Why is there no such thing as a "perfect lock"?

[parkourer]

Hey,

This is just a curious question: Why are there tolerances in the lock?
I know what most people say, I read the "Lockpicking Detail Overkill Guide" by Solomon. It basically said that since the holes diameters are too big or small, or pins are of different widths, these tolerances can be exploited. My question is, why is it impossible to make everything of the same width? Is there some big factor i'm overlooking here?

I'm still new to this so that might be possible. Please, if anyone can answer this question I would appreciate it.

- Parkourer

[GWiens2001]

In manufacturing, absolute perfection is not possible. The milling bits wear, causing imperfect holes.

The better lock manufactures have better equipment and better tolerances, and some are downright difficult to pick because of it. Have a Lockwood padlock that is so well made, it is easier to pick many locks with spools than to pick the Lockwood - and it has no security pins at all. The tolerances are so tight (not that the pins or lock are tight, just good close tolerances) that it is difficult to feel when the pins are set.

Gordon

[Squelchtone]

Hey,

This is just a curious question: Why are there tolerances in the lock?
I know what most people say, I read the "Lockpicking Detail Overkill Guide" by Solomon. It basically said that since the holes diameters are too big or small, or pins are of different widths, these tolerances can be exploited. My question is, why is it impossible to make everything of the same width? Is there some big factor i'm overlooking here?

I'm still new to this so that might be possible. Please, if anyone can answer this question I would appreciate it.

- Parkourer

machine tools such as drill bits make the holes. they drill holes in bibles and plugs all day long, and each time they drill the wear on the drill bits is different and you are bound to get slightly different holes. Wire extrusion machines make the pins, those are precise enough to do a good job, but if you had an electron microscope kicking around, you'd see their surfaces are not polished or even all around either.

None of this stuff was designed by NASA, and in order for the lock to actually work, there needs to be some room for the pins to move up and down in their chambers. if the tolerances were on the micron or atomic level, just putting a key in may be impossible or difficult. That built in slop is what also makes picking possible because each chamber will have just a hair more slop than the others and this will let you find the binding order. Why not use good drill bits to make the holes nicer?

Well, they do.. if you compare the metal work and craftsmanship of a Master padlock or a Kwikset or Schlage cylinder to that of a Medeco or ASSA Twin, you will notice the CNC machining is much more precise, but that translates to better equipment and a better trained employee running the machines which equals more money. That's why a Kwikset deadbolt is $15 and a Medeco is $150. Could they get even more precise? Sure, nothing is impossible, but I don't know too many home owners or businesses who would pay $500 for a door cylinder just because it has really good tolerances and is much harder to pick or find the binding order.

hope this helps explain it,
Squelchtone

PS. GWiens2001 types too fast!

[parkourer]

In manufacturing, absolute perfection is not possible. The milling bits wear, causing imperfect holes.
The better lock manufactures have better equipment and better tolerances, and some are downright difficult to pick because of it. Have a Lockwood padlock that is so well made, it is easier to pick many locks with spools than to pick the Lockwood - and it has no security pins at all. The tolerances are so tight (not that the pins or lock are tight, just good close tolerances) that it is difficult to feel when the pins are set.

machine tools such as drill bits make the holes. they drill holes in bibles and plugs all day long, and each time they drill the wear on the drill bits is different and you are bound to get slightly different holes. Wire extrusion machines make the pins, those are precise enough to do a good job, but if you had an electron microscope kicking around, you'd see their surfaces are not polished or even all around either.

None of this stuff was designed by NASA, and in order for the lock to actually work, there needs to be some room for the pins to move up and down in their chambers. if the tolerances were on the micron or atomic level, just putting a key in may be impossible or difficult. That built in slop is what also makes picking possible because each chamber will have just a hair more slop than the others and this will let you find the binding order. Why not use good drill bits to make the holes nicer?

Well, they do.. if you compare the metal work and craftsmanship of a Master padlock or a Kwikset or Schlage cylinder to that of a Medeco or ASSA Twin, you will notice the CNC machining is much more precise, but that translates to better equipment and a better trained employee running the machines which equals more money. That's why a Kwikset deadbolt is $15 and a Medeco is $150. Could they get even more precise? Sure, nothing is impossible, but I don't know too many home owners or businesses who would pay $500 for a door cylinder just because it has really good tolerances and is much harder to pick or find the binding order.

Thanks a lot the both of you!! Now I understand!

[Wizer]

Good answers to a good guestion!
Its important to understand things in order to learn them.