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Is there a trick to this BEST padlock?

Information about locks themselves. Questions, tips and lock diagram information should be posted here.

Is there a trick to this BEST padlock?

Postby Eazy123 » 5 Jan 2017 19:26

My father gave this to me a few weeks ago - no key or anything. I DID manage to rake it open only once, and that was after around 6-7 hours worth of raking (and a broken pick). I can't get it open or to control at all after another few hours of both SPP and raking. The pins do tend to feel a bit "mushy" and I can get the back ones to pop, but the front three just stay springy and never bind. Any advice?

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Last edited by Squelchtone on 13 Feb 2017 7:32, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Edited title to include the words BEST padlock.
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Re: Is there a trick to this lock?

Postby Jacob Morgan » 5 Jan 2017 20:01

I believe that one is better off using a special tension wrench to pick it to control. Otherwise it is sort of random as to which shear line a pin is being picked to. Peterson sells them. Those wrenches put only the control part of it under tension.
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Re: Is there a trick to this lock?

Postby Eazy123 » 5 Jan 2017 20:33

Ok good - I did order one from them last week so I should have it soon. Just didn't know if these locks had some weakness.
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Re: Is there a trick to this lock?

Postby tpark » 5 Jan 2017 21:39

I should note that may have to wedge matchsticks into the keyway, so the control sleeve moves with the plug. How many pins are there in that core?
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Re: Is there a trick to this lock?

Postby Eazy123 » 5 Jan 2017 22:55

tpark wrote:I should note that may have to wedge matchsticks into the keyway, so the control sleeve moves with the plug. How many pins are there in that core?


Seven.
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Re: Is there a trick to this lock?

Postby RedE » 5 Jan 2017 23:58

I feel your pain... in my experience they're by far the most difficult and frustrating non-high security locks which I've ran across. There's a reason they're called Best:)

Such picking resistance comes from their near exact manufacturing toleranaces and the presence of the two shearlines like previously mentioned. I should also mention that I've seen their cores come factory pinned with both top AND bottom spool pins. So If your lock has such spools in it, perhaps they're giving a false set and changing the binding order which is stopping you from setting the first three pins?

I agree that the Peterson tool should help out a bit by allowing you to focus the tension to just the control shearline. If you've got the dedication to put 7 hrs into picking it, then you should definitely be able to get it open again. That's the kind of determination you need to succeed!

Best of luck!
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Re: Is there a trick to this lock?

Postby tpark » 6 Jan 2017 9:50

Ahh - I have some cores with that keyway (i think), and they are only 5 pin locks. You might want to check out some of Bosnianbill's Youtube videos on this subject - he has some techniques that may work on your lock.

--Ted
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Re: Is there a trick to this lock?

Postby Eazy123 » 6 Jan 2017 10:21

Thanks all - I did watch BosnianBill's videos on dual shearline cores, and he's used at least three different techniques which did confuse me. One he said light tension, another he said heavy tension, one he used a euro slim rake, another he used SPP. His raking technique was what got this lock open for me the first and only time but it hasn't worked since. I also was able to get a Corbin Russwin multi-shear core open and even made keys for it over the weekend but my local locksmith said that Best locks are much harder to get open.

Tomorrow my specialized tension tool will arrive so I'll try that and move on to the 40mm Abus I've got...that darn lock...I picked it open within 5 minutes of getting it home a week ago, but coule only pick it open again three times since and now can't get it for the life of me. So I'm going to focus on that for the time being!

Question - is the C9 indicative of the keyway type, or is that something that was engraved by someone other than the company?
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Re: Is there a trick to this lock?

Postby tjohn » 6 Jan 2017 11:14

Matchsticks ? :lol:
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Re: Is there a trick to this lock?

Postby Eazy123 » 6 Jan 2017 11:47

tjohn wrote:Matchsticks ? :lol:


What is this matchsticks solution you guys are talking about? I've never heard of it?
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Re: Is there a trick to this lock?

