Best cylinder lock

[WhiteCastle966z]

Hey guys, there's a Best cylinder lock on my door and it's been giving me some trouble. When I inserted a half diamond (upside down) and pulled it out slowly I heard 7 distinct clicks, so I'm pretty sure it has seven pins. I just read a post on a similar topic that suggested it might have three shear lines (i live in dorms, so it's a mastered lock) and that it might only have six pins. How many shear lines are there? If there are three, any advice/tips on how to deal with this lock?

[Exodus5000]

Well first and foremost, if it is indeed your dorm lock that you're picking then you should know that it is illegal for you to do so. You don't "own" the room that you're staying in, you're just renting it from the school. I'm not saying that just to give you grief, I'm letting you know because you could be kicked out of school if you were caught.

I too live in dorms with best locks on them, so how did I resist the temptation of sinking my picks into the plethora of Best keyways? I bought a few from ebay. It's worth it - trust me.

Ok so on to the questions you had. The locks on my door (and the one's I bought from ebay) are 6 pin cores. The easiest way for you to tell would be to look at your key and examine the valleys to determine the number of pins. I also find that there is a lot of space between pin stacks in Best cores, so it would be fairly easy to insert a short hook or half diamond in and slowly let the pick rise and fall over the pin stacks and count them that way. It is entirely possible that your lock does have 7 pins.

It is also possible, belay that it is probable, that your lock is master keyed. This means there are multiple shear lines in the lock so that it will operate for different grades of keys, such as a:

-Room key
-Master key
-Grand Master key
-Control Key
-Etc.

So the number of shear lines in the lock is determined by the number of keys that will operate it. You can do a further search on this forum or google for "master keying" or something of a similar nature. Additionally, Best locks have a "control shear line" for the control key. This key is used to remove the core so that - for example - dorm rooms can be re-keyed very easily. You would remove the core with the control key and insert it into another door. This is what makes Best and other brands something called a "SFIC." The acronym stands for Small Format Interchangeable Core.

It is entirely possible to pick the control shear line. Some believe that having multiple shear lines increases the change of picking the lock. The tolerances on Best locks are so tight that if it is easier, it won't be by much. When picking these locks use a very light amount of tension and feel for very subtle clicks with your pick. Picking a Master #3 or a Kwikset would feel like hammer blows by comparison.

[thertel]

Let me preface this with a statement the usual disclaimer.

If the lock doesn't belong to you don't pick it

Now there are 2 shear lines, the operational and the control, both of which will allow you to open the lock. There tend to be at least 3 keys that will open each lock, though there can be tons of different bittings that will open your lock.

Since it is your lock just lookat the key and count the number of flat places and that is the number of pins, in the lock.

Now when you finally do get the lock unlocked be careful when you rotate the cylinder becuase if there is a thin master/buildup pin it could fall into the keyway and come out, possibly making your key unusable but definently messingup some key for that lock, or it could jam the lock which is probably much worse cus then you have to explain how your lock got like that, which will then involve a meeting with hte campus police, your Ombudsman, and if its anything like UT, the Dean of your individual subgroup. Not fun.....

Thomas[/b]

[MrB]

First, I'll just second what Exodus said. Don't pick your door lock. If it is master keyed (it probably is), there is a small possibility that you could mess up the lock by attempting to pick it. If you did that the key wouldn't work any more and you would be screwed. Don't do that.

As far as master keying is concerned, a typical master key system only needs to have two breaks in the pin stacks, even for many levels of master. The reason is that a sub-master key can use a combination of change key and top master key cut depths to achieve different levels of mastering.

Of course, an IC lock like a Best will have two shear lines as well, so the permutations for the lock as a whole are indeed complex.

[thertel]

, I walked away to put dinner on midpost and I was beaten.

Thomas

[MrB]

I was just about to say the same thing...!

[David_Parker]

This has nothing to do with how you would pick the lock, but relates more to whether or not it is illegal to pick the lock.

For the act of picking the lock to be illegal, wouldn't that basically be saying he's not allowed to open or access the lock with any other type of tool or material other than the key provided?

Or would it just be labeled as criminal activity?

-Dave.

[Exodus5000]

You brought up an interesting point dave.

It is 100% legal to open up the locks that you own using whatever tools you wish. The problem that he would run into is the fact that he does not own those locks, the college does.

[Luke]

Good to see that David is back. Also mate i understand what these guys are talking about as criminal activity and so forth. Buying a lock on Ebay is a good idea - yet it may cost some $$$. In my opinion is, no one here is going to stop you from picking that lock, i understund that these guys here consider it wrong but i just don't see the harm. !!BUT!! the best option is probably you to either buy some of even ask permission, i know it sounds weird but i have asked permission to experient on some school locks. I might just add that they were a little paranoid, but they asked the janator to find some old locks with the restrictive key way - so you might get lucky.

[skold]

Luke you were lucky, if i asked for one of my schools bilock to try and pick...they would probably expell me


Locks don't cost much, so instead of screwing around with college property go buy one.