open Source Lock
Handcuffs


Member Spotlight
Member Introductions
Member Lock Collections
Member Social Media


Off Topic
General Chatter
Other Puzzles


Locksmith Business Info
Training & Licensing
Running a Business
Keyways & Key Blanks
Key Machines
Master Keyed Systems
Closers and Crash Bars
Life Safety Compliance
Electronic Locks & Access
Locksmith Supplies
Locksmith Lounge


Buy Sell Trade
Buy - Sell - Trade
It came from Ebay!


Advanced Topics
Membership Information
Special Access Required:
High Security Locks
Vending Locks
Advanced Lock Pick Tools
Bypass Techniques
Safes & Safe Locks
Automotive Entry & Tools
Advanced Buy/Sell/Trade


Locksport Groups
Locksport Local
Chapter President's Office
Locksport Board Room
 

Wafer locks and keyway covers

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

Wafer locks and keyway covers

Postby Achyfellow » 2 Jan 2014 13:33

My mother went on a skiing trip yersterday, and her friend lost the ski carrier's keys. I told them they could go to a locksmith and ask him to cut a key since the code is written on the lock itself, but it was January the 1st and there was nothing open (Calling an emergency locksmith would have costed more than a new ski carrier). He chose to leave the whole thing at home with me and gave me permission to "Try to open it" until they returned.

So, despite having the finals in a week and something I can't resist trying, I have never picked a wafer lock and I'm really excited about it. Took a look at it and it doesn't look hard (Obviously it's not thought for security, since you can see the mechanism peeking under the carrier. It's a regular 3-wafer lock, code is 064), but there are two things that are making it uncomfortable to pick:

First is that there is a plastic keyway cover (I assume it's to keep the water and snow from entering). With the tension tool I can move part of it, but I still haven't figured out a way to completely open it. I'm trying to make a tool with some spares I have, but maybe there is an easier way.

The other one is that, unlike pins, I can't feel the wafers setting. In fact, I can't feel anything at all. I can move wafers up and down and fiddle in the lock with picks easily, but when I try to SPP (SWP?) it i get no feedback at all. I have also tried raking it and using a rake to jiggle it without results.

The cover is not an issue since I can perfectly move the pick with half of it opened (I was just asking out of curiosity), but the feedback thing is bugging me. Picked the other dimple lock I have just in case it was me losing the little sensitivity I had left on my hands, but I can pick that just fine, so I have no idea why is this happening.

Here are some photos with the lock cover opened and closed.
http://imgur.com/sNLshJA
http://imgur.com/G4YggYW
Achyfellow
 
Posts: 131
Joined: 1 Oct 2013 6:50

Re: Wafer locks and keyway covers

Postby unbreakable » 2 Jan 2014 17:22

Heavier tension and raking is usually the easiest to open wafer locks (personally), they usually have slop tolerances. Also due to their cheap manufacturing standards, they get banged up internally pretty easy.

If they still want to use this I'd just leave it alone and get a key cut to code for it.
Image
unbreakable
 
Posts: 1682
Joined: 28 Oct 2005 18:55
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada

Re: Wafer locks and keyway covers

Postby Divinorum » 4 Jan 2014 15:06

I agree with unbreakable. Since the lock will be kept in use I would just have another key made because you risk damaging the wafers if you mess with it. That being said, if you do play with it be very careful. Try applying moderately heavy tension while raking/jiggling the lock. Start with heavy tension and slowly ease off if needed. If the lock is one sided 3 wafers you should be able to jiggle it open with a rake.

I will share something that has worked for myself in the past on double sided five pin wafer tumblers, but I do not really recommend it (for reasons I will explain). In the past I have used a paperclip as a jiggler when rakes didn't work. Find the right size paper clip and unfold it. Bend it back into a nice even U shape that will fit into the lock with the ends sticking out enough so that you can grip them. I inserted the paperclip into the lock and placed my tension wrench in the middle of the lock in between the paperclip ends sticking out. While applying some tension I jiggled the paperclip up and down (you can also wiggle in and out while jiggling). This method has worked on two occasions, however its risky because paperclips and not sturdy and break easily. Last thing you need/want is a broken paperclip stuck in the lock.
Image
User avatar
Divinorum
Supporter
Supporter
 
Posts: 470
Joined: 6 Dec 2013 16:18
Location: New York

Re: Wafer locks and keyway covers

Postby samfisher85 » 4 Jan 2014 21:39

As for actually getting the lock open I can't give you much advice as i'm new myself but I do find the keyway covers to be annoying so what I do is take a paperclip and squish one end so it is small enough to fit in the width of the keyway and then bend that down at a 90 degree angle and you can shove that in at the top of the keyway. Its small enough that it doesn't get in the way of the picking but is large enough to be able to pull back out again.
samfisher85
 
Posts: 3
Joined: 4 Jan 2014 20:47

Re: Wafer locks and keyway covers

Postby YouLuckyFox » 4 Jan 2014 21:48

Does anyone have any experience with these Auto Shutter Tools made by Peterson? They are designed specifically for holding the auto lock cover open. I made something like this after seeing the picture and it worked pretty well for a key extraction (unfortunately I could in no way get that darn key out of the lock!)
Image
YouLuckyFox
 
Posts: 630
Joined: 10 Aug 2012 19:25

Re: Wafer locks and keyway covers

Postby YouLuckyFox » 4 Jan 2014 22:25

Looks like HPC makes similar tools for holding open the cover:
http://www.hpcworld.com/tl/automotive/gto/index.html
YouLuckyFox
 
Posts: 630
Joined: 10 Aug 2012 19:25

Re: Wafer locks and keyway covers

Postby LockDocWa » 5 Jan 2014 1:39

I have a set of the tools shown above.
I use them primarily for wafer reading.
They hold the spring loaded shutter open freehanded
then I can use an ottoscope and a wafer reading pick.

I normally use a double ball pick to pick open wafer locks.....
Wafer locks generally pick pretty easily.
Stupid question here:
Are you holding the tension wrench pressure in the correct direction ie. the unlock direction?
LockDocWa
 
Posts: 251
Joined: 21 Sep 2012 9:54
Location: Longview Washington U.S.A

Re: Wafer locks and keyway covers

Postby ARF-GEF » 7 Jan 2014 17:52

What is a wafer reading pick?
Is it this one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tNP6DU371g

Wafer locks are defo not hi-sec, but I have a feeling I'm leading the discussion toward advanced tools or automotive... Care to continue there? :)
To infinity... and beyond!
ARF-GEF
 
Posts: 1154
Joined: 26 Oct 2012 11:14
Location: faraway and mythical land of eastern europe:)

Re: Wafer locks and keyway covers

Postby LockDocWa » 8 Jan 2014 9:28

I was actually referring to these:
Image

I have a USB wafer reader as well,
I haven't used it in a "paying" situation yet.
Setting up the laptop just to read a wafer lock seems to arduous.
LockDocWa
 
Posts: 251
Joined: 21 Sep 2012 9:54
Location: Longview Washington U.S.A


Return to Locks

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google Adsense [Bot] and 8 guests