What did you pick today?

[phrygianradar]

I've thought of taking a tubular blank and filing down all pin spacings or filing the pin position open entirely, this would give controlled torsion and allow easy access to the pins. Any thoughts on this method?

I tried doing that, but the metal was not strong enough and it bent and didn't really tension anything at all. That's why I was so impressed with Gordon's contraption! The metal on the key blanks is, at least the ones that I was using, just too soft.

[GWiens2001]

I've thought of taking a tubular blank and filing down all pin spacings or filing the pin position open entirely, this would give controlled torsion and allow easy access to the pins. Any thoughts on this method?

Fox,

That method works pretty well. It has been done a number of times, and if you add something to move the pins at each location, and a nice thick rubber band, it makes a very good poor man's tubular lock pick.

Did not respond to your post on the thread so the whole thread does not get kicked to advanced.

Good thinking, my friend!

Gordon

[KPick]

American Lock 1105 - I'm glad I got it open because it wasn't easy since I'm training on my serrated pins. Good news is I got it open 3 times, and realized very light tension is the key to these locks. Now time to re-pin the lock to 6 spoorrated and serrated pins. Wish me luck you guys.

[GWiens2001]

Good luck, KPick! They are fun once you are used to them.

Gordon

[phrygianradar]

Today after work I came home and made a few more tensioners for tubular locks out of spare keys and am happy to report that I got one to work really well. I picked a few tubular locks with it (a couple of Chateau 7-pin and a couple no name cams off eBay, also 7-pin), but was unable to pick an American Lock tubular padlock that I have with it. You can tell the American tubular lock is much more quality and there is a lot of counter tension to work against. I thought that the metal in the blank made a difference (and it may to some degree), but I spent more time working on it to make it nice and I think that is ultimately the ingredient that I was lacking. I got a good hearty key and used my dremel nice and slowly. I am glad this came up in the thread; I learned something useful today!

So, to Fox: sorry for the bum info... and to Gordon: thanks for the inspiration to try again!

[GWiens2001]

No problem. Thought Fox would have responded to the above comment in some way.

Gordon

[YouLuckyFox]

No problem. Thought Fox would have responded to the above comment in some way.

Gordon

Sorry for the late response, and thank you for your insight Gordon; it is one thing to be good at what you do, but to selflessly help others get better inspires me to do the same. And again, that WB key is pristine !

Today after work I came home and made a few more tensioners for tubular locks out of spare keys and am happy to report that I got one to work really well. I picked a few tubular locks with it (a couple of Chateau 7-pin and a couple no name cams off eBay, also 7-pin), but was unable to pick an American Lock tubular padlock that I have with it. You can tell the American tubular lock is much more quality and there is a lot of counter tension to work against. I thought that the metal in the blank made a difference (and it may to some degree), but I spent more time working on it to make it nice and I think that is ultimately the ingredient that I was lacking. I got a good hearty key and used my dremel nice and slowly. I am glad this came up in the thread; I learned something useful today!

So, to Fox: sorry for the bum info... and to Gordon: thanks for the inspiration to try again!

No worries about the information, thank you for letting me know that it worked out better for you this time around. I will have to give one or both of these methods a try (so far I just have been turning the cam on the back of the lock and using a pick to pick the locks . Also, sorry for the late response, with me prompting this line of conversation I owe it to thank you for taking the time to make your comments and give me a good feel for how well this method would work out!

Fox

[fgarci03]

Thought this would be fun to do:

[GWiens2001]

Fgarci03 has found a new use for the dimple tension wrench! Nice job. Before you know it, he'll be doing the same with an EVVA 3KS.

Gordon

[fgarci03]

I don't think I've ever used this wrench for dimple locks
I just found it to be awesome for American Padlocks and alike keyways!

Naah, 3KS are too easy...

[phrygianradar]

I don't think I've ever used this wrench for dimple locks
I just found it to be awesome for American Padlocks and alike keyways!

Naah, 3KS are too easy...

Nice video! I have never used that wrench for a dimple lock either The one handed picker; reminded me of that video Squelchtone made of the Medeco Bogota one handed pick!

I found a pay phone today that someone had locked a Master lock combination around the phone cord making it hard to use the phone… So I used that cool technique for manipulating those cheap combo locks and in a about a minute I had a new green colored combo lock and the grocery store had their pay phone un-vandalized! I had seen it hanging there for a few days and it hadn't been cut off yet, so I decided to see if I could help out. It felt pretty cool when it popped open and the cable was loosed back to normal. Makes me wonder how many people use pay phones anymore? Anyway, that is what I did today. I don't feel that broke the rule of not picking a lock that doesn't belong to me because it was obviously put there to be a nuisance and make life hard on someone trying to use the phone. Is that ok or should I just have left it there? I feel good about it anyway.

[Onz]

Subbed to you, want to see more. Great job!!

I picked a master lock I found while cleaning out the shed. Didn't take me too long, Used my snake pick in then out once then used the diamond to pick the last pin. Feel like I'm getting better it picking!
Link here: http://imgur.com/D0hccss

[fgarci03]

Subbed to you, want to see more. Great job!!

I picked a master lock I found while cleaning out the shed. Didn't take me too long, Used my snake pick in then out once then used the diamond to pick the last pin. Feel like I'm getting better it picking!
Link here: http://imgur.com/D0hccss

Thanks man!
Nice job yourself! For someone who started with bobby pins less than a month ago you're getting there pretty fast!
When I started I couldn't pick anything for A LONG TIME!! And I had real picks!

Congratulations dude!

Nice video! I have never used that wrench for a dimple lock either The one handed picker; reminded me of that video Squelchtone made of the Medeco Bogota one handed pick!

Hahaha I remembered that too!
But it's still a long time before I can pick a Medeco single handed!

Makes me wonder how many people use pay phones anymore? Anyway, that is what I did today. I don't feel that broke the rule of not picking a lock that doesn't belong to me because it was obviously put there to be a nuisance and make life hard on someone trying to use the phone. Is that ok or should I just have left it there?

You did well IMHO.
If Master Qui-Gordon Jin was here, he would say something like:
"It's not the power itself that does harm. It's what you do with it. Keep that attitute, young Natha-wan!"

[GWiens2001]

It is the responsibility of those with power to take the appropriate action when needed. If they will not act for the good of all, then the powers they have earned, and the authority inherent in those powers, are wasted.

Master Qui-Gordon Jin

[fgarci03]

It is the responsibility of those with power to take the appropriate action when needed. If they will not act for the good of all, then the powers they have earned, and the authority inherent in those powers, are wasted.

Master Qui-Gordon Jin

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