Re pinning a practice lock

[Yorkie]

Hello chaps,

Just a quick question on re pinning a practice lock,

I've just started so please excuse me if this sounds stupid!!:)

I'm trying to follow the practice guide for SPP so staring with one pin and working your way up, however I'm having a really hard time getting those pins seated on top of the springs, I dismantle the lock etc no problems there it's actually getting the pin on top of the spring pushing it down and then pushing the follower over the top of it.

I've managed to get one in perfectly fine and working correctly I just feel like I need another hand!!!

Is there a little trick that someone could share? I don't have a vice so it's a bit of a task ATM!

Picking even that first pin has given me the confidence that I can do it but after an hour of chasing springs around trying to get the second one in I'm starting to wonder if I'm doing something wrong!:/

Thanks for your time

Yorkie

[Comrade627]

Used to have the same problem. Here's how I handle it.
1. Insert follower just shy of the chamber in question.
2. With tweezers, grip the desired pin and push the pin as far into the drilled chamber as possible.
3. Without releasing the tweezers, push the follower against the pin. This will use the same concept as binding.
4. Release grip with tweezers, place tweezer tip on top of pin and push pin into the chamber.
5. Push the follower in so that it moves the tweezers out of the way.

Repeat.

[Yorkie]

Thank you sir,

I will give this a try tomorrow however it makes perfect sense to me!

Appreciate the reply


Yorkie

[deolslyfox]

I would say that most, if not all of us has had that "ah-ha" moment when we pulled out the cylinder and watched the bible self-destruct, sending parts to "spring and pin heaven" ....

After that "lesson", we had to figure out how to get those pesky springs / pins back into the bible so that we could slide the cylinder back in .... (Those that we could find of course ...)

So - don't feel like you're the only guy in a three piece suit at the nudist colony. Its just part of the learning process.

And, just so you won't be surprised .... Even after you have been doin' it for years, you will "squirt pins" from time to time. Mind not in the game, thinkin' about somethin' else, dog gnawin' your ankle, kid takin' potshots at the parakeet with his slingshot, etc, etc. Of course there is also the occasional "slip" of the follower.

Last tip .... Seriously .... Don't get your face right down next to the lock when repinning. You CAN get a pin / spring in the eye !!

Good luck !!

[Yorkie]

This worked perfectly for me, it's one of those things that sometimes there is a little trick or tip that makes life much easier and less frustrating!:)

However I think that my cereal box follower may not be up to specs;)

Moved on to two pins today, starting to get a feel for things and "visualise" what's going on in there, however I'm pretty sure my cheap ass 'securit' (so cheap they can't spell security right;) lock isn't helping matters, I go from locked to unlocked without any real feedback but it's certainly helping me feel when I'm on the pin and whether there is spring tension or not.

Pretty exciting this lockpicking lark!;)

Yorkie

[UnlockingBoredom]

Luckily I watched a youtube video on repining a lock before I took my first one apart. I didnt have any followers but a craftsman 9mm deep socket fits perfectly into a schlage and quickset locks.

[nick08037]

Luckily I watched a youtube video on repining a lock before I took my first one apart. I didnt have any followers but a craftsman 9mm deep socket fits perfectly into a schlage and quickset locks.

I used a short piece of 1/2" wooden dowel that I had handy. It fit the Schlage perfectly and I was able to put a "V" grove centered in one end to help align the pins when repining the bible. This was helpful since the tweezers I was using at the time were not so good. -Nick

[Comrade627]

Yep, definitely need something to use as a follower while repinning. I just use a random assortment of non tapered things with carefully wrapped scotch tape if the thickness needs tobe increased.

[UnlockingBoredom]

I think I will order a set of followers when I come up with the money, they just look easier to use and they cant be too expensive right?

[cledry]

I think I will order a set of followers when I come up with the money, they just look easier to use and they cant be too expensive right?

Most hobby shops sell brass tubing of the proper diameter too.

[marman]

Should be mentioned here - from a newbie -
If you're adding fewer pins than there are holes in the cylinder...
Make sure you put the key pins and driver pins in the correct, corresponding holes.
The horror when you hear a driver pin slam into an empty cylinder hole, and the fiddly mess with ruined springs when pulling it apart again, is easily avoidable.

[KPick]

Should be mentioned here - from a newbie -
If you're adding fewer pins than there are holes in the cylinder...
Make sure you put the key pins and driver pins in the correct, corresponding holes.
The horror when you hear a driver pin slam into an empty cylinder hole, and the fiddly mess with ruined springs when pulling it apart again, is easily avoidable.

I've had this happen to me once. What I did is basically push the driver pin back up above the shearline, therefor picking it and turning the plug, and carefully disassembled the lock. IF there are more than one, then this will be much more difficult because you will have to somehow get both driver pins right above the shearline, using a pick of course.

But if you ruined the lock by prematurely turning the plug before attempting the fix, then I'm sorry, but there will be some damage... I can vouch for that one.

[marman]

It's happened to me twice so far. The first time was the worst. 7 pin cylinder with just four pins added, and I managed to get them completely backwards. Somehow it came apart with a lot of shaking and swearing, but a couple of springs were ruined. The second time I did match the inserted key pins and drivers, but carelessly rotated the cylinder when I took it apart again, so a driver fell into an empty hole when the cylinder was only partially out. That time I did manage to pick it open again, but another spring broke.
I have searched online for cheap replacement sets of assorted springs, but haven't found anything that isn't a $100+ locksmith set. Plus "spring" isn't a very googleable word. Do you have any tips?

[deolslyfox]

bosnianbill has a good video on rebuilding a lock.

Hope this is helpful.