Picking 5 Spool Pins?

[Rich0775]

Hey everybody,

I think it's been about a month or longer since I last posted. Jim sent me a few re-pinnable practice cylinders and it's incredible how much better I've gotten at picking. I started off with just standard pins, then serrated pins, then spool pins, then mixing everything together with high-low-high-low key pins, etc. My ability to remember what I've already picked and keep that mental map developed on it's own and it's second nature at this point.

Anyway, since the beginning spool pins have been my bane. I know how you're supposed to beat them but picking anything that has more than 2 spools has been pretty hard for me. The most I've been able to do was putting 3 spool pins in the cylinder and picking those 3, I've done 4 one time successfully and I have yet to be able to pick all 5 spools.

Anybody have any insight they can offer on this topic?

[Shackle Jackal]

funny I have similar problem in reverse, I have no issues picking spools pins, in fact I like them . I feel that I get better feedback, maybe the fact you started with serrated and I have started with spools ? I am currently working on some american locks and some practice locks that I have pinned up with serrated .

one thing that really helped me pick spools was to either have a TOK tension wrench that has almost no play in the keyway, or to rubber band the tension wrench to your finger to maximize control.It makes feeling and controlling the false sets of the spools much easier Any hints on serrated pins ? (light tension seems to be the answer, im just having trouble staying in the sweet-spot)

[billdeserthills]

I haven't ever seen a 5-pin cylinder with spools over every pin, so I think you are good to go since you say you can pick a cylinder with 4 spools

[FriendlyFellow]

My breakthrough with spools came when I started tracking and mixing around the picking order to discern the binding order. I track the last 5 to set, and if a spool pin causes others to drop, I reset and try moving it earlier in the picking/binding order. My (limited) understanding is that this doesn't always prevent all pin drops, as there may be a "gatekeeper" you have to keep resetting to get back to the false set, like a standard or serrated pin. I found it easier to practice with only spools in the cylinder to get the feel of setting them before having standard or serrated in there to keep me out of false set.

Some of my spools would partially drop, so I'd lose the false set and not have a clear idea who dropped, having to go back and check those I'd set to make sure they were still set. I also had a bit of a learning curve regarding the tension during setting the spools, and finessing it just right. Once I figure out the binding order for a lock full of spools, though, I'm surprised how fast I can go through it.

[cledry]

You will never AFAIK find a lock with spools in all chambers. It would create a lock that was very difficult to operate with the key, especially if the tailpiece was under torsion.

[GWiens2001]

You will never AFAIK find a lock with spools in all chambers. It would create a lock that was very difficult to operate with the key, especially if the tailpiece was under torsion.

That in addition to possibly making it difficult to insert or remove the key.

Gordon

[cledry]

You will never AFAIK find a lock with spools in all chambers. It would create a lock that was very difficult to operate with the key, especially if the tailpiece was under torsion.

That in addition to possibly making it difficult to insert or remove the key.

Gordon

That is actually what I meant.

[Raffles101]

What ive quickly discovered is that switching between locks is very difficult and focussing on just one lock for a long period can lead you into a wrong way of thinking. I may be wrong but from what ive seen you can never have enough locks.

[Squelchtone]

[Moving this from Ask Beginner Questions to Intermediate Level.]

[billdeserthills]

You will never AFAIK find a lock with spools in all chambers. It would create a lock that was very difficult to operate with the key, especially if the tailpiece was under torsion.

Actually that post from about a week ago with the National deadbolt did show a brand-new lock with spools in all chambers

Funny sometimes how you think you know things about stuff....

[kwoswalt99-]

I've got a Master Lock that has spools in all the chambers, and it's so worn out all of the chambers are ovals.

[Bendecouk]

I realise that this thread is old but, new here and haven't struggled with any locks really until now. I have a 1-star british kite mark yale, 6 pin and there all spools. You would think that you would get false sett easy but then lose them as you attack the following spool but I'm getting absolutely no feedback at all and had to leave it several times for a week or so. nothing I do seems to change the equation... anyone come across these and have an idea????