Postby Squelchtone » 6 Jan 2017 11:53

Eazy123 wrote:
tjohn wrote:Matchsticks ? :lol:


What is this matchsticks solution you guys are talking about? I've never heard of it?



I think it's time you start using the SEARCH function, you'll find a lot of stuff already exists and you wont have to start a new thread for everything.

here is the match sticks solution: I searched for match sticks

http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=63215&p=468386&hilit=match+sticks#p468386


Thanks
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Re: Is there a trick to this lock?

Postby Eazy123 » 6 Jan 2017 12:29

No need to be that way. First, I didn't start a new thread asking about matchsticks. Second, I DID search "matchstick", which I think you'll find - same as I did - turns up no results. "Matchsticks" brought up only this thread.
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Re: Is there a trick to this lock?

Postby Squelchtone » 6 Jan 2017 12:48

Eazy123 wrote:No need to be that way. First, I didn't start a new thread asking about matchsticks. Second, I DID search "matchstick", which I think you'll find - same as I did - turns up no results. "Matchsticks" brought up only this thread.


Just giving you friendly moderator advice.. we get a lot of new people here who will posts 20 questions in 20 days that have all been answered already a dozen times, so before you fall into that hole, just letting you know we have a Search function. so no need to take offense,

Whenever I search I also try to think of how someone else might word something. I might write upside-down while others may write upsidedown and another person might prefer to write upside down, so I try all the common variations of a key word to see if anything comes up. Our search is very literal, it unfortunately wont find things that are close enough to what someone might be thinking about.

The other thing is, when asking if there is a trick to a lock, that just tells me a new picker needs more practice and to not jump from simple locks right into 7 pin well made locks. I think once you can pick a Kwikset and Schlage deadbolt over and over with out any issues, you can go pick a BEST padlock. Some new pickers I have seen will put blame on the lock, or blame on their lock picks, but never blame on their new-ness or lack of experience. If you've opened that BEST by raking, consider that luck. I remember when I started, raking was a great way to open stuff, and it was always exciting, but whenever I tried to SPP, I would fail. It's just what all beginners go through. I see you picked some American 5200's, that's not an easy lock, but it doesn't mean all locks after them will just fall open in your hands, there are just too many variables at play. There are days I cant open a simple Master lock, but I can open a Medeco, go figure.

keep practicing, you'll be opening that BEST over and over soon enough,
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Re: Is there a trick to this lock?

Postby jeffmoss26 » 6 Jan 2017 14:27

Eazy123 wrote:Thanks all - I did watch BosnianBill's videos on dual shearline cores, and he's used at least three different techniques which did confuse me. One he said light tension, another he said heavy tension, one he used a euro slim rake, another he used SPP. His raking technique was what got this lock open for me the first and only time but it hasn't worked since. I also was able to get a Corbin Russwin multi-shear core open and even made keys for it over the weekend but my local locksmith said that Best locks are much harder to get open.

Tomorrow my specialized tension tool will arrive so I'll try that and move on to the 40mm Abus I've got...that darn lock...I picked it open within 5 minutes of getting it home a week ago, but coule only pick it open again three times since and now can't get it for the life of me. So I'm going to focus on that for the time being!

Question - is the C9 indicative of the keyway type, or is that something that was engraved by someone other than the company?


C9 is just a blind code for the facility or user of the lock.
Looks like Q or R keyway which are not very common.
"I tried smoking a blank once. I was never able to keep the tip lit long enough to inhale." - ltdbjd
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Re: Is there a trick to this lock?

Postby tpark » 6 Jan 2017 14:31

The instructions that come with the I-Core Tension tool actually state "shim the tool in place using flat toothpicks", not matchsticks as I suggested. Another important thing to note is that sometimes the control sleeve will be frozen in place after many years sitting outside - the lock will still operate but it is difficult to tun the control key. The chain on your lock looks good, so hopefully it's not all gummed up in there.

Here's a picture of the removed core from one of the eBay locks I purchased. You can see that the core has some corrosion and contamination, probably from being exposed to the ocean.

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