Any tips for picking an IC Core?

[AlwaysLearningDavid]

I'm not currently sitting on a job for this, but I've definitely had had this in the past.

You go to a site and they have IC cores on everything. They want you to change out the keys. And, of course, they have no idea where the control key is.

How can you pick an interchangeable core so that you only hit the control pins?

Any tips or suggestions?

I'm guessing mainly drill.

[greengrowlocks]

Peterson sells an "I-Core" tension set. People have also built their own. There are some posts on here that give your the correct depth and spacing for the teeth that grip sleeve.

Peterson tool
https://www.thinkpeterson.com/cgi-bin/c ... key=IC-GS2

LP101 post regarding building one
http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic ... on#p463228

[Squelchtone]

You may also enjoy reading these articles by Matt Blaze: http://www.crypto.com/photos/misc/sfic/

[GWiens2001]

The answers above are assuming you are speaking of the SFIC version of IC. Best, Arrow and numerous other companies make cores in the SFIC format. There is also Schlage’s version FSIC, and many varieties of LFIC such as Corbin/Russwin, Medeco, Yale and so forth.

So tips for picking them depends on which flavor of Interchangeable Core you need to pick.

Gordon

[tpark]

Also, sometimes they'll have spare cores sitting around - it's always worth asking. As Gordon mentioned, if you're not dealing with SFIC, your approach will differ. It's important to note that different systems require you to turn the key in different directions - so if you're used to picking to control clockwise, and if you are trying to do this with Sargent interchangeable cores (their proprietary ones) it's not going to work since these cores are removed by turning the control key counterclockwise.

It's possible to pick SFIC cores to control, but I would look for the easy answers first. Depending on what rate you're charging, it doesn't take much time to add up to the cost of a new core, so unless you can pick it in a relatively short time, it would be cheaper for the customer if you drill and decode.

[GWiens2001]

Somewhere I have a music wire tensioner that I made to be used on Corbin or Medeco or other types of IC cores that use the middle four pins for control. The tensioner is sort of Z shaped, with one end being very short. Stick it in the keyway far enough to engage the rear section of the control lug, then tension and pick. Then you don't have to pick the pins at either end of the core.

It seems strange the first time it works, since the plug does not turn at all. But the tensioner shifts when the control lug is picked, then simply pull the tensioner outwards and it will pull the core with it.

Gordon

[femurat]

Gordon, that's a very clever idea! I'll dig out one of these locks just to try it. I know it'll work. I just wanna know how it feels.

Cheers

[billdeserthills]

I'm not currently sitting on a job for this, but I've definitely had had this in the past.

You go to a site and they have IC cores on everything. They want you to change out the keys. And, of course, they have no idea where the control key is.

How can you pick an interchangeable core so that you only hit the control pins?

Any tips or suggestions?

I'm guessing mainly drill.

Actually since I made my own tension wrench I've been surprised at how fast most sfic core (like Best)
will pick to the control point. My tension wrench has a comb that I filed into it, that engages the holes
found at the bottom of the control lug. I just placed the regular tension wrench inside a core
and marked through the holes, where I wanted the comb to be then I filed around the marks

don't forget to spray the lock with lube before picking

[adi_picker]

You can see my homemade control tensioner in this picture Dave.



Its the comb looking thing under the Best mortise. I agree with Bill, they open really fast with this method of tensioning.

adi_picker

[GWiens2001]

Raymond contacted me with a question on the tensioner I referred to a few posts up. Dug out the core I used before when I made the tensioner and the keys and tensioner were in the bag, too.

Looking at the keys, I realized that it was only through some a fluke of the master pinning in that particular Corbin core that my tool worked. The first bitting on one core was a 9. The sixth bitting on the second key was a 9. Which explains why I was able to pick it to control without touching the first and sixth pins.

Thanks for making me think about it, Raymond! Made the tool a few years ago to test the idea back when I started getting serious about learning more about locks, and never used it again. Therefore never tested it on other cores, which would have shown the flaw. That is the great thing about this forum - you can get input and corrections from the other members and refine your learning.

You guys are great!

Gordon