by Dave55347 » 3 Mar 2015 18:29
I'm just starting out as a lock picking hobbyist and I've got a question that I haven't had time or the equipment to try and I don't have the experience (yet) to answer this question myself, so I'm asking the board for their insights.
It seems to me that you could open a lock by using a modified automotive 'feeler gauge' to occupy the shear line as you picked the pins from front to back.
I envision modifying one of the flimsier feeler gauges with the right thickness that could easily be inserted into the shear line between the plug and cylinder of any lock. I've seen small feeler gauges down to 1-1/2 thousands of an inch. I'm assuming if su a feeler gauge were to cut narrow enough, its reduced width would allow it to fit into the spacing between the plug and the shell of the lock. Perhaps it would need a bit of curving made by wrapping it on a 1/2' pipe to correlate to the curved space between the plug and the cylinder (shell).
The modification would make a projecting 'finger' about 1" long and perhaps 1/8' or 1/16' or even less in width with smooth edges to make it easily fit into the slight curvature just above the key hole. A dremel tool could be used to fashion the shape of this finger, or maybe just be cut to shape with a shears or tin snips. is likely that the device would need to be lightly oiled to slip in and prevent being caught by the friction between the plug and the cylinder.
This is how I would imagine the shim would be used to perform lock picking.
As this shim begins going into to the lock along the shear line, it encounters the first pin, which stops it. This would be felt by the lock picker.
Then the lock picker would use a hook or diamond pick to lift the lower key pin of the first pin column until the split between the key pin and the driver pin matches the shear line space.
Then the lock picker would feel this opening and, by forcing the device forward into the keyway, penetrate it with the modified shim separating the upper driver pin from the lower key pin. The shim would prevent the driver pin from being forced back into the plug by the spring.
This action would be repeated for all of the pins, working from the front of the lock until the back, with the end result being that the shim keeps all of the driver pins trapped above the shear line.
The pick would then be used to rotate the plug until the lock opens. The pick could be removed and a tension tool could also be used to rotate the plug.
I am also thinking that if the lock picker anticipated trapping pins, he could, by eye balling the key way, keep the shim in the same relative location frozen on the circumference of the plug as it rotates, and prevent any trap pins from falling into the plug cylinder. I believe this would prevent trapping pins from seizing the plug and eliminate their deterrence countermeasures.
If this technique works, a different sense of feel would be used, and since no torsioning would be used, the effectiveness of mushroom pins, serrated,pins and other similar devices would be thwarted.
I don't know if these ideas are valid, and I don't have feeler gauges or a dremel tool or any equipment (yet) to fashion such a-proposed device. or a setup to test it out and then make a video of this technique, if it were to work.
I'll read any comments on line. If my explanations need discussion, please post the forum.
Thanks!
Dave55347
