Worn pins

[Berget]

I've seen pins that were worn slightly worse, and it was no older than 25 years and usually only operated once or twice a day. But those were brass, which seems to wear faster than other metals.

The conical shape of the pin itself is something that I've never seen though. Any possible explanations?

[Pintickler]

I've seen pins that were worn slightly worse, and it was no older than 25 years and usually only operated once or twice a day. But those were brass, which seems to wear faster than other metals.

The conical shape of the pin itself is something that I've never seen though. Any possible explanations?

One of the guys I work with thinks someone filed the pins in an effort to "fix" a problem they were having with the lock. CheerIO suggested that too, I'm pretty sure. I think the beaver chewed look of those pins would force them to rotate in the chamber when contacted by a key. Since that isn't normal it may explain the abnormal conical shape of that one pin. I can't get it out of my head though that this lock lives right next to a pool, and the ocean. Ive seen locks next to pools that were relatively new yet completely seized up to the point where a key would not go in at all.

[cledry]

You would file the top of the pins not the bottom. Is the guy at work who suggested that theory a locksmith?

[Pintickler]

You would file the top of the pins not the bottom. Is the guy at work who suggested that theory a locksmith?

Yeah, he is a locksmith. His exact words were, " Some dip s**t probably filed those trying to make a key work better or something." I'll have to let him know that you recommend filing the top of the pins. He's probably gonna kick himself for not thinking of that.
Also, since you see this kind of wear so often, I'll ask again, what do you think causes it ?

[deolslyfox]

I see this the most on locks that have been used with steel keys.

Old locks generally wear down over time but not that much.

[cledry]

You would file the top of the pins not the bottom. Is the guy at work who suggested that theory a locksmith?

Yeah, he is a locksmith. His exact words were, " Some dip s**t probably filed those trying to make a key work better or something." I'll have to let him know that you recommend filing the top of the pins. He's probably gonna kick himself for not thinking of that.
Also, since you see this kind of wear so often, I'll ask again, what do you think causes it ?

If he assumed the bottoms of the pins were filed to fit the pins I cannot imagine he has much experience as a locksmith.

[Pintickler]

You would file the top of the pins not the bottom. Is the guy at work who suggested that theory a locksmith?

Yeah, he is a locksmith. His exact words were, " Some dip s**t probably filed those trying to make a key work better or something." I'll have to let him know that you recommend filing the top of the pins. He's probably gonna kick himself for not thinking of that.
Also, since you see this kind of wear so often, I'll ask again, what do you think causes it ?

If he assumed the bottoms of the pins were filed to fit the pins I cannot imagine he has much experience as a locksmith.

Your imagination sucks, cledry, because the guy is a locksmith with many years experience. And he has something that you don't... a theory on what made those pins wear like that. I am surprised that a complete know-it-all like you would miss out on a chance to condescendingly tell everybody what made those pins look that way. It's not like you.

[Squelchtone]

Play nice fellas, we're all on the same team here. Team Locksport. or Team Locksmith... Team Locksportsmith?

Squelchtone

[Comrade627]

Play nice fellas, we're all on the same team here. Team Locksport. or Team Locksmith... Team Locksportsmith?

Squelchtone

1 vote for lock smort.

[nick08037]

just some speculation only, if any of this is possible may be someone can follow up.

1. wrong key pin profile for the key/key way type causing extreme wear pattern, in combination with items #2/3 below

or

OP provided detail "This lock lives less than 1000 yards from the ocean and about 15 feet away from a pool"

2. wind blown particulate in key way making key difficult to operate, user regularly applies a wetting bath of spray lubricant in misguided effort to keep dirty lock functioning, lubricant collects more wind blown particulate and process is repeated, effectively honing the pin surface with continued lock use

or

3. sea salt spray and pool chemical mist eroding the pin surface in combination with #2

[Big Jesse]

Does anyone have a photo of a set of pins from a lock that has been picked hundreds of times, or more? Maybe one of the shared locks from Toool or SSDEV? Now I'm even more interested to see how that picking wear manifests on the lock.

i believe this is what you are looking for...

http://www.lockpickingforensics.com/lockpicking.php

[Pintickler]

I think ,nick08037's theory is probably the best explanation I've heard. One other thing I guess I should have mentioned is that this lock is for a common area at a large beachside condominium. The only key I saw was the one belonging to the customer that called me, and it was brass not steel, but many other people have keys for that lock so steel keys are a possibility too.