Tight keyways and grinding picks

[Korver15]

So I am wondering how I should go about modifying my picks in order get around aggressive warding, but specifically medeco keymark and a vingcard. None of the picks I have come close to getting around those corners, and before I start grinding picks I want to know what the best shape to grind to keep the most of its support and still be able to get those two locks in particular.

Secondly any tips from those who have picked Keymark . I gave up trying because none of the picks I have are slim enough. Then again I rarely use anything but a blue handle peterson gem.

Thanks a ton guys!

[Squelchtone]

I wouldnt thin down your regular picks that you use on other keyways, instead get a set of Peterson Just Picks with the dipped handles, they're super flexible and very thin and work great on Keymarks




Squelchtone

[Korver15]

Looked on Peterson's website and I found evidence suggesting that the dipped picks you were referring to were discontinued. I cant tell what pick style it is in your picture but it resembles a gem? Am I wrong? I have the .015 gem and the .018 gem with the reduced shank but I still cant seem to get around the corner. Unless I am around the corner and I just dont have a feel?

Also still having trouble with this vingcard. Very curvy keyway, it seems a short hook is too big

[spandexwarrior]

Yeah, don't grind down your picks - sand and polish yes, but if you try and take much metal off you will likely ruin the pick. 0.015 is about as thin as is practical. In your case, you're not going to get a tall pick past the Keymark "ledge" unless you have a very worn lock or just happen to get a keyway that is slightly more open.

The normal TrioVing/VingCard keyways aren't too bad - it's the double barrel/spool pins that are usually the problem.

Are you trying to lever the pick on the bottom of the keyway and expecting not to hit warding all the way up to the pins? With both of these types of locks/keyway, you may need to lever off some warding in the middle of the keyway, or you may need to float the pick all the way and twist it around the warding. For keyways like this, I tend to prefer Sparrows picks. Their normal short hook and half diamond are great and they now have them in 0.015. They're relatively compact from top to bottom.

I have had good luck with their half diamond, riding it on the ledge with no tension applied and running the pick out back to front. Unless you have a very deep cut, this works pretty well.

Also search for Keymark, there are some other posts about using the postal pick on certain keyway.

-Brian

[Korver15]

So I finally got around to picking my keymark. It was interesting because I had a wrong assumption going in that I had to bend the pick around the corner in order to access the pins. That is not the case, I learned that the chamber of the pin actually extends over the angled portion of the keyway. Using the soubers small dimple pick I was able to push the pins up without going around the corner! I feel like this could be helpful for others who might be struggling with this lock!



Now I just need to figure out how to hit that vingcard. Still don't have a pick that can work around the warding. Might buy that diamond from sparrows.

Here is a picture of the vingcard keyway.


Also, anyone know what this second row of top pins are for? At least I'm assuming they are top pins. Maybe just to slow the picker down?

[Raymond]

Regarding the second set of top pins: They could be part of a rekeying system or a lock-out cylinder. For more info look in Open source lock, Title: "Modified Cylinder Rekey System" on 9-29-2010.

[C locked]

Anti bump feature

When turned with incorrect (bump key)
The key gets trapped
By the second chamber of if driver pins
(called wait for it... Trap pins inventive bunch arent we)

Also
As none of the pictures have anything to identify scale

I presume that the keyway is 0.5mm or thereabouts
But thin keyway means different things to different
People. I mean those photos look like is a comfortable keyway
Compared to the restricted profile below
http://www.locksupplies.com.au/images/products/oz1.jpg

[Korver15]

Yes, I will have to say that the picture is a little deceiving. I currently dont have any picks that are short enough to comfortably get around the corners, and maybe it will never be all that comfortable. If the second set of pins is for anti bump then couldn't they just bump it again? Probably, just to slow people down.

[kwoswalt99-]

If trap pins are done properly, bumping isn't possible. They bump key may or may not end up trapped in the keyway. Picking them should be very difficult, but Farmerfreak picked them once pretty quickly though.