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what to do when a short hook is too tall for a keyway?

Having read the FAQ's you are still unfulfilled and seek more enlightenment, so post your general lock picking questions here.
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Do not post safe related questions in this sub forum! Post them in This Old Safe

The sub forum you are currently in is for asking Beginner Hobby Lock Picking questions only.

what to do when a short hook is too tall for a keyway?

Postby WilsonTrucking » 11 Jun 2017 0:51

so I'm sitting here trying to pick a chinese lock and it seems the shortest pick i have, the short hook from Sparrows, does nothing but overset pins. I dont even have to lift a single pin, just dragging the pick out of the lock while applying tension will overset them. Is there a shorter pic than this? would using TOK be a solution to this? This is the lock in question. I'm starting to think it's got aerated pins in it based on feedback. Can anyone confirm?
Image
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Re: what to do when a short hook is too tall for a keyway?

Postby billdeserthills » 11 Jun 2017 5:06

I like the Rytan mini picks,
But I will make a mini pick out of a regular pick with my grinder,
it helps to have a couple of ice cubes nearby to cool the pick on--
you don't want to get it too hot or it will lose it's temper
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Re: what to do when a short hook is too tall for a keyway?

Postby GWiens2001 » 11 Jun 2017 9:53

Use top of keyway tension. That frees up a lot of space below the pins so you can use your picks. There is no way the short hook is too tall when using TOK tension unless you have some of the more evil keyways such as the one used by:

The LOB Granit 2:

Image

or some of the EVVA keyways:

Image

Other than that, your short hook should not be too tall. Unless the shaft of the pick is too tall, but a file and some sandpaper should take care of that.

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Re: what to do when a short hook is too tall for a keyway?

Postby jimylongs » 12 Jun 2017 11:54

Try a diamond pick. When I can't get a shorthook in, I use the diamond like a small hook. With the angle on the front, it's usually pretty easy to get in where the hook might not.
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Re: what to do when a short hook is too tall for a keyway?

Postby WilsonTrucking » 12 Jun 2017 13:14

jimylongs wrote:Try a diamond pick. When I can't get a shorthook in, I use the diamond like a small hook. With the angle on the front, it's usually pretty easy to get in where the hook might not.


Interesting idea. I'll have to try that next time I'm home.
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Re: what to do when a short hook is too tall for a keyway?

Postby greengrowlocks » 13 Jun 2017 2:01

That Evva has always reminded me of the movie "Teeth", I don't recommend watching it though.
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Re: what to do when a short hook is too tall for a keyway?

Postby gumptrick » 13 Jun 2017 13:05

WilsonTrucking wrote: would using TOK be a solution to this?


That's always been my go-to when the pick is too tall. Sometimes you can fit a shorter pick in there but that can cause problems if you have a high cut pin sitting behind a low-cut pin. Sometimes you need a certain height in your pick to be able to reach a pin like that, so your only option is to get the tension wrench out of your way so you can use as much of the keyway as possible to fit the pick.
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