What did you pick today?

[greengrowlocks]

This week I've been working exclusively on Emhart locks. Most of that time was spent trying to figure out the best approach to picking and identifying properly rotated pins. I found it difficult to rotate the low cuts so I made a very small half diamond. Finally today I got my first full pinned one open.

Great job picking through all these locks adi! I'll be sending you another package in the next couple days.

Emhart Picked


Homemade pick for rotating low cuts

[adi_picker]

Thanks greengrow, excellent to see you have the Emhart open, look forward to checking the letterbox

Dorma DC5400





I have been on a bit of a roll this week, and I think a little luck went into opening this one. Those pins!

adi_picker

[greengrowlocks]

I keep telling myself that I'm gonna stop buying Medeco locks but I saw this keyless padlock for $20 and couldn't resist. I think there is a control, it felt as if there was multiple shearlines on 3 and 4. I may have to try picking to that next.



I couldn't find a decent tubular tension tool for sale online and got to test my homemade one today on this ACE lock.



Well done on the Dorma adi, I have yet to get the two I have open.

[DClaus]

Since my picks have not arrived yet, I used 2 types of hair pins, the regular size and a larger size. Used the SPP technique on all of them: Master padlock #1, and a Master #5, and 5 of the Master #3 and also a no-name deadbolt. By the way, Master padlocks are reccomended by many in Locksport videos as excellent training locks for newbies. They are so easy to pick and to rake and that is so welcoming and encouraging to newbies and a great introduction to the sounds and the feel of the pins, the design of pin tumbler locks, laminated lock bodies (and laminated warded construction).

Watching, and [u]listening[/u] to youtube videos gave me some really good tips about listening for and feeling the pins as they set and as they were over set and false set. Also how some security pins felt as they caused false sets.

I got a great 7 pin practice lock made in USA with a Schlage C keyway that arrived today. SO nice, smooth as silk, not sloppy like some cylinders made in China. All sorts of Key pins, security pins, driver pins, master pins, springs, 5 pages of documentation, Stainless Steel Allen setscrews, the Allen wrench, some spare Allen setscrews a nice little storage box, extra springs, and it even comes pinned up to 6 pin Schlage keys that also come with it. I am really excited. This was the result of a LOT of research investigation and I believe it was a great investment in my new hobby, ! I REALLY like the idea of loading anything from 1 pin to a 7 pin lock, with and without security pins, and the different types of them.

NOW IF MY PICKS WOULD JUST GET HERE!

[greengrowlocks]

I returned to working through the Dom lineup. Just got this Saturn picked, felt like a lot of spools and the interactive element was the last to bind. Gonna start on the TwinStar next.

Dom iX Saturn

[adi_picker]

Smashing those DOMs greengrow!

The Medeco will indeed have a control, on pins 3 and 4 as you suspected. IIRC, because of the way the lock is designed, the control cuts were really deep, so they should be at the first shearline you get while picking. Ill take another look at mine today and let you know a bit later.

adi_picker

[greengrowlocks]

Thanks to adi for these next two locks. The Twin picked differently than what I was expecting. The type of spools used were much deeper than ASSA's newer style spools.

Lockwood Twin


Lockwood 232

[adi_picker]

Nice picking on the 232 greengrow, so much for Australian electoral security!

Medeco Classic



Its a great feeling, that everytime I come back to pick a Medeco, its a little bit easier than it was the last time. I remember when I first tackled a Medeco, it felt like an insurmountable hurdle, and I was working at it for a week. Eventually though, I got one open, and then another and another and so on. Now when I come back to them, they are more fun than difficult, and the feeling of progress is immense! Like anything, stick at it, and the reward will be fulfilling.

adi_picker

[greengrowlocks]

After a few days of failed attempts I finally got the VERSO picked today. It took some trial and error with the tension tool. The first tool I made out of .018" which snapped under the heavy tension required to get the sliders to bind. The second tool I made this morning was constructed out of .025" and on the second attempt using it the lock opened.

IKON VERSO (12 sliders, 2 sidebars)


Tension Tool & Key

[greengrowlocks]

Thanks to adi and Gordon for helping me in getting my first BiLock picked today! I used a .018" Peterson half diamond and SPP'd with light tension. I will try getting the Galaxy opened soon, waiting on a brass tube of the correct diameter to arrive for a tension tool.

BiLock

[adi_picker]

Greengrow, you da man! Awesome to have you join the club! I have been using the image of that cylinder picked as the cover for my 'Picked' photo album.. Do I have to surrender it to you now?

Lockwood Gen6T 'D1' Profile in an ABUS Rock



Nothing too flashy today, just an inline 6 with a tight profile. First time I haved picked anything from the Gen6T series before though. This series is super popular with Locksmiths down under, would most likely be the most used restricted series of late. Lots of profiles in this series, with different master profiles for different regions, and different sub-profiles for each locksmith. I am yet to see 2 of the same profile!

adi_picker

[greengrowlocks]

Not really picking but I decoded this today..

Russian? Combination Padlock

[bitbuster]

https://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-997 ... -code.html

[adi_picker]

Cool lock GG

adi_picker

[greengrowlocks]

Thanks for verifying that padlock bitbuster!

I got a couple new opens today. The first was this 5 pin Medeco switch lock. I've been pretty successful raking the 3 and 4 pin cam locks but this 5 pin required an SPP.

Medeco 5 Pin Switch Lock


This afternoon I received this neat Chain Key lock with curved keyway. Interestingly enough this lock came from a magic shop in the UK. I believe this is a remake of the original HYT chain key lock. The keys in these locks are injected into the keyway and bend around a curve within the keyway preventing straight tools/keys from being inserted. While waiting for this lock to arrive I was thinking of ideas for a pick that would bend side to side but retain vertical rigidity. Turns out that a thin .012" feeler gauge pick was able to bend around the curve in the keyway and lift the pins. The first pin after the curve was the hardest to access.

Chain Key Lock




Anyone know what this type of lock is for?