Brinks Shrouded Shackle Padlocks

[MrB]

OK, I went to look at that video and the video files seem to be in RAR format. That's not a common or freely accessible compression format. What do I miss?

[master in training]

rar is a compression method, like zip, download winrar for free (google it) to open the file

hope this helps!

~ Master in Training ~

[stick]

Rar is almost as common as zip, and it seems to have a better compression rate, although I don't really pay attention to that kind of stuff.

Last I checked, Winzip didn't support rar files for some odd reason. Winrar is great though. If you want open source, 7zip is really good. It boasts better compression rates than Winrar, Winzip, etc., and I'm inclined to agree.

[MrB]

Hmmm. I've never come across RAR before though I've vaguely heard of it. WinRAR seems to be shareware, so it's not free. The Brinks padlock movie compresses just as well with WinZip, and zip files are much more accessible to the average Windows user.

I bet if you did a survey of the average PC user, 99 out of 100 of them will not have WinRAR installed.

[stick]

Yeah, zip does have a much higher recognition rate. It was basically the first widely used compression system.

[zeke79]

The reason I use WinRar is very simple, it will open many many different types of compression formats including zip format. I can also email small .exe files to people through yahoo, gmail, and hotmail without getting that annoying message stating I cannot send files with that extension. Overall it does do a better job compressing the files it just doesnt show up as well when compressing the video files. It is not something I really thought of when I was doing it, but if everyone wants it to be done I can swap everything around to a zip file .

To answer the other question, yes I was using a plastic handled peterson standard hook. If you allow this lock to do so with light to medium tension it will tell you alot about itself while single pin picking.

Overall, dollar for dollar it is one of the best locks I have purchased to practice picking. On the other hand these locks do not fair well outside in the weather in general use. The cylinder still operates fairly well, but the shackle on mine has become hard to pull open and hard to close. I dont know if the application of some silicone grease to the part of the shackle that enters the lock body and some O-Rings may help seal out the moisture that is causing the heavy corrosion in my lock or not as I have not tried. When I take it out of service I will post some pictures of it after about 7 months of outdoor service on a door which has a roof with an 18" overhang.

[omelet]

re: rar compression format
i recommend free programs such as 7-zip or powerarchiver

[ondrovic]

thanks for all the pointers
zeke the video was very helpful

as of yet i havent had any luck yet but will keep trying and let you know as soon as i open this lock

thanks again for all the help

[RajunCajun]

I picked up a few like one that ive been working on is the 1 9/16" solid brass padlock, boxed - Pin Tumbler and yet to even work on the shrouded one yet, I was trying to figure out when picking pin by pin on it, is it always the spool pins in the back that are going to have to be set first but yet they feel the lightest, where as if i set the most binding pin the first pin locks up thus preventing you from continuing (the wrong order im assuming?)