Tubular Picks

[ThE_MasteR]

I am planning on getting some Southord tubular pick sets..The 7 & 8 pin sets. What I would like to know is if someone had any experience with these, and if they are durable and work good.

Thanks for anything posted here..

[CobraOne]

Yes,

I have had experience with these picks. They are durable and work very well. but the most important thing I can add to anyone using a new pick is to practice. ( use the 3 O's ) Practice OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN..

[ThE_MasteR]

Yo thanks for saying that, I am relived now. i think i'll go ahead and get both of em..Just for the heck of it, I know I am not allowed to talk about this but I matters well take a chance, I do NOT intend on unlocking a vending machine, but do these work on em ? I am just curious.

[SFGOON]

Nope! Modern machines have much improved circular locks, ones that arne't so easily picked (it's really hard to get proper tension on them.) Many vendors have resorted to using medeco locks on thier machines, so no. You'll be able to open some of the older, cheaper tubulars but that's about it.

[stick]

Tubular locks are being phased out, especially in my area. A while ago, all the tubular locks on vending machines near me were replaced by American standard pin tumbler locks. A few weeks ago, most of the American locks were replaced by Abloys.

[ThE_MasteR]

Abloys are pretty darn hard to pick..They have many different designs which makes it close to impossible to unlock. There is a certain model that has a REALLY weird plug design..Anyways, thanks for anwsering my questions guys, I was just curious to see if they'd open with these kind of picks, I don't really care, just wanted to know.

[mrfirebug]

Yup, same as where I work. All the vending machines are locked with abloys.

[vector40]

Plenty of places around here, the actual lock is whatever (sometimes still tubular), but there's an additional padlock over it, usually a honking Master or American monstrosity.

[BUNGYSTRAP]

Tubular locks definately seem to be on their way out, but their are still moded versions on things like wheel clamps but they have up to 10 pins and generally offset. Tubular picks are still a welcome addition to your tool box and do get called upon from time to time. I have 2 HPC picks. The quick reset tubular needs little or no practice whereas the manual version covering 7 and 8 pins including left and right offset requires a little more time to perfect.

[ThE_MasteR]

Well, I think it would be useless then to get one..Should I ? Or get somethin else ?

[vector40]

Probably give it a miss if you're just a hobbyist. Most people don't seem to find the experience very exciting.

[Mad Mick]

You'll all probably get sick and tired of hearing this...

Why would a hobby picker waste cash, which could be better spent on other tools (i.e. a very decent pick set), by buying a tubular pick? It doesn't really take that long to pick a tubular by hand, using an allen wrench ground square and something like a darning needle. A Wonder-tool takes the skill out of the hands of the hobby picker. When time is money, the tubular pick is invaluable, but I can't really see the fun in using this tool hobby-style.

[Varjeal]

I would agree with Mick on this one...the tubular lock pick tool definitely takes any fun out of actually picking the lock. If there were such thing as a "magic" key, the right tubular pick for the right lock is pretty much a "magic" key.

Take his suggestion and try using seperate seperate tools for tension and picking, you'll get much more satisfaction from the accomplishment.

[ThE_MasteR]

Well, since nobody ever even mentioned this before to me , that a tubular lock can be picked manuely and not with a tool, I wouldn't even asked this..Is there a guide somwhere ? Was this already mentioned on the forum ? I'll do a search..Thanks

[MrB]

Yes, for sure it's already been mentioned on the forum in past threads.

But there's another thing too. When you are thinking about different kinds of lock, the first thing to do is to get hold of one or more actual locks of the particular type. Half the fun is examining the lock to see how it works, and then imagining what kind of tool you can use to pick it. Once you do this with a tubular lock, it becomes much clearer what your options are to open one of them.