BEST doorknob with SFIC picked to control line

[jruther2]

I got a comment on my video of picking this lock that I should try to pick the control line. So I looked around on the site here and found a link to the Peterson style tension wrenches for applying tension to the control sleeve. With wiper inserts to spare and a BEST key (not for this lock unfortunately) to determine the pin spacing, I decided to try to make a tool and pick the control line. Here are the results:

Control line picked.JPG

Max control rotation.jpg

Alignment.jpg

The pin spacing is 0.165". The teeth of the tension wrench are 0.065" tall. This is a six pin lock and four teeth gave plenty of bite to turn the control sleeve. I read somewhere that it may be necessary to use an extra tool to turn the sleeve once you have it picked to the control line, this was not the case for this lock. Hope this helps someone. Hopefully a video will be soon to follow. Now I just have to figure out how to gut this thing!

[ToolyMcgee]

I see my youtube 2nd comment isn't there. I wonder what happened to it? Anyway here is a link to Matt Blaze's notes on sfic's http://www.crypto.com/photos/misc/sfic/
You will crush the springs if you choose to remove the pinstacks. So, you will need new springs, and possibly new caps. I have reused the old caps before, but it really is a bitch. I haven't had a problem with the locks I have done this to, yet....

I know they can have spooled driver and keypins in them, but rarely do. I've never heard that BEST factory key pins can be serrated and LAB rekeying kits don't have any either. You say you see 'em, and I gotta believe that, but I wonder where they came from. I have yet to find a resource for them, though the search continues.

Nice job on the wrench. Good luck with the vid.

-Tooly

[jruther2]

I've seen the Matt Blaze article before. I appreciate the effort to give me the link all the same.
In reference to the serrated key pins you said:

You say you see 'em, and I gotta believe that

Well, you made me start doubting myself. You commented before that all of the light clicks I was feeling from the drivers could be from multiple pins in the stack crossing multiple shear lines as opposed to serrations...that makes sense. However, I couldn't get past the fact that I had looked at the first key pin and I saw serrations....didn't I? Then I got to thinking, the first pin sets really deep. OK, I reviewed the Blaze article and noticed in figure 10 that the stacks could kind of look like serrations. Here's what I found. Thanks for setting me straight.

Looked serrated to me.JPG

Pin stacks separated.JPG

Sorry for any confusion that I may have caused.

[ToolyMcgee]

No problem. I found some places to buy pins I had been looking for. I started to think about it after I posted and was looking at the stacks I have that the thin master pins look alot like serrated pins, like pretty spot on. I see noticed it too.

-Tooly

[the lockpickkid]

I have taken apart alot of best locks and I have found spool pins in all of them, I also thought I had some serrated pins once, they were just pins stacks that made them look like serrations.

[crazy]

This tension wrench is for pick the lock or just the extract the core?

A friend in Miami sent me a BEST lock as a gift and I'm interested to know of this tension wrench.

[jruther2]

This tension wrench is for pick the lock or just the extract the core?

The wrench is for putting tension on the control shear line as opposed to the operating shear line (I believe my terminology is correct here), but can be also be used to pull out the core once the lock has been picked. I should mention that the third picture I posted, the one that shows the tension wrench resting on the core, was only to show how the teeth line up with the re-pinning holes. Specific instructions on its use can be found here: http://www.peterson-international.com/i-CORE.htm (scroll down a little more than half way).

If you are not familiar with the SFIC then I, as others have before me, would suggest you read the Matt Blaze article located here: http://www.crypto.com/photos/misc/sfic/ .

It should be noted that BEST has several different keyways and the tool dimensions that worked for my lock may not work for yours (Notice in the Peterson link provided above that they offer three different sizes of these tools), except the pin spacing should be the same I believe.

Finally, I have noticed that a few people here at KP have managed to successfully pick the control line with just a regular tension wrench and have not had success using this type of tool. Whatever method you use, I wish you the best of luck! Keep me posted on your progress. This is my first BEST lock so I am learning a lot and I want to learn more.

[crazy]

Thanks man and my friend send me a Store Room Lock. When I arrive, are will information in the forum.