Simple tools vs professional tools for level locks

[sivlogkart]

Years ago, I used to do a lot of lever lock picking, but using simple
homemade tools, and I could do the 5 lever locks in my house etc, but
it has been a long time since I have done anything with lever locks.
So my questions are:

1) Have the common lever locks you see around changed much in the last
few decades? I got one chubb lock the other day and it did not
appear to be much different from what I remember.

2) How much easier is it to pick a lever lock with the special tools I
see mentioned a lot on this site than it is with simple home made
tools?

Given the special tools cost a lot, I would like to know how good they
are from someone who has used and is good with both simple tools and
the professional kit. For example with pin cylinder locks, I have
both my old style homemade tools and some professional tools, and tend
to use my homemade tools most of the time, but I think it is likely to
be less true with lever locks.

I am keen to get back into lever lock picking again.

KJ

[Keyring]

I'll answer some of this, although there are a couple of guys here who actually know what they're talking about who will probably be more helpful.

The main change in lever locks 'recently' is the wider use of BS standard locks. The main features which affect picking is the addition of a 'curtain' around the keyway, and the use of anti-picking notches. The curtain is supposed to make picking harder by limiting the access by simple wires.

The usual approach is a curtain pick, which is certainly something you can make for yourself in a couple of hours, (well it took me that long, because I had to set up the bench in the garden!)

quicklocks has posted some nice videos in 'Pick-Fu - Do... Not try' which should tell you almost all you need to know.

The older style locks are still used where it isn't a question of insurance discounts, and your old methods will still work. I have tried to make a 2 in 1 pick for those, but I'm finding that braising either is too soft, or distorts the workpiece. I'm currently wondering about stainless steel and welding.

[toomush2drink]

I have a homemade curtain pick and several pro tools and im finding i get better results with my homemade tools.I think its because they are tailored to my requirements and i get immense satisfaction opening locks with something ive made.

[sivlogkart]

Thank you both, that is food for thought. I also like using my own tools if possible as you really do feel that you have done it yourself. With the people I teach lockpicking too, I always suggest at some point that they should make their own tools for pin-cylinder locks to complete the job so to speak.

Also I have large hands so made to fit tools help there too.

What I wish is that I still had the lever locks that I did pick in the past, as trying them again would get me back in the swing of it and I would then know how much I had remembered. The lock I just got has a curtain, but I do not think that will be too much of a problem.

Given I was could pick lever locks, it would be nice to be able to prove it to those who never witnessed it!

KJ

[sivlogkart]

Chubb 3U75 5 lever security mortice lock

To get back into lever lock picking I got a Chubb 3U75 5 lever security mortice lock, which I guess is nothing too special from a local hardware shop. I made some very crude picks out of 1.6mm piano wire, and even though I have had a huge gap, I could still open this thing quite easily.

Before this all goes to my head, can someone here tell me how good this lock is? My impression is not very good, as I expected to take a bit longer to get the feel for picking these things to take a bit longer, but then again I have done a lot in the distant past.

What cheap lever lock should I get for the next level? But one that can still be done with simple tools, i.e. two bits of wire, as I have not made a curtain pick yet (though hope to soon).

KJ

[EvoRed]

Your impression of the 3U75 is correct, it's not that secure and fairly simple to pick as it has no anti-pick notches in the levers.

If you want to try to pick one with anti-pick notches then try a Legge or Union 2134, although you won't find it easy using two wires.

[pinky]

The chubb 3u75 lock is not a bs lock, but a good start point to get the feel for lever picking principles, the lock has no anti picks and is made to good tolerances, the chubb 3u75 in brown is exactly the same lock as the yale security and union 2201 security locks just all 3 are different colours and prices.

as evo says, next step is a union 2134, yale 560 or chubb 3U114 which are also all the same lock in different colours and prices, although not the best an excellent choice of initial foe.
from there id move to legge and era locks before tackling chubb 3G114 locks.

i wont take anything away from you for picking the 3U75 as many so called locksmiths still drill them, you can pick these simply with 2 x small L wires, but well done for opening it, now move up a gear to a bs lock.

[sivlogkart]

I did take it apart afterwards, and agree it does not have any anti-pick features. It is a bit strange though that something that bad is even sold though. I plan when I have a spare moment to make a curtain pick, but the start of term is almost here.

Any way it does appear to have been a good starter lock to get back into lever lock picking.

Do you know the UK price of the locks that you suggested?

KJ

[sivlogkart]

Thanks pinky. I did guess that it was not the best lock around, and got it for that reason. The thing that pleased me though is that after 10s of years not picking lever locks, though I do pick lots of others, that the feeling for picking it was still there.

Thank you both for your reactions, and when I get time I will take on the locks you mention.

Which of the brands tend to give the cheapest versions of the above locks you mention?

KJ

[pinky]

the union 2134 is normaly cheapest version of the same lock.

[sivlogkart]

I have been playing with the Chubb 3U75 5 lever lock, and different bits of wire to pick it, and have found the following to be the fastest, and not much slower than the key. I have one bit of wire that is a short L shape as a torsion tool, so it is just long enough to turn the curtain, and another bit that can flick all the levers up at the same time. With the right tension this picks all the levers at once.

It seems a bit too easy to me, but it does work.

However, I guess for the locks to come, picking it as I did before in a more standard way would have been better training.

KJ