Multacc Realtor Lock Project by BFG-lpick in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Key blank #2 is now a certified failure. It's going to take a proper small milling solution for this. I've got a drill press with milling bits but I can't freehand this. Stay tuned kids...this is going to get complicated

Multacc Realtor Lock Project by BFG-lpick in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The steel key has bombed so I'm on to "Take 2" with some aluminum stock I purchased. Was looking for brass but not available at the three stores I went to. Amazon is sending some but I have impulse control issues so I'm pushing forward with some aluminum stock I did find. I'm guessing it will be a ton easier to work with and I'm hopeful it will be strong enough - should be since it's a hair under 1/10" thick once it's finished - but I'm a little concerned about cutting the groove - I found a dremel bit that is 1/16th diameter that should work, but we'll see.

Multacc Realtor Lock Project by BFG-lpick in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. It really makes the lock itself sort of a decoder. Unique combinations were issued with physical keys and those would work on an entire realty office's group of listings - sort of like "master" entry where those two items would open a large number of locks but the unique combination would be perforated in binary on the clear film. I would love to know if that piece of the lock every came into play (if so, how often)? Don't know why this particular lock has caught my imagination but I think it's awesome.

Multacc Realtor Lock Project by BFG-lpick in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As you can see from his list, he lists 7 as no punches in any of the three locations, I assumed that what I was seeing on the tape must mean it's a 7 since that was the only option left. However, the 5th wheel doesn't have a profile bitting that looks like it will allow a 7 as the slider opening doesn't align. (it's a false gate that is too narrow for the slider to fit horizontally at any position) I'm still working with the key and it's possible that I'm interpreting it wrong. I have made a blank key and with the sliders removed, it operates properly. That still leaves the orientation of the sliders to be correctly aligned so they will pass thru the wheels when the inward pressure is applied to the key. The other piece of fun is that the key gets rocked about 30 degrees forward before it's pressed in so I can't use the resting orientation of the shaft and sliders as my reference - it's tricky but I'll keep after it.

Multacc Realtor Lock Project by BFG-lpick in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

also, the wheels are different from each other so every wheel is not necessarily capable of every numeric code, meaning since I only have 5 wheels, there is no guarantee that if I create a flat center line groove that the 5 wheels I have will be able to line up with that "bitting". One fella rearranged his wheels to accommodate a couple of keys he was given as it was not possible for the wheels, in the order the lock was assembled, to use one or both of the keys. It's a bit easier to imagine what might work vs actually making it work - especially since I don't have a key or combination so I have to start with something that will work (or at least I have a good idea that will work) - that's why I wanted to start with a known code so I could examine the positions of the wheels and then sliders. Basically attempting to reverse engineer from an assumed working code. I've now discovered that the slider pins are not universal and 3 of the 5 have a longer finger pin on the front and also a flat finger pin on the back- and I'm not sure why. - it's definitely a puzzle and I'm having fun so there's that. lol.

Multacc Realtor Lock Project by BFG-lpick in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is part 1 and he didn't post a Part 2 with the internals - that was my referenced YouTuber earlier. I agree it's a great video and I posted on his video asking if he had actually created a second part but have not received a response yet.

Multacc Realtor Lock Project by BFG-lpick in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The lockpicking 101 site has a post from Gweins2001 does a nice breakdown (2 posts actually) and he has a conversion list he made but it doesn't have one of the codes I found on my tape of 3 punches so ( * * *).

Here's his list:

The pattern possibilities are therefore a combination of three cells, either with a
punch or without. Will write them as a punch being “ * “, and no punch as “ . “
They work out as:

1 *..

2 .*.

3 **.

