Trouble with serrated pins

[Comrade627]

When you are starting the pick try zipping into a false set then knock off the binders.

If you get hung up at the end where everything feels set, and you're not over set, start zipping again to tap the serrateds that are close, on home.

I used this technique on 3 1105s today.

This works on so many well made locks, it's one of my go to techniques.

[KPick]

When you are starting the pick try zipping into a false set then knock off the binders.

If you get hung up at the end where everything feels set, and you're not over set, start zipping again to tap the serrateds that are close, on home.

I used this technique on 3 1105s today.

This works on so many well made locks, it's one of my go to techniques.

What kind of pick do you usually zip the lock with? A hook? A diamond?

[Comrade627]

When you are starting the pick try zipping into a false set then knock off the binders.

If you get hung up at the end where everything feels set, and you're not over set, start zipping again to tap the serrateds that are close, on home.

I used this technique on 3 1105s today.

This works on so many well made locks, it's one of my go to techniques.

What kind of pick do you usually zip the lock with? A hook? A diamond?

Either a half ball, or single peak bogota style pick.

[deolslyfox]

I generally start an American 1100 / 5200 with a Peterson #1 hook or a GEM .... I'll give it 10 - 20 "zips" with the hook. It usually doesn't take that many for a false set, but every lock is different. If that doesn't work and I can't find any binders I'll go to a snake or some Bogota variant - whatever is at hand.

I just finished a sampling of 20 American locks comprised of a 700 and a mix of 1105s, 5100s / 5200s / 5330s .... In 18 of the 20 I got a false set in less than 20 "zips" with the hook. Of the remaining two, I got a false set with both the hook and a a Bogata, but it took more than 20 "zips". Oddly enough, the two that didn't "zip" within the 20 stroke window were both 1105s. Go figger ....

Also, FWIW, on one 1105 I got such an extreme false set that I "rocked" it about a half-dozen times and got an open ...

Anyhow - its a just another kinetic attack technique for your black bag.

[tacit_guardian]

There are some strange, cheap padlocks in Australia that are branded "ABLE" that are full of serrated keypins and spools.. the one I have that I practice on is 5 pin, all serrated keypin and pretty sure it's 3 spools (non-rekeyable as it's a cheap brass-body lock). I've found that in picking serrated that "light tension" is as important as everyone says. The technique I've used to "calibrate" my tension when I'm picking a padlock full of serrated is to put the wrench in and rest my thumb on it (I'm left handed) and then pull the hook from rear to front slowly and gently and feel the pins lift, gauging the tumbler spring tension. Then put on just a little bit more until they just start to "get tight". Then I've got the right amount of tension, and will go from back to front trying to find the "tight" pin and setting it. I don't want to use as much tension as standard keypins, because I find the "crunching" of setting them with moderate tension is distracting and makes it hard for me to sense when I've hit the shear line.

I pick serrated with a Sparrows hook, Southord hook (modified and slimmed) and a sparrows half diamond. Tension is either top or bottom depending on the keyway.. Don't get too wrapped up in finding the technique, as they'll change for each lock and keyway.. build up your "bag of tricks".

I love picking serrated pins, as I get really good indications of whether I'm using too much tension on a padlock. Because I'm left handed, and I'm tensioning with my right thumb, I have a tendency to over-tension locks. Picking serrated forces me to work my tensioning skills.

As before mentioned, do beware of gunk in the action. I clean my locks out with a mild phosphoric acid preparation that strips everything out, then clean water and bake it in the oven at 150C for 30 minutes or so to dry it completely. From there after it cools I lubricate with graphite. I've found that works really well. Your mileage may vary.