Tubular Picks

[ThE_MasteR]

I know some people use BIC Pens or the carton of a roll of toilette paper, that's about it.

[rayman452]

This may come a little late about the vending machines, but even if you did manage to pick it, don't some keys have a transponder or something so if you don't use the exact key, the alarm goes off?

[n2oah]

This may come a little late about the vending machines, but even if you did manage to pick it, don't some keys have a transponder or something so if you don't use the exact key, the alarm goes off?

Some, but not very many. I recommend going for older machines.

[digital_blue]

This may come a little late about the vending machines, but even if you did manage to pick it, don't some keys have a transponder or something so if you don't use the exact key, the alarm goes off?

Some, but not very many. I recommend going for older machines.

I recommend not going for machines at all. Unless you own the vending machine in question (doubtfull) you have no right to be picking the lock at all.

db

[ThE_MasteR]

HAHA I will never touch a vending machine lol, if you get caught trying to pick one, your in deep crap..

[BUNGYSTRAP]

The fascination with tubular locks / picks seems to be rooted in the fact that they are fitted to vending machines and bike locks. This makes them seem very shiny to the magpies in this world. If your intentions are to learn about locks and picks in a genuine interest then these types of locks should not be such an issue.

[Benji026]

This makes them seem very shiny to the magpies in this world.

What do you mean by magpie? I looked it up and none of the definitions seem to fit what you're talking about.

mag·pie
1. Any of various birds of the family Corvidae found worldwide, having a long graduated tail and black, blue, or green plumage with white markings and noted for their chattering call. The species Pica pica, the black-billed magpie, is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere. Also called pie2.
2. Any of various birds resembling the magpie, such as the Australian bell magpie of the family Cracticidae.
3. A person who chatters.
4. One who compulsively collects or hoards small objects.

[MrB]

What do you mean by magpie? I looked it up and none of the definitions seem to fit what you're talking about.

Note definitions 1 and 4. Magpies are famous for collecting and hoarding small objects in their nests, especially shiny things. Hence definition 4. Since small shiny things are often valuable, and since magpies are proverbially famous for taking jewellery, we get to associate magpies with thieves.

[Surfer]

Don't buy both the 7-pin and 8-pin if that's what you're thinking, since it will cost around $150. Do a search and you'll find that you can modify the new 8-pin to work on 7-pins as well (I believe the old southord ones can do this without modification, though their quality level is lower).

I agree with the other poster, in all the vending machines, arcade machines, and bike locks I've seen in Boston and New York, tubular locks are being (or have already been) phased out in favor of higher security locks.

I wouldn't mess with them because you can seriously get in some trouble, even if you're screwing around just for curiosity's sake. There's not much of an alibi for that, and the possession of a pick while getting caught will automatically get you stuck with criminal intent according to most states' legal codes.

[fixer]

One reason to use a tubular pick rather than doing it by hand is that some locks need to be turned several times.

With manual picking, you may get the lock to turn, but then it binds up one position around and you have to pick it again.

With a good tubular pick, when you get the right setting, you can either tighten it down and use it like the key, or de-code the depth of the pins and cut yourself a real key key.

[noorudeenshakur]

Again another late post on the vending machine question. I wouldnt reccomend picking a vending machine you currently dont own, however my friend owns a convienience store that came with 2 old gumball machines when he bought it. They use a 7 pin tubular, so I would imagine you would be able to open those. Ill give it a shot once my pick comes in and let you know. Although it almost goes without saying, but yes I will have his permission, hes my good buddy! mmmmmmmmm gumballs.......... what a yummy reward.

[Shrub]

I had to get a washing machine coin box out last night, it was a 7 pin but needed unscrewing! i was glad of my pick as it would have taken an age to manually pick all those times and the lock was tight as well which would have meant the tensioner slipping off all the time on a manual pick but as others have said pretty much not wanted by the hobbists,

Time is money and job was done in 1 min, tubular picks dont really need any skill, as long as you realise how tight to make the feeler picks then its pretty much pick in, wiggle slightly, open lock!

I have modified my SO 8 pin to the 7 pin as well by folling the instructions on site, the mod is good and im glad i did it but a word of warning, i am an experianced machinest and i warn you the mod is not as easy on all the picks like the thread suggests, you do need a good level of machinary and i beleive the original poster was very lucky to have had everything go right, my 'c' lock pin was stuck fast which was the main problem for me and took a lot of careful machineing to get it out and still have the hole intact,
A good mod but skill required on some picks to modify.

[Chrispy]

What do you mean by magpie? I looked it up and none of the definitions seem to fit what you're talking about.

In Aus, the term "magpie" is not a very nice thing to be called.... especially in prison....

[E-Mind]

as you realise how tight to make the feeler picks then its pretty much pick in, wiggle slightly, open lock!

How do you decide if it is tight enough / too tight?

[Shrub]

Either the lock opens or it doesnt

The feelers should not move unless you push reasonably hard, and when you put it in the lock you have to press resonably hard (not silly hard) to get them to move and change to the locks biteing,

This may or may not be the way the others use them but i get perfect redults every time, as i say, push tool in turn lock!