Lock fun(a.k.a. making your own security pins)

[daedalus]

** WARNING: Always use extreme caution using power tools. If you don't know what you're doing.. then don't do it. Period. **

So.. I was bored. Same old locks, low budget to get new ones.
Mind the self dialogue(no.. I'm not crazy)

- Why don't I put some security pins on an old lock? Seems a good idea.
- Da*n I don't have spare pins.
- Hmm.. time to exercise the Dremel.

So.. You want to make your own security pins.. Here's how.

I started with a plain vanilla ISEO lock(with no security pins whatsoever), and took it apart.



A closer look at the drivers.



Can you notice the "dents" on the drivers above.. first I thought they were caused by the uncountable times I picked that lock before. On closer look, they seem like factory made. Did this guys think this would be added protection???

Anyway... took a pin to my working desk, fitted a heavy-duty cut-off wheel to the dremel.. secured the pin with a plier and started grinding. (If you do this.. DO WEAR SAFETY GLASSES. Also do not force the wheel on the pin, remember brass is soft enough).

Extra note: As it has been talked on another thread.. go easy on the cut-off disks as they have been found breaking and flying at high speed when not used properly.

Here is the result - I aimed for a mushroom, but you could easily do a spool or serrated.



And a photo side by side with one of the original driver pins.



Now.. you just sand the rough parts, assemble the lock.. (you can also change the key pins at this time for extra fun) and enjoy your picking.

It works as a charm. Hope it might be useful to someone as bored as I was.

[Guesss]

Very nicely done.. and really what a simple idea. you could make any lock harder and with such a cheep idea.

Way to go daedalus

[vector40]

Nice camera

[stick]

One day, you'll be in the process of setting that pin, and you're going to sneeze, put a lot of force on your wrench, and cry as it shatters into millions of fragments. That looks really, really weak, but very nicely done.

[TOWCH]

There was a topic a while back where they did this but they put the pin in the dremel and filed it. It came out nicely.

[vantito]

yes im currently working on rekeying a lock of mine but i didnt like to use the dremel because of how soft brass is i was woried about taking to much off so i put the pin in an old drill and used a file mayebe i'll try making a spool or two too

[noctorum]

I'll have to try this tonight. Playing with this enough, theres no reason we couldn't figure out a more secure pin.

[master in training]

would it be possible to make sort of a double spool pin?

or you could make it fatter in the middle and thinner at the ends, sort of like this () that would mean the tension would have to be lessened in order to set the pin, sort of a reversed spool pin. i have no idea if these woul work but there you go

[digital_blue]

A convexed pin would sorta lead you right to the shear line. I would think that would make it a whole lot easier. As for double spool pins, seems to me that you are pretty much making a serrated pin (with only two serrations).

db

[master in training]

hmm, you may be right, what about a sort of triangular pin rather than the convex one?

i thought serrated pins simply had grooves cut in them, but as deep as spool pins, which is what i imagined. i dont know....

[daedalus]

Stick: I don't find it weak at all. I have padlocks with spool pins half the size of the one i've cut and they can withstand a great deal of abuse. Anyway.. if it does break in the future, the loss is not great, so not much to cry either. (by the way.. the idea is to pick the lock gently)

Master: A double spool is a serrated, after all. Or maybe I haven't exactly got the picture you had in mind.

Either way.. It's an easy way to experiment. I keep finding deep cut shrooms the harder pins to "crack". Either I get them right at first, or the mistakes are very difficult to correct.
Though.. I'll try to experiment some variations as soon as I get time. Also.. I'm planning on going to this lock again and make balanced drivers. I'll keep you posted on the results.

[master in training]

ok, its probably my mistake. i though that spool pins had deep cuts in them like the ones pictured that you made, then serrated pins just had a series of small rings around the pin that weren't very deep or wide. i had in mind a sort of cross between the two, having the deep wide cuts, but two of them instead of just one.

[MrB]

i though that ... serrated pins just had a series of small rings around the pin that weren't very deep or wide

I think that's typically how they look, yes.

[Kaellman]

Good idea! have to try it asap.

[daedalus]

I guess serrated drivers usually don't have "dents" as deep as spools either because of structural integrity, or decreased security, but there are a lot of variations around(flat/round/cone tip, flat/convex cuts, etc). Nothing like testing it yourself