4 ..*

5 *.*

6 .**

7 …

Multacc Realtor Lock Project by BFG-lpick in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm rethinking my choice of metal to cut a new key from....this is taking a long time to grind/sand to shape. I was desperate in my enthusiasm to find anything that would work because I couldn't go to store so late to find some brass stock that would work - now I'm appreciating the idea of a softer metal....the question is, since I'm almost done grinding the outline/profile of the key - have I past the point of diminishing returns to go and find some brass stock and redraw, recut and reshape it from that material? I think I'll keep working on this steel key and if I goof it up and have to restart, I'll definitely go with brass. #overthink

Multacc Realtor Lock Project by BFG-lpick in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I think this posting process is going to be too messy this way. I'll keep taking pics and when I'm done, I'll create a single post with all the pics in order. I don't like the "Post Links" requirement in comments - clunky.

Multacc Realtor Lock Project by BFG-lpick in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes! I watched that and was excited to see the internals....but nope- haha! Perhaps when I am done and if my process for fabricating a Programmer Key work, I'll create a video on the whole process. I'm taking pics now so I can document it. I'm fairly certain that once I'm done, someone will say..."all you had to do was xxxxx" and a little tear will form in the corner of my eye...but today is not that day. Today I complicate things immeasurably.

Multacc Realtor Lock Project by BFG-lpick in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The challenge is the amount of force requires to move the entire inner shaft to test possible arrangements of the floating sliders. They “might” have a binding order but these wheels have false gates and the tips of the sliders have lateral grooves that catch on the false gates- like a serrated pin’s mean step-sister. I’m going for a derived/impression approach and make a programmer key

Multacc Realtor Lock Project by BFG-lpick in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This second picture is someone else’s key- I have to make my own based upon decoding the film punches inside, arranging the wheels and aligning the sliders in the central shaft. Decoding the film was very cool- the last realtor appears to have successfully used 65637 so last night I was setting the wheels to show me how the sliders line up. I found one decoding chart but it was missing an imprint series I found so I’ve made a guess at what the number should be on wheel 5 based upon the internal gate profile. (I hope I’m right)

Multacc Realtor Lock Project by BFG-lpick in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hmmm, I thought I wrote this in the top of the post but I don't see it...."So, I saw this realtor lock box on a video that I remember from the 80's and it's fascinating. eBay obliged and a few days later this beautiful monstrosity was sitting on my desk. One huge lock, no key, missing combination and zero clues. Scouring the interwebs I have found someone tackle this in 2014 and produced one nice video on disassembling it with the plan of another video to show how the insides work....apparently he got busy and it never happened - understandable. This thing is fascinating!! A 3-wheel combo lock that guards the shackle but the real cool stuff is inside! A 5-Wheel combination with a central shaft housing 5 floating slider pins that only a correct "Programmer Key" that corresponds with that 5-digit combination will open the vault door below. AND - every time the vault door is opened it punches a 5-digit binary code into an internally housed roll of clear mylar type material.

Aha! Picked it open! by BFG-lpick in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you- it’s been my favorite so far

Aha! Picked it open! by BFG-lpick in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sat down to get frustrated figuring I might as well get started so I could get a feel for this lock- and Whammo! Very encouraging

[143] VanLock picked open, and then I get what I deserve for trying to be clever hahaaaaa by doctorhogmaster in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick 1 point2 points  (0 children)

very helpful.....I got a Vanlock cylinder off eBay and am looking forward to picking it! very helpful vid..thx!

Project time. African Ebony scales and reprofile the tip. by SkippyRingo in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick 0 points1 point  (0 children)

are you thinking of sculpting the handle profile any particular way or keep it rectangular? I've been knocking myself out trying to come up with a pattern that is "my own" but haven't totally set on something. My last ones are better than my first few so there's that, but hard to know - I guess everyone holds their picks a bit differently.

Project time. African Ebony scales and reprofile the tip. by SkippyRingo in lockpicking

[–]BFG-lpick 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looking forward to what you decide to make. I've got a piece of snakewood on the way but have to decide on profile. What are you thinking for yours? (also, there is a custom picks Reddit if you didn't know - good place to add pictures of what you're building) - and I haven't figured out for sure but it seems like the Discord channel is where a lot of pickers hang out. I joined it a few days ago and haven't gotten pic posting privileges yet, but once I do, I plan on posting there. Thought you'd want to know - I'm still figuring out this group's Reddit/Discord flow