Your New BFF - The Half Diamond

[deolslyfox]

I'm posting this because I just finished off an American 5530 that has been kicking my butt for about 3 days. I could quickly get to a false set then wound up over-setting one or more serrated / spools before I could get an open.

I finally hauled out my trusty half-diamond and when I got to that first false set I just let the diamond ride slowly over the pin, letting the diamond push the pin home. Three passes down the stack and I had an open !!

Just to make sure it wasn't "pure luck" I SPP'd it again with the diamond and sure enough, I got another open.

The half diamond is a very flexible tool, which I should use more, but don't ... A shortcoming on my part, as I know the flexibility inherent to this pick design and have used it with success on numerous occasions such as this one.

I'm just a "medium hook / top of the keyway" picker at heart, and that's generally my go-to attack. Very seldom do I rake to a false set. I'll zip the stack with the hook if I have a sticky serrated at the end of the pick, but otherwise, I'm a SPP'er ....

A good technique with half diamond, especially with a pesky serrated is to just move the diamond forward and backward over the pin while maintaining a constant pressure on the pick / tension wrench, letting the pin ride up the face of the pick until it sets. You'll have much more control over the pin then if you're trying to "lift or lever" it into place.

If you've got a particulary sticky pin, the point of the diamond can also be used just like a hook to push the binder home.

Give it a try. The half diamond may become your new BFF !!

[Comrade627]

I saw a dude on youtube explain this and do it on a cutaway, so I tried it out. It works well once you get the hang of it.

[nick08037]

deolslyfox , Thanks for sharing your explanation of this technique, you explained it very well. I will give it a try since there are a couple of security pinned padlocks on my bench that have not opened for me yet. I am certain that I am making the exact error you detail in your first line. -Nick

[nite0wl]

The flexibility and versatility of a good half-diamond cannot be overstated. I always keep at least one in my kits (or one of each thickness).
You can SPP, shovel (using the slope of the diamond to raise a pin that is too low to reach under with a hook), zip, and even as a stand in for dimple picks and other specialised tools on more unusual designs. The flat underside of the half-diamond also makes it an ideal tool for probing or some overlift techniques.
I may start off my picking attempts with a flat hook of a bogata, but on many high quality locks the half-diamond will make an appearance when I get to a pin that cannot be manipulated any other way.

[knowspicker537]

I kinda do something like that with my hook, if I feel like I've picked all the pins spp and it still won't turn and it should I put my hook all the way in the back and pull it out light and fast like a rake I've had good success with this technique for quite some time

Knowspicker537

[74TR6]

Thanks for sharing the information. Was a little skeptical; but found the half diamond and an American 5200 that has defied me for weeks. After several attempts, it opened.

[Malekal]

The local locksmith, who is sharing tips with me every Wednesday, swear only by the half diamond.

[Luke13]

Hey great story im working an assa 600 and im having a few opens but no consistency im pulling out the half diamond right now !! if I get lucky ill report back !! thank you !!

[jimu57]

Some swear by the half diamond and some swear at it. I love it. Have 5 of them and all are different. I think Sparrows has one that has a thin shank and works great in tight keyways.

[kwoswalt99-]

I occasionally use the technique described above, but with my hook.

[QuantumEntangled]

I appreciate the versatility of the half diamond as well. I found that differentpick manufacturers have different takes on the tool. Sometimes the diamond is small and acute with a thin and tapering shank but other times, the diamond is flatter with a thicker shank or even offset. I was thinking of Southord and Peterson.

[Blindbraille]

There's a great video on YouTube, some British guy with a goofy screen name, but he does something called "speed bump" picking. I couldn't get it to work the same way he does with my regular hook but I tried the half diamond and it worked like a charm. Basically you pop your pick all the way in, apply light tension and quickly rake it over the pins. It's like "b*tch h picking" but you only do it once. The "speed bump" is the pin that sticks, it's a fast and easy way of finding the binding pin and really good way to hit that false set. I didn't even carry a half diamond in my travel pick set but I've been doing this for a few weeks now and it works especially well on deadbolts. I find the bind with the half diamond, pop it in and then take my hook out of my mouth and finish it off with that. It's tricky with some safety pins but for your average lock, brinks or better since master is a joke, it works wonders. So needless to say I added my diamond back into the regular rotation. Right next to my Bogota.

[kwoswalt99-]

There's a great video on YouTube, some British guy with a goofy screen name, but he does something called "speed bump" picking.

Sounds like Solomon!

[WestCoastPicks]

I mainly use a hook (gem or standard) but often will change up tools if I notice I can't set pins. Half diamond makes it way in every now and then, but usually I end up using a reach or a hooked diamond or something like that.

[johnb007]

I constantly neglect ny half diamond, these comments have inspired me to give it a shot on my tough locks. We'll see