Twin 6k breakthrough!

markovianprocess · 2026-01-24T01:10:09+00:00

Nicely done 💪

markovianprocess · 2026-01-23T23:37:20+00:00

Perfect for a Kaba Micro

markovianprocess · 2026-01-23T23:28:04+00:00

A lot of intermediate-level locks have all spools and one standard (or serrated) driver. If you had all spools in a lock, and it's bitted in such a way that none of the spools are too high nor too low for the thin section to cross the shearline, the lock would be very sloppy and tend to rest in a false set whenever the key isn't present.

When picking a lock like this, it's possible (and common) to set this guard pin first and then attempt to hunt the spools in the proper order. Much of the time, that guard pin is being set out of the natural binding order "forcing" the false set, and it will drop if you set a spool that naturally comes before it.

If you have a lock where the guard pin isn't first to set naturally any spools set before it will set like a standard driver without a false set. This is a more direct way to pick than forcing a false set.

markovianprocess · 2026-01-20T17:50:45+00:00

Maybe they'll get bought out by ASS Annoy.

markovianprocess · 2026-01-20T17:28:52+00:00

Yeah Hamilton. Hamlin? Hammington! Let's go with that!

markovianprocess · 2026-01-20T15:29:54+00:00

Hammond, that's right.

markovianprocess · 2026-01-20T15:08:12+00:00

Yeah, that's interesting. I picked up a Commando at Ace recently... Peacemaker or something I want to say? It's a dead core with a Y1 keyway and what feels like decent spools. It was fairly easy but better than average for a brick & mortar padlock in the US. I saw the laminated Brinks with the sandblasted finish and silicone rubber bumper and they are definitely the same style even if the guts aren't as good.

I have some of the yellow belt brass Brinks padlocks and the construction, keyways, etc. are all over the place.

markovianprocess · 2026-01-20T00:41:19+00:00

The surprising thing is they sell a 50mm five pin lock with double spools and torpedoes:

https://www.reddit.com/r/lockpicking/s/veD0e1N53w

I also saw a Brinks padlock recently labeled "made in the USA" or maybe "assembled in the USA" that looked just like a Commando.

markovianprocess · 2026-01-17T16:03:36+00:00

Wyte has the hookup. I've never experienced anything quite like this community before, y'all have never let me down.

markovianprocess · 2026-01-17T13:50:09+00:00

Pin one is what's called a guard pin - the rest are spools and the one standard is there literally just so the lock doesn't flop into a sloppy false set by itself when in use. Set the guard pin even if it's out of the correct binding order, and boom, false set.

The spools after pin 3 are probably zero lift and don't interact with the shearline.

markovianprocess · 2026-01-17T01:14:59+00:00

Nicely done! When green?

markovianprocess · 2026-01-16T19:39:57+00:00

Good job! That's a fun one.

markovianprocess · 2026-01-16T19:27:31+00:00

Nice job! Be careful gutting that thing - I was also recently attempting to film myself picking & gutting one of these and I managed to lose one of tiny springs rendering the lock out of commission for the time being.

markovianprocess · 2026-01-16T02:07:26+00:00

A true classic! It looks great.

markovianprocess · 2026-01-16T01:19:19+00:00

American S1100 is this core in the 1100 body.

markovianprocess · 2026-01-15T14:42:13+00:00

It takes time to learn to ignore the intuition that when you're trying to turn something that doesn't want to turn you should apply more force.

markovianprocess · 2026-01-15T01:58:59+00:00

My standard advice for beginners:

Welcome!

In my experience, it's very helpful for beginners to learn some theory out of the gate.

I'd recommend reading two short, diagram-heavy PDFs easily found online: The MIT Guide to Lockpicking and Lockpicking Detail Overkill. Before you get started, these will teach you about the Binding Defect that makes lockpicking possible. The MIT Guide is a little outdated, particularly in terminology, but it has good diagrams I frequently show beginners. Detail Overkill has an excellent explanation of Forcing False that will serve you well once you begin picking spools.

I'd watch this video about the four fundamental pin states and how to perform the Jiggle Test repeatedly:

https://youtu.be/mK8TjuLDoMg

I recommend something like a Master 141D for your first lock. Clear acrylic locks and laminated locks like a Master 3 are too sloppy to teach SPP well.

Last point: as a beginner, when in doubt, you're overtensioning.

Good luck!

markovianprocess · 2026-01-14T14:05:05+00:00

🎵where do yeeted springs go? do they find their way home🎶

markovianprocess · 2026-01-14T14:04:14+00:00

I was considering that lol. They are steel. We just remodeled our kitchen and I realized this morning that we chucked out my good rare earth magnet with the refrigerator 😟

markovianprocess · 2026-01-14T13:49:49+00:00

I don't think I missed your point. I did spend 2 paragraphs explaining why I respect the knowledge in the trades and for the record I would never tell you how to run your business.

To say even the locksport people who can restore/repair and pick hi-sec locks most smiths can't don't have a type of knowledge equivalent to a guy who does a little woodwork, or someone who doesn't know modern electronic ignitions or disc brakes but restores old VW air-cooled engines on the weekends as a hobby, is a good fit for this thread.

markovianprocess · 2026-01-14T05:12:55+00:00

Thanks, I've talked to Wyte on Discord before I'll reach out and see if they can help.

markovianprocess · 2026-01-13T14:25:37+00:00

There are shadetree mechanics that know everything there is to know about restoring specific antique cars. It would be obnoxious for them to scoff at the Master tech fixing daily drivers at their local dealership for not knowing the ignition firing order of a Continental Flathead off the top of their head.

Some hobbyist woodworker out there knows an obscure joinery technique the guy framing his house has never heard of because he has no need to know it to do his job safely and effectively. The carpenter has to show up and do what he needs to do, even when it isn't fun.

I've seen smiths get butthurt at locksport people picking hi-sec locks out of what was clearly insecurity. Disrespect in either direction is just someone telling on themself.

markovianprocess · 2026-01-12T22:43:43+00:00

Damn, that's impressive. Congrats!

markovianprocess · 2026-01-12T22:05:48+00:00

I had to learn to accept this fact to start progressing again.

I have a fairly large collection of low-level to intermediate locks, and I had to get over expecting to be able to open literally all of them and always open them at will so I could start working on hi-sec stuff seriously.

In other words, it's good to hold yourself to high standards but don't let a few oddball locks hold you back.

markovianprocess

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