What did you pick today?

[VancouverSpecial71]

Keymark Mortise Cylinder - thanks to a very generous Doogs

After a pitched month-long battle I picked this last week. The tolerances seem really tight as I often had trouble isolating the binding pin. Also, I seemed to be constantly dropping pins. Not to mention, I struggled to get much feedback trying to negotiating that nutty keyway. But, for the first time I got to use my Peterson Postal pick, which I'd not tried before and found it rather fun stuff.

Admittedly, I haven't had time to try for a second opening yet so it could have been pure luck.
I had a migraine at the time and was sitting in the dark, picking to pass the time. I was shocked when it opened.

The next day I gutted it and it has 3 spooled keypins
I figured it had to have at least one security pin as I'd had a couple false sets but they seemed weird as I didn't always hit them, now I see. I had thought Keymark did not come with security pins?

gut shot


Cheers,
Sean

[Mitchell S]

OK a minor victory on security pins, opened this American 1105 twice, with such mild bitting I had to work way too hard for it. -Nick

a quick pass with the rake for a false set, the long reach to overcome the spools (used this light weight tool to force me to go easy) and then a light touch up with the diamond to complete the job

Nice job and nice photo. I like the new green handles on those Petersons. Those locks are always a job because they are so light and you can hold them for hours, which is how long it usually takes me to pick an American.

Squelchtone

I just got some new petersons and I didn't get any green handles?! Ripped off! Mine are blue for the 15/1000 picks and back for regular. What are the green ones?

[GWiens2001]

Nice job with the KeyMark. They can be a real pain with the keyway. Recently got my first KeyMark, a Yale, and it was very difficult to pick. It also had spool pins. Not sure as to whether they were key pins or driver pins, though I suspect key pins. Did not take it apart.

Gordon

[Comrade627]

Nice job with the KeyMark. They can be a real pain with the keyway. Recently got my first KeyMark, a Yale, and it was very difficult to pick. It also had spool pins. Not sure as to whether they were key pins or driver pins, though I suspect key pins. Did not take it apart.

Gordon

I wasn't going to say anything and closed my browser but I couldn't go on without saying anything, I just couldn't. I had to come back just for this.

Take it apart Gordon seriously, how could you.

[Comrade627]

Boosh.

I'll post a gutting soon.

[teamstarlet]

Nice job with the KeyMark. They can be a real pain with the keyway. Recently got my first KeyMark, a Yale, and it was very difficult to pick. It also had spool pins. Not sure as to whether they were key pins or driver pins, though I suspect key pins. Did not take it apart.

Gordon

I wasn't going to say anything and closed my browser but I couldn't go on without saying anything, I just couldn't. I had to come back just for this.

Take it apart Gordon seriously, how could you.

Comrade627 has a point Gordon... Hurry up

[nick08037]

OK a minor victory on security pins, opened this American 1105 twice, with such mild bitting I had to work way too hard for it. -Nick

a quick pass with the rake for a false set, the long reach to overcome the spools (used this light weight tool to force me to go easy) and then a light touch up with the diamond to complete the job

Nice job and nice photo. I like the new green handles on those Petersons. Those locks are always a job because they are so light and you can hold them for hours, which is how long it usually takes me to pick an American.

Squelchtone

I just got some new petersons and I didn't get any green handles?! Ripped off! Mine are blue for the 15/1000 picks and back for regular. What are the green ones?

Hello Mitchell S, the peterson green .015 picks are from their special promotion stock that was part of a recent order. -Nick

[nick08037]

Boosh.

I'll post a gutting soon.

I am looking forward to seeing the gutting, not familiar with the insides of that lock, is it similar to the Kwikset smartkey? -Nick

[nick08037]

Keymark Mortise Cylinder - thanks to a very generous Doogs :D

After a pitched month-long battle I picked this last week. The tolerances seem really tight as I often had trouble isolating the binding pin. Also, I seemed to be constantly dropping pins. Not to mention, I struggled to get much feedback trying to negotiating that nutty keyway. But, for the first time I got to use my Peterson Postal pick, which I'd not tried before and found it rather fun stuff.

Admittedly, I haven't had time to try for a second opening yet so it could have been pure luck. :mrgreen:
I had a migraine at the time and was sitting in the dark, picking to pass the time. I was shocked when it opened.

The next day I gutted it and it has 3 spooled keypins :shock:
I figured it had to have at least one security pin as I'd had a couple false sets but they seemed weird as I didn't always hit them, now I see. I had thought Keymark did not come with security pins?

gut shot


Cheers,
Sean

Hello VancouverSpecial71,

Nice work on the Keymark, was there a working key with it? I have been checking ebay for a Keymark cylinder pinned with a working key but most of the cylinders are being offered as sub assembled without pins or key. There is a seller offering a 7 pin practice lock but it appears to be without a key. Is it difficult to get these locks?

-Nick

[Comrade627]

I am looking forward to seeing the gutting, not familiar with the insides of that lock, is it similar to the Kwikset smartkey? -Nick

Couldn't tell ya, I've yet to get my hands on one of those, but this thing is cool for sure.

[GWiens2001]

It is not even close to a Kwikset SmartKey.

The U-Change is a pin tumbler lock. The driver pin is four part construction - the outer shell, the inner shell, the T shaped part that holds the inner and outer shell at the correct height, and the spring that is inside the driver pin. The key pins are made along the lines of a normal key pin, and the driver springs are also along normal style. (Not the springs inside the driver pin which are thinner and smaller since they fit inside the driver pin, but the normal driver pin spring).

Gordon

[l0ckcr4ck3r]

It is not even close to a Kwikset SmartKey.

Gordon

on a related note... every time i watch any locksport vid on YT at the moment, theres a 50/50 chance of getting the Kwikshit Smartkey AOLA commercial; anyone else seeing the irony in this
Guess theres not a whole load of lock related adds that YT can stream.

[nick08037]

It is not even close to a Kwikset SmartKey.

The U-Change is a pin tumbler lock. The driver pin is four part construction - the outer shell, the inner shell, the T shaped part that holds the inner and outer shell at the correct height, and the spring that is inside the driver pin. The key pins are made along the lines of a normal key pin, and the driver springs are also along normal style. (Not the springs inside the driver pin which are thinner and smaller since they fit inside the driver pin, but the normal driver pin spring).

Gordon

Gordon, thanks for the info, as a follow up I just did a quick search and read on the internet, it appears there are several companies that have developed different user changeable key methods.

Ez-Change Lock System from the EZ Change Lock Co.
Matrix Key System designed by Australian locksmith, Stuart Webb
U-Change Marketed by Security Solutions, Mustang, OK

Comrade627, I found some teardown photos of the u-change cylinder online, you are in for a treat when you open that thing up, -Nick

[BSG_314159]

My daily dose of American locks

[Robotnik]

Picked a Yale 4-wafer padlock that I found at an antique shop this weekend. Wait, is that a key blank next to it?





Don't mind if I do. Picked up approx.100 OEM key blanks for various older Yale, Sargent, U-Change, Eagle, and others along with the padlock, so figure I had no excuse not to hone my (admittedly weak) impressioning skills.