Tubular lock pick home made

[nls777]

Hi I didnt want to jack any ones topic and no one has realy answerd this in depth that I saw but I am about to atempt to make a tubuler lock pick out of stainless steel tube same diam/ thickness as a key and have this thin sheet spring steel that comes in about 5 sizes in a tube from a locksmith supply and one is just the right size for the pins so before i try to dedicate a hour or two on the milling machine and lathe I wanted to get a bit more of a understanding on the tool. the problem I am having is understanding the exact way it works. I may just be miss lead by craptube but in alot of videos people are saying you just push the pick strate in and then turn, but to folow the rules of pin picking you should have to apply tention to the pins for them to bind at the sheer line and once they are set at the sheer line then the the bottom our out side pin would sit on the sheer line and then start to force the lock picks "slide" 'the spring steel strips on the pick' to be slowly pushed out as the pick is still being pushed in untill all the pins are set and the keyway turns. I see no way that just by pushing the pick in with out tention that the "slides" would set at the right place. If im just being miss lead can some one help me out thanks.

[nls777]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co6yiQKrmP0
is this how it works? push it in set the pins pull it out untill it hits the sheer line?

[Brother Paul]

What did you use for the pins ?

[Phatphish]

I know with my Southord pick I just set the fingers flush with the end of the pick, apply some pressure to the tension ring. Then simply insert into lock until the pick is seated as far in and square as you can manage and then simply wiggle the pick in a rotational manner, just like turning the key back and forth. After a few of these "wiggles" the lock usually pops open. No need, on most locks, to single pick each pin into its right shear position. Of course your mileage may vary if there are security pins in the lock or you are using a homemade pick.

If the fingers of the pick all end up at the top of the pins travel then the tensioner isnt quite tight enough, and if they stay flush with the end of the pick body the tesioner is too tight.
I find though, that the tension isnt too critical and it should be fairly easy to find.
Hope this helps.

[nls777]

What did you use for the pins ?

Could you explain more on that? If you mean the L shaped pieces of steel on the lock picks that are used to push the lock pins in I have 2 types one is thin strips of spring steel I believe from hpc it comes in a clear tube and has all difrent sizes good buy for any locksmith some small pieces for tbuler picks some the size of regular picks and wide pieces that are perfect for duble sided rakes and some side in pick handles like regular picks Im sure some one else knows what im talking about or I found a small baggy that had about 20 pieces of steel that are the exact size as if they were replacements for a tubuler pick just I have to bend them in to the L shape. if thats not what your asking then more details

[nls777]

I know with my Southord pick I just set the fingers flush with the end of the pick, apply some pressure to the tension ring. Then simply insert into lock until the pick is seated as far in and square as you can manage and then simply wiggle the pick in a rotational manner, just like turning the key back and forth. After a few of these "wiggles" the lock usually pops open. No need, on most locks, to single pick each pin into its right shear position. Of course your mileage may vary if there are security pins in the lock or you are using a homemade pick.

If the fingers of the pick all end up at the top of the pins travel then the tensioner isnt quite tight enough, and if they stay flush with the end of the pick body the tesioner is too tight.
I find though, that the tension isnt too critical and it should be fairly easy to find.
Hope this helps.

yeah it does a bit I still dont understand how the "fingers/slides" get pushed out what is stoping the pins at the right spot to push the fingers out if there not binding at the sheer line? thats what is making me not understand the whole use of the pick

[pjzstones]

when you push the pick in the lock each pin can only be pushed in so far. so when it reaches that point the rods start to get pushed back until the pick is all the way in and flush. the best way understand how this works to pick the lock is to understand how a tubular lock works. they use the same principles as a pin tumbler. there is a shear line, key pins, and driver pins. the driver pins are the same size and the key pins are different heights. since the driver pins are the same size then if they are all pushed to the same depth they are able to hit the shear line. in this case they are being pushed as far as they can go and once they reach that point the differnt heights of the key pins start to push back the rods until everything lines up. hope that makes sense.

[nls777]

yes it does its a help it the same as the video I posted. so as long as the springs compress and are all the same length then it would make sence. thanks for the help guys.

[ilinbg]

Perhaps bobby pins will do.

http://www.digital-digest.com/blog/DVDG ... y_pins.jpg

[xabc1]

We need to work on 3d printing tubular lock picks. something like this http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:56795, but for tubular locks. We just need someone to design the files to print. Cotter pins or head eye pins could be used for the pins. I dont know , just an idea.

[smokingman]

The pins are tensioned by you turning the tool
as you push in and pull out slightly.
They will usually set fairly quickly.