A BIC pen??

[robert-e]

I've seen a few threads that address a BIC pen to (apparently) be used as a pick to open something..... Could someone explain please. I also saw something that addresses a "toilet paper roll" .. Are we joking here or is there really something to it???

[raimundo]

When I first heard about it, I tried it and succeeded in 90 seconds, after that i have tried it again a few times and never suceeded, there are things that affect the process, the diameter of the stem of the ace lock, and even the temperature of the day. Bic pens fit on the undersize 136s type ace stem, and the plastic will either work well on a summer day, or not at all in winter outside. I have never done the paper roll but this is actually a matter of which lock you are picking. Different locks have different hardnesses of springs, and the kensington lock has soft springs, this is the one that was reported to have been opened with a paper roll by Barry Wels whom you can believe.
When the trick works, the the plastic fits the stem tightly, and pushed in with a slight twist to the direction that the lock opens, the pins will bind and also force the plastic to deform until after a number of the pushtwist motions, it impressions itself into a key.

[SFGOON]

It's for those funky, tube type locks. They're vulnerable to attack because thier pins are so exposed and it's easy to hit them all at once. Modern tube locks are much improved and more difficult to pick. Where precisely in WA are you? I'm in Sammamish until I go to Kansas for a med board then I'll be in Seattle proper....

[vector40]

You know, he has a point. Looked at objectively, all this talk of Bic pens and toilet paper rolls and soda cans really looks like more newbie-trashing bullsh*t

I mean, come on. A pen?

[Grudge]

Its very much a valid technique. The soft plastic of the pen impressions the lock (you can acutally see the indentions in the plastic when you are done).

The main problem with pens is finding one the correct diameter and material. The Bic fits some locks like the old Kryptonite Evo, the Papermate Elite fits another diameter of tubular. For cardboard, you wrap it around a pen as a form. This makes the inside diameter of the cardboard the same as the outside of the pen. So the trick is finding a pen/cardboard combination that fits the tubular. If you are an uber geek you could use a caliper to measure the common type of tubulars and match it to a variety of pen's internal and external diameters.

[Shrub]

Ive never got it to work and just stick to my picks,

As a side note does anyone have a good recomendation for a 10 pin pick?

[vector40]

Er... how many are there?

[Geek142]

You can also use Artline 210 medim 0.6 Pens. I saw it on a movie from zekes site.

Geek

[hzatorsk]

...there really something to it???

Seriously, some locks (not many) can be opened like this. The Kensington laptop cable lock was one example.

There are plenty of threads here at LP101 including one where a link to a video demonstration was posted.

I've done it myself. It works!

[robert-e]

Thanks Folks, I'll give this a try one day when the next one comes into the shop.......

SFGOON, ------ I'm in Kirkland, Work for the largest locksmith in Bellevue.

[Shrub]

Vector,

8 main tubular locks,
Standard size,
7-pin left offset,
7-pin right offset,
8-pin centre,
Inverted 6-pin,
High Security,
3-way cross locks,
4-way cross locks,

Now you can get a pick for each of those, and you can also get differant pin numbers in those locks,

6-pin,
7-pin,
8-pin,
9-pin,
10-pin,

I also think you can get 12 and 16 pin versions but havent seen them myself,

Thats almost a possable 42 picks not including the cross picks,
Now we both know thats not feasible or true but a common lock i am getting is a 10 pin security one,

I will end up making one im sure but i did hear of one made in the uk for the £50 mark.

[mckutzy]

shrub, in light of this ..........can the OH MIGHTY BIC PEN......(hehehe I like saying that.).... defeat all of them or does Bic have more pens to make.

[vector40]

Can you point me at a manufacturer or vendor making/selling 10-pin tubular picks?

[Shrub]

Mckutzy,
No the bic pen is rubbish and the technique only works on the simple cheap locks, a decent tubular lock doesnt yeild with a bic pen.

Vec,
Thats what im asking for, i know you can get them and i need one but i dont know from where, another week or two and ill make my own.

[pip]

shrub
will you be making yours from scratch
or will you be using parts from a regular tubular pick ?