Universal top pins vs master pins

[CarWashGuy]

I successfully re keyed my first cylinder today! Excuse the noob excitement

I purchased a used lab pinning kit and I need to order some replacement pins. Is there a difference between universal top pins and master pins?

For example I see a package of schlage .030 master pins for $4.95/100 and right next to it is a package of .030 universal top pins for $1.50/150. So I guess my question is can regular (universal) top pins be used as master pins?

[GWiens2001]

Same thing.

And congrats on your first rekey!

Gordon

[CarWashGuy]

Thanks Gordon! Curious as to why the huge price difference. Strange.

[cledry]

You might be looking at Schlage OEM lab pins which are machined differently and cost more than the same size universal pin. If you are masterkeying locks I prefer to use OEM Lab pins be they Yale or Schlage, they make things work so much smoother. If you use the NS OEM bottom pins as well it will perform smoothly for longer. In fact with Yale it is night and day difference.

[GWiens2001]

When I said "same thing", I was referring to top pins and master pins of the same height. Cledry, thanks for clarifying on the key pins.

[CarWashGuy]

I did successfully master key a schlage today using 'universal' pins from LAB. Both keys work...for now. I think I'll get those OEM pins and use those in the future. Thanks for the input!

[ltdbjd]

Do you have a master follower, like the ones by Keedex or Pro-Lok (or others)? They have a flat side for removing master pins (and annoyingly, small top pins).

[cledry]

Do you have a master follower, like the ones by Keedex or Pro-Lok (or others)? They have a flat side for removing master pins (and annoyingly, small top pins).

If you are just beginning I would recommend learning to do it with a regular follower and pin tweezers first. There are times that using the Keedex follower will not clear out the stacks and there are times when it clears out the driver pin as well. It is a good tool but it isn't perfect.

[CarWashGuy]

I don't have a master follower. Just a HPC set of hollow copper ones and a few plastic / nylon. I'll pick one of the master ones up but I will learn on both and see how I do. I already have had to unload a ton of top pins when only the operating key works and not the master.

[GWiens2001]

I still don't have a master follower. Maybe if I did a lot of master pinning, but even then I'm not sure. But a set of pinning tweezers sure is a help.

Gordon

[CarWashGuy]

Oh yes, pinning tweezers are a must in my opinion. My wife is much happier now that she doesn't step on pins every time she walks across the kitchen floor.