pin-and-tumbler vs. wafer-tumbler lock

[0rb]

What is the difference? I read the http://home.howstuffworks.com/lock-picking.htm guide, and was confused when it came to this comparison. Please help

Thanks,

[helix]

Wafers are flat pieces of metal that hang inside a lock similar to
the way pins work.

The wafers stick through the plug preventing it from turning,
much the same as pins in a pin tumbler prevent that from turning too.

They have holes in the middle of them for the key to go THROUGH.
The cuts on the key push the wafers up or down, corresponding
to the cuts in the key.
This in turn stops the wafers from preventing the plug to turn,
because there is no wafer part sticking through it if the right key is in the lock.

There is advice on the forum the opposite of what I will offer now,
which is to:

* Use a ball or snowman to tickle the wafers
* Use very light tension.

This works for me all of the time.

http://colt.projectgamma.com/lock/fig-06.gif
Do a search for WAFERS

[vector40]

... wow... what a completely horrible diagram. I know how a wafer lock works and I can't figure out what's going on there.

[helix]

I got that image from a post of DBs, a quick SEARCH for wafer came up with it.

I think that this is the original context:

http://www.fortliberty.org/locks/secrets-of-lock-picking.shtml#wafer

[jamesphilhulk2]

so which is harder to pick?

[yippeegollies]

Wafer locks (except for sidebars) are easier to pick. Also wafer locks (normal ones) are easy to make a key for just by looking into the keyhole and reading the wafers. If it sticks down more into the keyway, the cut is deeper. There are usually only 5 or 6 depths in a (normal) wafer lock, and the tolerance is pretty sloppy.

Yip

[Chrispy]

Depends on your skills and the lock. Most would say that wafer locks are a lot easier than pin tumblers. Wafer locks are a lot more susceptible to raking as well, making them a lock that can be opened in mere seconds. Then there are 3 pin locks (small luggage locks for example) that open with a small tension wrench being jiggled and turned at the same time almost as quickly as one can rake a wafer lock.