picking spool pins ugh!

by **glasskey** » 16 Mar 2005 9:21

I have a brinks "clamshell" lock #R70 which is a round padlock. I understand it has spool pins so I think it is ready to open and I am the one defeated. :?:

reading on this lock, both here and through searches, I see use a feathery light touch on the wrench for this lock, but I also see use an extra heavy touch on the wrench for this lock. well I have tried both I get partial movement of the keyway but lock still wins :cry:

this is my first encounter with spool pins .. any tips ?

by **quicklocks** » 16 Mar 2005 9:26

by **glasskey** » 17 Mar 2005 5:57

yes, I have done the search before I asked the question. just needed to clarify the contradictions

by **quicklocks** » 17 Mar 2005 6:43

by **RangerF150** » 17 Mar 2005 14:38

That's a pretty good read on how to do it quicklocks :-)

I have a euro lock with 5 spool pins, it can be nasty to pick , i go around in circles setting one pin , while another unsets .

But it's quite pickable and pretty good fun when you do :-)

Have fun dude !

by **glasskey** » 17 Mar 2005 15:41

thanks for the help, I must have spool pins in there.. see if I can explain what happens; when I rake it then release and listen I can hear two pins drop sometimes three,so I rake it again and begin to pick but nothing seems to set so I add more tension and feel again then pop it seems like it is open the tension wrench looses tension and nearly comes out of the keyway and the lock resets (if this makes any sense to anyone) and I am starting all over again. I have picked several padlocks, deadbolts, and lock in handle house lock, but this one has me stumped.I am going to try the quicklock approach before I trash the lock

by **Guesss** » 17 Mar 2005 17:41

first off don't trash the lock i would love to get it from you if you are going to do that :wink:

and second i havea question and some advice

are you only raking? cause that is what it sounded like in your last post.. i assume not but if you are that could be one huge problem. really need to do those pin by pin if you can.

like quicklock said if you lift up on the pin you you will feel the lock shift backwards. nothing like what a straight pin will do.

hope this helps

by **jessopher** » 17 Mar 2005 23:00

it almost sounds like the pop is comming from the shaft of your pick dislodging your tension wrench. If you are levering pins up (as opposed to lifting evenly), and the tension tool is in the bottom of the keyway, this can happen. Try tensioning at the top, and lifting the pick rather than levering it.

It could also be that your tension tool doesnt fit well, and is dug up against the shell at the bottom of the keyway. The loosening of tension could be a pin setting, the plug turning, and the drag of the tool against the shell making it shift, and dislodging it as a result. Some keyways make this almost unavoidable, almost, because again, if there is sufficient room, and you are comfortable with it, you can tension the top of the keyway and avoid this

Either way, it sounds like your tension tool doesnt agree with either your picking style, or the keyway, or both.

by **Guesss** » 17 Mar 2005 23:07

that is good advice as well i have said that before but i didn't think of it this time

good advice jessopher

by **glasskey** » 18 Mar 2005 1:29

Guess.....I rake then pick..........

jessopher..... I think you got it,, I was watching it this time real close and that seems to be what is going on,, so I am off to make a new tension tool a little wider.. ...

thanks both of you.. going to a trade show this weekend, but will be back pickin and grining on Monday

by **raimundo** » 18 Mar 2005 11:47

Europeans like to put the second finger on the interface between the plug and the cylinder at the face of the lock, the tactile feedback is far better than anything you can see. of course they like stright picks with popsicle handles, I usually just use light to intermittent tension and a bogota rake, it seldogets to the need of pin setting one at a time, that is my plan B, and if I still need to get the lock open without significant damage, plan C is impressioning a key. Impressioning can be regarded as a sure thing, but not a swift thing.

by **glasskey** » 19 Mar 2005 22:15

raimundo,, working all weekend, but will try the finger thing on monday.. oh BTW I have the key. but what fun is that

by **Guesss** » 19 Mar 2005 23:31

althoguht it sin't fun it can be a teaching tool for you... Take a look at the depths on the key. this will help you to figure out how to pick the lock. you will knwo what pins go at what depth. I know this takes some of the learning out of it but at the same time it is teaching you while helping you. Just use it to get it the first time and then you can pretend like you lost the keys :wink:

unless you are really good you won't memorize the lock in the first time so this will bost confidance and you will know you can get it, but still not be cheating too much.

hope this might help as well.

picking spool pins ugh!

picking spool pins ugh!

europicking

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