Just a quick question

[wyr2hs]

How many pins do locks generally have?

[WhiteHat]

approximately the length of a piece of string.

I've not seen anything less than 3 pins. deadbolts commonly have 5 or 6.

bilocks have 12.. dimple locks can have many more.

[wyr2hs]

What kind of locks have only 3? How many pins do pad locks generally have?

[maldotcom2]

Padlocks could have from 4 to about 6 or 7, well thats what ive seen anyways.

[skold]

BiLocks can have from 4 to 12 pins, some small luggage padlocks have 3 pins, padlocks can have from 3 to 12 depending on size and type

[Ultimatederrenfan]

12 Pins ???
The only key i have seen that has puzzled me as to not be able to pick it, Is a standard looking key, by that I mean Yale.

I have seen one of these, but the kay was not cut straight, if you looked at this from the top, it goes diagonally, is this to push the pins sideways instead of just up?

Any feedback would be appreciated

Dan

[Romstar]

If the key cuts are diagonal, you probably have a Medeco, Emhart, or older style Corbin lock. There are some others as well.

Those diagonal cuts turn the pins. The Medeco and Emhart use a side bar mechanism, and the Corbin uses an interlocking pin system. They are all annoying to pick.

I have the Corbins on my front door, and you can ask Varjeal about how long it took me to get in my door when I locked my own keys in the house. I don't think I ever felt as stupid as I did that day.

I'm chatting away on my cell phone to Varjeal, I walk out of the house to get something in the car, go to come back in, and..... yep. You guessed it.

Elvis has indeed left the building.

So, back to the car I go, get my tools and proceed to pick and talk. It reminded me of why I installed the Corbins in the first place. Took longer then I remember it, but I got it. A pick gun is only marginally useful in this situation. Eventually, you have no choice but to manually twist those pins into the proper locations.

Have fun,
Romstar

[raimundo]

so, what tool did you use to manually twist the pins and how did you know where to set the twist? It occured to me that medeco could require a set of several picks for each pin, picks that are measured to the depth in keyway, and that have each of the various angles cut into their tips. that would be about 18 picks for a 6 pin lock, three in each length, representing each of the three twists.

[Cman22]

Tubular locks can have 7 or 8 pins.
Most masterlock padlocks have 4 pins.
The average deadbolt has 5 pins, like a schlage, kwikset, and baldwin.
And fileing cabinet locks might as well not have pins

[wyr2hs]

whats the difference between tubular locks and deadbolts and padlocks?

[Romstar]

so, what tool did you use to manually twist the pins and how did you know where to set the twist? It occured to me that medeco could require a set of several picks for each pin, picks that are measured to the depth in keyway, and that have each of the various angles cut into their tips. that would be about 18 picks for a 6 pin lock, three in each length, representing each of the three twists.

I used a twisted diamond. It's pretty much my standard tool for dealing with Medeco, Emhart and Corbin locks. I have 6 twisted diamonds, but to be hojnest, all you really need are 2. Both medium, one twisted left, the other twisted right.

With the original Medeco pins, the grooves went all the way to the bottom of the key pins. Using a very small diameter wire, you could probe the pins, and discover which groove was the fake, and which was the real one. I don't even bother with that anymore.

The Medeco's main flaw, is that you can use the lock against itself. Once you have the pins set to the shearline, the plug turns, and tries to jam the side bar into place. This means that the cylinder is actually assisting you in finding the side bar grooves. You just have to develop the feel for which grooves are false, and which aren't.

The corbin are a little weirder, but once you know how the lock functions a lot of the same techniques come into play. The interlocking pin system is really quite ingenious.

Romstar

[Hak]

I think you had better do a little researching before you ask anymore questions...

http://www.locksoft.com/gloscopy.htm

http://www.gregmiller.net/locks/mitguide/

[Ultimatederrenfan]

Thanks, i did see that glossary and i wasn't sure what the side bar was, as it sropped up in a few post topics about cars, and opening them, but varjeal i think it was, said there should be a side bar in there

well i understand now,
Dan

[Chucklz]

I know im going to get flamed on this. ~asbestos clothing~

In the US, a lock on a private residence will most comonly be 5 pin. Padlocks are probably 4 pin ie Master #1/3 or clone, although there are a great number of 5 pin padlocks in service as well. Most large institutions 6 or 7 pin locks. If they are SFIC 7 pin unless the system is very old.

Sure there are hundreds of exceptions to this, ie New York City would probably be a good example of an area in which you are likely to find many more high security locks. But, Im just trying to give a little indication of what is most common.

[Serethipas]

padlocks have about 5-6 i think? (padlock=small masterlocks,used for storage boxes and whatnot)

deadbolts mostly have 2 or 3 (deadbolts the big things that are about eye level with you and the door,they arent ment to prevent people from picking the lock,when they lock they put about 4 inches of steel into the doorframe[helps from kickins]

most "doorknobs" have 5-6 pins