Fresh Picker.......

[judd]

Deleted

[HallisChalmers]

My current nemisis is an 1105 American, 3 of them actually locked together, keyed alike but without a key to reference the bitting. I have tried in vane for more than a week now to crack that sucker, spp, all manner of rakes, Bogotas as well, I even tried to make a bypass tool (no luck) and a comb pick which I managed to jam and break off inside of the lock, after a couple of hours I got lucky and managed to extract it. If I don't get it soon I may consider sending it off to one of you more experienced pickers for a lesson.

Great site by the way...................Cheers and K.O.P.

Judd

Thanks for dropping in Judd, glad to have you on board. As for the 1105, they are tricky little guys to open - but not as hard as you think, once you get a few of them under your belt.

First of all, tension is the secret. Use very light tension and tension from the top of the keyway. Watch some of Awol's vids on YouTube (or maybe some of mine) and you'll notice that very light pressure is needed.

Any by tensioning from the top of the keyway (especially if you are using a TOK wrench) you'll get a good feel for the pins and when they set.

Good luck.

[judd]

Deleted

[HallisChalmers]

Thanx for the welcome Hallis.........and the tips, I'm pretty sure I've watched all of the vid's, Awol's and your own on the 1105 series as well as some others and have fashioned a couple of T.O.K wrenches, applied light tension and am still unable to achieve even a false set. It's frustrating beyond words, I can get Pro Series Masters and Guards, but I have definately hit a wall with this little Devil spawn.

Judd

Try this: Use TOK tension. Insert a short hook and starting from the front -glide your pick across the top of the pins very lightly - all the way to the back. See if something sets.

If it doesn't - do the reverse. Start from the back and lightly slide your pick across the top of the pins to the front.

If you do it right - you'll feel a pin push the TW back in your hand. It will be very subtle - but you'll feel it move maybe a millimeter or two - and the plug will rotate a degree or two.

Once you get the first one set, keep doing the rest of the pins the same way and she'll pop.

As far as pressure on the pin - I use this as an example. How much pressure would you exert on the tip of a sharp sewing needle with your fingertip - without hurting yourself. Well, that's how much pressure you should exert on the pins.

Go easy and light.

[judd]

Deleted

[awol70]

good luck...the 1105 took me forever to master,
but like hallis says,they get easier with each one you pick.
soon,once you get the hang of the 1105 language,they will speak to you.
soon you will be blind picking them outta the package..=)
use the force...

[.45cal]

The 1105 is a great lock to pick once you pop one you just cant stop. Give yourself some time and you will get it!

[judd]

Deleted

[HallisChalmers]

You guys have restored my faith.............I was about to put that little MF down and never touch it again, it is kicking a hole in my confidence.

I'll "Git er Done"

Never ...say never, bro. They are addicting.

That lock will mockngly stare back at you until you get pissed off enough to pick it. And when you do - you'll be 10 ft tall and bulletproof.

[clodester]

I know how you feel. I have been battling a 1100 for months. They are devilishly difficult to get. Plus Im a little scared by the types of pins so that might have an effect on my skill. If i think they are unpickable, they will become unpickable. Or something like that.

Good luck with it anyway.

[HallisChalmers]

I know how you feel. I have been battling a 1100 for months. They are devilishly difficult to get. Plus Im a little scared by the types of pins so that might have an effect on my skill. If i think they are unpickable, they will become unpickable. Or something like that.

Good luck with it anyway.

Clodester, just take the time to gut the lock and take a good detailed look at the security pins. The serrated pins are the real stinkers - but once you have had a chance to study them up close, they won't be so intimidating.

You'll see that you just have to really learn to interpret the feedback from your tension wrench. Take your time.

[uklockpicker]

HHmm thanks hallis ! i got 1105 and 1205 , thanks for the tips sounds like i may need them ! given up on one of my lockwoods for now
Hope to crack, and upload the vids soon, i hope it aint 11months later

[judd]

Deleted

[HallisChalmers]

Oh ya Baby!!!................I got it, with my homebrew short hook and my custom TOK wrench.
I truly do now feel 10 feet tall, Thanx all, for the support.

Judd

Congrats and welcome to the club!

You may now proceed forward and advance to the next level!

[awol70]

well done..the next step is to start gutting and reassembling them =)