Old looking BEST lock

[Penny]

Hi.

Nice site here. Been reading on it trying to learn about this lock i found. Then was going to post a picture and see it is necessary to register. So i registered then it says introduce yourself. I tried to post where it says introductions there but it is locked.

I've been trying lock picking for only a very short few days and find it fascinating, even though i've only managed to open three padlocks. A brinks, A master 140 and another type of Master that i can't remember. But now i've found this BEST padlock in among some old junk and i can't get it open. So far the only tools i have are a homemade tension wrench from an allen wrench and a pointey thing ground from a screwdriver.

Darn! I can't seem to post picture of the lock!

But is anyone familiar with it just from the brand name? I'd appreciate any tips on getting it open. It seems like there is at least 4 pins inside and i'm sure i've got them all down but the lock doesn't open.

Thanks for any input.

Penny...a Grandma, age 58 from West Virginia

[averagejoe]

Hello,

To post pictures here you must upload them to a photo hosting site such as photbucket or imgur and then link or embed them.

I am very familiar with Best locks. The really old ones usually had 5 pin cores in them but usually you will find 6 or 7 being most common. These are not good locks for a beginner as they have 2 different shear lines and you have to pick all the pins to the same shear line to open it.

http://www.crypto.com/photos/misc/sfic/

[silvfox1200]

I had an old Best lock with 6 pins. I had a problem with it at first but finally got it picked. So I decided to try to pick it to control and wound up opening it every time in less than 30 seconds. It got so boring opening it I gave it away. But it was fun for a while. I never did get to control.

[Penny]

Thank you for the replies,

AverageJoe, i understand what you're saying about photobucket. I used to have an account but it got filled up, and anyway, you know the lock i'm talking about. Thank you for the link to Best locks. Yeah, as a beginner, relying sheerly on luck, i'll just put this lock aside.

Silvfox, wow, that's fast work getting it down to 30 seconds. Now, in the link AverageJoe posted it mentioned control, so thanks to that, i think i understand what you're talking about. You were trying to get the cylinder thing out where they can re-do the keyway for security.

I've got a beginner set of picks ordered.

[billdeserthills]

I had an old Best lock with 6 pins. I had a problem with it at first but finally got it picked. So I decided to try to pick it to control and wound up opening it every time in less than 30 seconds. It got so boring opening it I gave it away. But it was fun for a while. I never did get to control.

You know you need a special tension wrench to pick the control lug on Best?
I made my own before they became available for purchase

[averagejoe]

I had an old Best lock with 6 pins. I had a problem with it at first but finally got it picked. So I decided to try to pick it to control and wound up opening it every time in less than 30 seconds. It got so boring opening it I gave it away. But it was fun for a while. I never did get to control.

You know you need a special tension wrench to pick the control lug on Best?
I made my own before they became available for purchase

Actually, no you do not need the special wrench to pick them to control. For some it may help but it is far from required. Some people I know who tried them actually had more success when using normal tension wrenches.

[Penny]

Today got my beginner 5 set of picks from SouthOrd. I like my homemade tension wrench better thanwhat came with the set. It is made from a allen wrench and it holds its position better. The tools are a hook, rake, round rake and diamond. I like the hook and the rake.

My husband wanted to try the tools. He is very mechanical and knows how everything works. He very quickly got one of the simple locks open. However, he isn't patient, he probably won't try it again. I think it's fun, fascinating, actually, although when you think of it, we've never really had much need to pick a lock. You never know though. In a way it could be a survival skill. Or it could be a way of testing locks all the locks you buy. If you can open it real easy, then don't use that one on your shed.

[cuttinedge1]

If your husband is mechanical and not patient it sounds like he would be great at making picks. Generally speaking you will like handmade picks more. There are hundreds of tutorials on this website that tell you how to make them. Good luck and keep at it.