First to Stump Me...Brinks Padlock

[hozer2k]

I got one of those Brinks padlocks that is able to be rekeyed, it is the size of a regular housekey so you can redo it to your house key. It has four spool drivers in it.

Right out of the box I picked it 3-4 times in a minute or two...piece of cake. So then I thought, how can I make it harder. So I rekeyed it such that the max and min pin sizes are next to eachother and alternate, leaving the shortest pin in the back. I thought this would be the hardest to pic and turns out it is. I have tried almost everything and nothing. I have gotten close with all 5 pins setting, but a couple are false sets with the spools. Normally this isnt a problem for me, but I cant seem to get it. I have tried deep hooks and everything too.

Any hints?

[CitySpider]

Let's ask an even broader question. Don't mean to hijack your thread, it just seems relevent, especially since it's mostly aimed at you.

How in the world are you guys picking spool pinned locks right out of the box? I've been workign on these darn American padlocks for MONTHS now, and I still can't open them on purpose.

[lockpickroy]

I could be wrong but I believe American padlocks have a tighter tolerance I removed the pins from a 1105 series and they are serrated. I have never had a brinks brand but I would guess they are cheaper made and easier to open in both cases i would say computer generated picks may work

[Chucklz]

Hozer2k- When you pinned the low/high, you may have violated MACS, so that you would never find this lock in this condition. Also, you may also need to change the top pins for the lower cuts to meet specifications.

[CitySpider]

I could be wrong but I believe American padlocks have a tighter tolerance I removed the pins from a 1105 series and they are serrated. I have never had a brinks brand but I would guess they are cheaper made and easier to open in both cases i would say computer generated picks may work

All right. Apples and oranges then. I'll have to find me a Brinks padlock and try one of those, too.

[hozer2k]

Yes, I suspect I did violate what a normal key would be capable of...I dont know if it would be able to be cut this way. This doesnt mean it cant be picked though....after all its all about the challenge.

Far as spool, mushroom, etc pins...I dont think it was "right out of the box". I have been working on this for about 6 months. The MIT guide has techniques on how to defeat them.

[Chucklz]

I certainly did not want to suggest that you shouldnt try to pick things that would be "impossible", but rather that your MACS violation has set you up for failure. Think of the horizontal distance between pins.....then of the vertical distance between the high/low cuts you have set up. You will see that its pretty difficult to get "under" the low pin and reach up to set the high pin. Try a deep curved hook. With spool pins, MACS violations turns out to be quite a mess.
THis URL has some spacing/depth/MACS information for you. Try with the MACS and then try violating it one then two etc.
http://f6.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/IHgJQJ89pmlhUNo-rWIQrj-Xn-SK_-6G4_-msWunuQ_ivAkI8ZIM_0tWKbs2icMZZN5ajN5-S-4L0cwqXPA61YUD7Fxg/Techniques/spacing.html

[hozer2k]

Thanks for the reply, I will check that out.

But that is exactly what I was trying to do...create a challenge. Now that I am decent, I have been able to pick the last 15 deadbolts I came across...some faster than others, but always get them.

This one has been tough, but I will get it

[hozer2k]

If nothing else, it may be a fun challenge for others as well.

[CitySpider]

Right out of the box I picked it 3-4 times in a minute or two...piece of cake.

Maybe I misread that part, then? Sorry about all the confusion.

[Grudge]

How in the world are you guys picking spool pinned locks right out of the box? I've been workign on these darn American padlocks for MONTHS now, and I still can't open them on purpose.

Those Kwikset house key compatible Brinks do have spool and are easy to pick. I suspect that just being associated with Kwiksets make them easy to pick Actually lockpickroy is right, it is all in the tolerances. I have added spool pins to actual Kwiksets and it doesn't help much at all.

Anyway, if you got a Walmart in your area, cruise on down and buy one (about $12). The only trick (at least this works for me) is to put a lot of tension on the wrench and just listen as the pins go CLICK or CLICK CLICK (for spools). You can actually hear them with a lot of tension on.

This lock was really helpful to me because it is easy to repin (even comes with pins and a key decoder) , is easy to pick and has spools (but with training wheels
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[Chucklz]

THe ABUS version of this lock has far tighter tolerances and is more of a challenge with spool pins, but not much.

[CitySpider]

I should probably start a new thread, but have any of you tried American padlocks?

[lockpickroy]

yes and american is the hardest padlock i have opened, with a normal pick after i opened it with a computer generated pick ,i knew about where the pins set

[tiny33]

american locks medco and a few other locks that have spool pins and mushroom pins are easiest to pick using a reverse picking method first you take the back end of your pick stick the flat edge of the pick into the keyway use the flat edge of the pick to raise all the pins all the way up while holding the pins up put turn pressure on the pins using your tension tool take your pick out of the lock start easing pressure off your tension tool as you ease pressure off the tension tool the pins will start to slip put pressure back on the tension tool and ease the pressure off a little at at time once again and then apply pressure again and repeat this process until the lock opens