Trying to find out a comb for American Combination Lock

[encore0279]

As the topic states, I found an American Combination lock in my house and now require a lock for school, as I dont feel like buying a new one, I was wondering if I could find this combination. I searched the forums and the web, so far hte only guides i found were for MasterLock which were helpfull in helping me find the combo for a different lock. However since that lock is being used for something else I was wondering if someone could helpe me out to try and find the combination for this American Lock thanks!

[TOWCH]

If the lock is open you can read the wheel pack by looking down the hasp hole in good lighting.

[encore0279]

ITs not open its closed. All the guides I have found only seem to work for MasterLocks as i tried to find the sticky points for this lock and there are only 8 are so and none of them land on numebr only between them.

[Jow]

try to shim it and then you may be able to read the wheels...

[bushd]

If shimming doesn't work then some boltcutters might because without the knowledge required to open a combination dial lock then you're sol. It is much easier on a master lock simply because they're known for their great ability to resist manipulation.

[encore0279]

What do you mean by shim it? Do you mean file down like a hair pin and put it near the inside and then pop it open? Yea I been trying to do that but I need to file down the pin more.

[Jow]

try using a piece of a coke can cut down to shapoe with scissors... or the metal bit from a floppy disk.... but careful its easy to cut yourself...

[encore0279]

WEll Like i said, this isnt a Master Lock, the master lock took me like an hour to pop open was easy as there were lots of material on the web about it, I found the 12 sticky points and then it was a simple process of trying like 30 combinations and i found the right one. But this "American Lock Company" brand lock is giving me some problems as it only has 10 sticky points and I cant use any of the tutorials. I've tried the feeling method, etc.. I watched the video about learning the combination if its open it was very helpful and brought me a wealth of knowledge about these locks, I guess my next step is to shim it I think. Then we'll see what happens.

[bushd]

With combination locks feeling is good but so is sound. I'm not sure if you've read much due to that, but here is a good start:

Howstuffworks.com - They have two excellent articles with one about safe opening (manipulation) and the other about combination padlocks (inside details, etc.). I would provide the links if I knew them but I am not at my computer.

Totse.com (Be warned, they're not a minor-friendly site)- They have many articles on methods of bypass, pick and manipulation I believe as google.com searches have led me there many times. I think the problem with a place like this though is you cannot be too trusting on their information seeing as how it is freelance and anyone can give an article I believe. I'm not so sure on that.

If you're really getting into manipulation there are a few books that are out their specifically designed for it. Other then that the information that is on the web is nothing compared to what is in the books. I know TNL presents a few books and has their book as well as LSS (Which I have come to find out thanks to TOWCH that it has a very good manipulation section but expensive) and a few others out there.

Also, with the sound portion you might want to try a stethoscope I believe is the term; I work in a medical office and cannot even remember that things name (the listening thing works fine to me) so I hope that is the right name.

Venturing out of the masterlock padlock realm takes some practice, usually more then the earlier stages of picking simply because padlocks are more precise and when you venture into safe manipulation their locks are even moreso. Basically it is like going from a masterlock to an increasingly difficult Schlage (Sha-lay-guh - for future pronunciation reference) right off the bat.

You could always give the padlock a drilling technique designed to keep it working but give you the combination; however, I don't like anything destructive what-so-ever and usually don't read up on it since I this is only a hobby right now.