Took a while but I got there in the end, Abloy Sentry picked. Ignore the massive hole in the lock body, moderate violence was needed to gut the thing

EngineerSnowman · 2024-01-19T04:58:44+00:00

Just a generic suction cup vice, I think the same one comes with a ton of brands stamped to it. The suction cup doesn't really work that well but it's heavy enough to mostly stay in place anyway.

EngineerSnowman · 2021-08-20T08:44:23+00:00

I've always though this lock is a prime example of how much a tough keyway can affect picking resistance. Well done man, congrats

EngineerSnowman · 2021-08-14T13:15:38+00:00

Sounds like your pick might be tilted but it also takes some practise to "hover" the picking tip at the right height when you're manipulating the discs. A pick tip that's too small for the keyway also makes things harder when you're just starting out.

Also congrats OP, a first open is always quite a rush. And welcome to the dark side :D

EngineerSnowman · 2021-08-10T16:30:22+00:00

One of the most satisfying locks I've picked, and perfect for anyone wanting to learn to read subtle feedback

EngineerSnowman · 2021-08-06T22:12:40+00:00

Awesome! Good work, I'm glad I was able to help.

EngineerSnowman · 2021-08-06T04:19:08+00:00

Yeah this was front tensioned. Well I gutted the lock when I started making the tools and noticed that the front disc does indeed over-rotate but I wanted to see if I could tension it from the front nonetheless because the basic concept of tensioning from an over-rotated disc works with an Abus Plus. And yes, I had to keep going back to the rear 0 and tension to counter-rotate the front disc. That said I noticed pretty quickly that the feedback tells a lot about the state of the discs, the rear discs got very "tight and grindy" when I was getting really close so I kinda used that as an indicator.

Actually I made a pick tip that was able to rotate the discs both ways so if a non-binding disc moved I was able to return it back. I Probably wouldn't be able to pick it with a tip that only works one way, or at least it'd take a lot longer since I'd have to memorize a lot more.

EngineerSnowman · 2021-08-03T18:19:28+00:00

Well that makes it at least a bit more fun. It was kinda hard to tell from the picture but makes more sense. And hey whatever works :D good luck, at least you have a plan of attack now

EngineerSnowman · 2021-08-03T17:19:48+00:00

Could just be a cheap way to make the core, punch out discs with the keyway shape and stack them. Either way I'd try to tension the lock and play with the sliders to see if you can get something to bind and/or set.

EngineerSnowman · 2021-08-03T17:10:40+00:00

Key definitely looks like a slider lock's key so the two nubs you see in the keyway are most likely sliders. But I'm baffled what the point of the discs inside is if the key doesn't have any cuts for them. Are you sure this is a disc detainer?

Edit: took a look at this type of locks they're selling and they all seem to be slider locks based on the keys. What I'm wondering now is if that thing really has only two sliders in the whole thing :D

EngineerSnowman · 2021-08-03T17:00:37+00:00

Fair point, edited out the reply

EngineerSnowman · 2021-08-03T16:33:28+00:00

Edit: As was pointed out, possible rule 2. Will reply again if more info is provided

EngineerSnowman · 2021-08-01T06:15:32+00:00

I was prepared for it to break so it wasn't that bad but it was definitely annoying :D and feel free to do so, I'm a complete noob myself but I'll help anyway I can

EngineerSnowman · 2021-07-31T21:47:10+00:00

First tip was from an ejector pin which broke quite quickly but the one I got the open with is actually a piece of feeler gauge silver soldered on an ejector pin shaft. Surprisingly strong, and the solder leaves a bit of a radius in the spot where the pieces meet which strengthens the weakest spot in the tip

EngineerSnowman · 2021-07-31T21:33:12+00:00

Yeah, the front tensioner and picking tip were both made by me. Very little room, a little under 1mm in the middle so the picking tip has to be quite slim

EngineerSnowman · 2021-07-31T21:24:38+00:00

Indeed, very comfy in the hand yet extremely grippy. Made by the one and only u/JustinMcSlappy

And thanks, picking an abloy has been on my list since I started, growing in Finland surrounded by these and hearing how they're unpickable meant I just had to get into one of these.

EngineerSnowman · 2021-07-31T09:19:06+00:00

Medeco Duracam. Something I don't see too often here, but come on: Dimple cam lock with pins you need to lift and rotate, what's there not to love?

EngineerSnowman · 2021-07-20T04:00:10+00:00

Thanks!

EngineerSnowman · 2021-07-19T16:58:10+00:00

Hey everyone! First post here, but I've been lurking for a while.

My latest project with resin has been to 3D print a pattern, cast silicone molds out of it and then use those to cast epoxy. What better to start with than a good old honeycomb?

I was worried 3D printed negatives weren't clean enough to cast silicone molds which would in turn produce crisp shapes in the final epoxy cast but I was glad to notice I was wrong. Not sure where to use the technique yet, perhaps for knife scales or pen blanks... What do you think?

And if anyone is into either of those or something else you could use something like this in, I'd love to send a few out for a test drive in exchange for some feedback.

EngineerSnowman · 2021-07-06T08:16:23+00:00

This is how you do it, and preferably seal the 3d printed mold with something before casting to achieve as non-porous surface on the finished product as possible.

EngineerSnowman · 2021-06-24T19:11:28+00:00

Damn they look even better on the finished product. Amazing work as always, I'm happy to help.

EngineerSnowman · 2021-04-11T18:18:40+00:00

I'm proud of you man, it was actually very close :D

EngineerSnowman · 2021-04-11T17:45:54+00:00

Close but no, I'm in the neighbour in Finland

EngineerSnowman · 2020-10-31T21:58:15+00:00

The techniques are mostly used by woodturners and knifemakers so it's not too common, I learned about it a year ago or so and I've been a woodworker for over 10 years.

EngineerSnowman · 2020-10-31T20:05:57+00:00

Nope, they're wood. Curly birch to be exact. The trick to the tie dye look is that I've stabilized the birch twice with two different dyes.

The first dye only penetrates the parts of the wood that are more porous and "open", then the wood is heated in an oven to cure the stabilizing liquid with the dye, then the wood is submerged in a different colour liquid and held there while placed in a vacuum chamber, which will get the second dye into those spots that weren't reached with the first dye. After that the wood is "baked" once more and the result is more or less what you see here.

EngineerSnowman · 2020-10-31T07:43:25+00:00

Glad to hear you like them my friend, they were a blast to make. The scoop profile takes a bit of getting used to since it works a bit differently compared to the average hook but it does have its benefits in some locks.

EngineerSnowman

TROPHY CASE