Need help - picks too big?

[keithb]

I finished my first few home-made picks two days ago (made from wiper blade metal) and I have a question:

I seem to have trouble fitting my picks into they keyway of the Master #3 I'm using as a practice lock. Not having any other picks to compare to, I don't know if I just need to learn to maneuver more easily inside the lock, or if I need to make smaller picks.

I've included a picture to give you some idea of what I'm working with - any help would be appreciated!

[skold]

Your picks are fine, the tensioner may be too big though

[TOWCH]

You might try thinning the tip of your tension tool. Windshield wiper strip makes fairly big tension wrenches. Combine that with picks made out of the same material and I can picture that resulting in a fairly crowded keyway. Almost all pick templates on this site have sizing references so that should help with sizing your picks. It looks to me like they are about right though. A bit of polishing with sand paper and rounding rough edges will probably help. They might also need to be thinned out a bit. That could be done with a file or grinder.

[skold]

get seome sreet sweeper bristles, they are the perfect size for tensioners

[Quin]

Your tension tool does look a little on the thick side to me also.

[skold]

well it may not be too big for other locks but a master 3 has a small keyway

[keithb]

I did thin one side of the tension wrench a bit, which definately helps. I think I'll try thinning the picks a bit as well. I'll also have to check out those pick templates...

[Varjeal]

You might want to try "slimming" your picks down a bit as well...

[quasar]

they look a bit big, but well made!!

[pick_maker]

I can't help notice your half diamond. Looks the same size as the key bit and might fit too precicely. Maybe take a mm off the angles??

[YelseW]

I have a master lock similar to yours but has a combination to open. It is a series V55 commonly used in highschools. There is a keyhole in the back to pick. I can only turn this lock to about 35 degrees with all the pins set, can anyone give some tips or help?

[toomush2drink]

I have answered this question in other threads so could you please stick to the for rule and stop making multiple posts on the same topic, thankyou

[YelseW]

Srry I just cant get back into some of my other posted pages. I usually copy and paste them. And it wasnt counter clockwise.

[captainsawdust]

special needs comes to mind

[Mr Ules]

My apologise' to those of you who want to stick to the topic but I have give you all the information and assistance that I can handle on this lock. Perhaps the keyway on the back is to change the combination. Maybe I'm wrong, if so, just buy another one and try to pick that one. Maybe there's a malfunction in the mechanism. But that could only be determined if the locks combination doesn't work either.