What did you pick today?

[Divinorum]

Thanks phrygianradar. I picked it to control 2 more times so far but, have not found the operating shear line yet. I was under the impression that the control sheer line would be harder to find and that it was usually the top shear line. What I mean by that is that my control key has lower cuts and my operating key has higher cuts. Is it not usually the other way around?

[phrygianradar]

Thanks phrygianradar. I picked it to control 2 more times so far but, have not found the operating shear line yet. I was under the impression that the control sheer line would be harder to find and that it was usually the top shear line. What I mean by that is that my control key has lower cuts and my operating key has higher cuts. Is it not usually the other way around?

It is usually the other way than what you have. The reason being that you can take an operating key and file it down and now you have a control key. That is not a good way to set the system up. I have come across the same thing quite a few times where for some reason picking the control shear line is really easy but trying to find the operating shear line is way harder! Pretty weird, they're all different...

[serrurier]

Hi!

two run of the mill locks. I did each twice but I guess the more I try the more I get impatient and my performance diminish Must remain patient and learn to be zen

take care

[C-Horse]

Vintage Red YALE padlock 4 pins

[cheerIO]

ABUS 65/50

This thing has been beating me for months. Only 5 pins but filled with spools and serrateds. This thing is harder than any American I own.

[Squelchtone]

ABUS 65/50

This thing has been beating me for months. Only 5 pins but filled with spools and serrateds. This thing is harder than any American I own.

nice work on the Abus, I've always enjoyed picking those, they have a good feel to them. I like that style of wrench, did you come up with that or is that store bought?

Thanks!
Squelchtone

[GWiens2001]

Those 65/50s can be pleasantly tricky. Nice job, CheerIO.

Gordon

[cheerIO]

Those 65/50s can be pleasantly tricky. Nice job, CheerIO.

Gordon

Thanks Gordon.

nice work on the Abus, I've always enjoyed picking those, they have a good feel to them. I like that style of wrench, did you come up with that or is that store bought?

Thanks!
Squelchtone

Thanks Squelchtone.

That's one of my two best tension wrenches. They are just made of wiper inserts I bent up. The longer ends are for bottom of the keyway tension and the shorter of the ends are for TOK. I have two lengths, I made the long one first cause I needed something to reach the top of the keyway on deep set locks like the Americans and the plastic sheathed industrial locks. The long length really works to exaggerate small false sets. The shorter one hooks into the top of the keyway and rides on the face of flush faced locks. I squeezed the ends with dykes to make little ridges in them for added grip. Dunno if you can see them in the picture. Something about this shape really holds them in the top of the keyway and prevents them from camming out and the twist in the middle puts your finger on the wide area of the wiper blade so it's way more comfortable.

[Squelchtone]

I'm so glad to see someone else around here besides myself uses the term "camming out" when it comes to keyways and tension wrenches staying in position.

[Hachronn]

KD SFIC (6 Pin - A Keyway) picked to control.

[C-Horse]

KD SFIC (6 Pin - A Keyway) picked to control.

What two picks are those pictured?

[Hachronn]

What two picks are those pictured?

Slender Gem & Slender Reach.

[C-Horse]

What two picks are those pictured?

Slender Gem & Slender Reach.

When I first started picking I was using those .015 slender picks. I was chatting with Ken and he suggested the .018 Euro picks as a happy medium. I ordered the Euros in my favorite profiles, I will report back when they come in. I tell you one thing I sure love the Peterson products. They feel great almost natural when picking.

[C-Horse]

Thanks phrygianradar. I picked it to control 2 more times so far but, have not found the operating shear line yet. I was under the impression that the control sheer line would be harder to find and that it was usually the top shear line. What I mean by that is that my control key has lower cuts and my operating key has higher cuts. Is it not usually the other way around?

"Because the two shear lines are separated by slightly more than the maximum bitting height of a key, any given cut can only reach one of the two shear positions. Each pin stack must therefore have two sets of cuts -- one for each shear line -- stacked one on top of the other. Each shear line is keyed (and can be mastered) separately, and a key that lines up cuts for some pins at the operating shear line and cuts for other pins at the control shear line will not operate the lock at all. (In this respect, SFIC locks are similar to "master ring" cylinder designs). Note that the bitting of a control key at any given position might be higher, lower, or the same as an operating key; the only requirement is that the complete control key bitting cannot also be used as an operating key"

that is a direct quote from this link
http://crypto.com/photos/misc/sfic/

[jeffmoss26]

Picked this old WB a few days ago:


Also picked this Craftsman padlock, made by Elgin I believe (the blank in there was just to check keyway)