Plug followers...

[btraven]

What is that cut-out in the end of commercial plug followers for? I see it in a lot of videos.

[billdeserthills]

The cut-out is mainly for use on mortise cylinders

[Raccoon]

When you remove the cam from a mortise cylinder, you are left with a raised area of metal surrounding the keyway on the rear of the plug. You rotate the plug 45~60 degrees and use the notched out area of the plug follower to push from the rear.

[Peter Martin]

This is a little late to the post, but I wanted to add a short note on making your own followers.

K&S Precision Metals can be found in most hardware stores. I got mine at Ace. They sell 1/2"x12" (#8139) thin wall brass tube which is perfect for making professional looking and durable followers. Many people like to use wood dowels, or Sharpie pen bodies, but I don't like the appearance and I like to pretend that I have some craftsmanship. The tubing section cost around $3, so it's quite affordable.

A 4" section will be fine and the diameter works on most common US cylinders. If you have a mortise lock, you can carefully file some notches to match.

Pete
Sioux Falls

[GWiens2001]

This is a little late to the post, but I wanted to add a short note on making your own followers.

K&S Precision Metals can be found in most hardware stores. I got mine at Ace. They sell 1/2"x12" (#8139) thin wall brass tube which is perfect for making professional looking and durable followers. Many people like to use wood dowels, or Sharpie pen bodies, but I don't like the appearance and I like to pretend that I have some craftsmanship. The tubing section cost around $3, so it's quite affordable.

A 4" section will be fine and the diameter works on most common US cylinders. If you have a mortise lock, you can carefully file some notches to match.

Pete
Sioux Falls

Late to the post? Looks more like the post was late to you. Welcome back, Pete. Nice addition to the thread

Gordon

[SixClicks12]

Genius, I was just at the hardware store today looking for a follower. I’ll have to search one of these brass tubes out.

[billdeserthills]

I've used a AA battery in a pinch
& a AAA for a small cylinder mail box lock

[Wizer]

I had some pens that were exactly the right size for most europrofile locks. I made 2 plug followers of each plastic pen housing. Still have a couple.