What are your confidence locks?

[fgarci03]

Yep, I also try to find the false sets first, and then work my way from there.

I believe the "best" way to do it is to be able to correctly set them right from the begining, as having to first go to the false sets, and then set them one by one takes longer. But I tend to do it the same way.

Like GWiens2001 said once:

If it works, it ain't wrong!

[AULockpicker]

Any unbranded rim cylinder basically, one may cooperate, another may be a challenge, and of course one may be impossible dependant on ones skill level and lock vintage for wear and tear. There will always be a comfort lock among them for me, what's that saying? ~ "Like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gunna get?" The element of surprise heightens the anxiety and narrows the focus!! Although I have to add, my place is among the lower ranks of pickers, but that's OK.

[kilby]

For me it's currently either a all bronze Yale 85x 6 pin (with 5 spools) or an Abus 65/50

But if I can get a little more consistent with it I may replace the Yale with a American 5300

[xeo]

Serrated pins all just feel the same to me...

Increase your tension to the point where you can feel the difference (and hear) between a shearline true set and a serration. You can also know the pinstack is set by how the keypin feels. If there is a slight springyness to it when it contacts the driver sitting on a serration then you need to lift it higher, if the keypin just flips up and down then it is set.

[Oldfast]

...And all I can say in reply to that video of Oldfast picking 6 Americans in under 3 minutes is - wow...

That vid is entertaining... it's very real... and it DID require some skill. But I also wanted to add -
bare in mind that I HAD picked through those locks prior to shooting the vid. And I DID film more than one take, lol.

Just thought I'd throw that out there cause for some, that video could be a little discouraging. On the other hand, it
could give people a goal- because you CAN reach a point where you can slaughter locks at that rate right outta the box.
But one of the things that make Americans one of my favorite is that I STILL come across some that give me trouble.

[rerun12]

i dont want to derail the thread or anything but since this is about confidence locks i could use some help with mine.

bought a new american 5200 off ebay a few months ago. after workin on it awhile it soon became my confidence lock. i got the damn thing stuck 180 a few weeks ago an havent been able to get it back to normal. one of the driver pins fell down and i cant get the freaking thing to budge. ive used graphite, tried pushing it back while rotating/counter rotating and the thing just doesnt want to go back up...any ideas? or is it junk??

[xeo]

i dont want to derail the thread or anything but since this is about confidence locks i could use some help with mine.

bought a new american 5200 off ebay a few months ago. after workin on it awhile it soon became my confidence lock. i got the damn thing stuck 180 a few weeks ago an havent been able to get it back to normal. one of the driver pins fell down and i cant get the freaking thing to budge. ive used graphite, tried pushing it back while rotating/counter rotating and the thing just doesnt want to go back up...any ideas? or is it junk??

You need to push the drivers out of the holes in the bottom of the plug that they're stuck in before you can rotate the plug. Try tensioning it and picking it like a normal lock using a hook. You should be able to get them to bind and set them. One other thing you can try is poking all 5 or 6 of them up with a comb-pick style tool you'd probably have to fabricate yourself.

[rerun12]

i dont want to derail the thread or anything but since this is about confidence locks i could use some help with mine.

bought a new american 5200 off ebay a few months ago. after workin on it awhile it soon became my confidence lock. i got the damn thing stuck 180 a few weeks ago an havent been able to get it back to normal. one of the driver pins fell down and i cant get the freaking thing to budge. ive used graphite, tried pushing it back while rotating/counter rotating and the thing just doesnt want to go back up...any ideas? or is it junk??

You need to push the drivers out of the holes in the bottom of the plug that they're stuck in before you can rotate the plug. Try tensioning it and picking it like a normal lock using a hook. You should be able to get them to bind and set them. One other thing you can try is poking all 5 or 6 of them up with a comb-pick style tool you'd probably have to fabricate yourself.

ahh okay..id just been trying to push that one driver back up. right on xeo, thanks dude

edit: idk..for some reason this one driver, the 4th one, just doesn't wanna move. now to find a new confidence lock..

[Josh66]

bare in mind that I HAD picked through those locks prior to shooting the vid. And I DID film more than one take, lol.

That doesn't make it any less impressive. That's still 30 seconds a lock. Locks with security pins.

You, Sir, are the man.

[subver]

I'm no pro like you guys but this Max Security Brinks padlock became my confidence lock so far. It's becoming too easy, though.. I have an American 1105 coming in the mail (hopefully tomorrow) so I'm excited to start working on that!

[fgarci03]

I'm no pro like you guys but this Max Security Brinks padlock became my confidence lock so far. It's becoming too easy, though.. I have an American 1105 coming in the mail (hopefully tomorrow) so I'm excited to start working on that!

Read Oldfast's post on American locks. It'll help you A LOT!
After you learn a bit about them, they aren't the monster people use to think they are (myself included!). In no time that lock will become your confidence lock

And you may not be a pro like them (neither am I) but having the brinks padlock as a confidence lock requires a fair amount of skill btw!

[subver]

Read Oldfast's post on American locks. It'll help you A LOT!
After you learn a bit about them, they aren't the monster people use to think they are (myself included!). In no time that lock will become your confidence lock

And you may not be a pro like them (neither am I) but having the brinks padlock as a confidence lock requires a fair amount of skill btw!

Thanks, I can't wait for my 1105 to come in the mail tomorrow! I also called ACE hardware and had them order me one of their American/ACE locks... I'm REALLY hoping it's not a new Master Lock version... This is the lock I ordered - http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1286414 - the description sounds promising (although it says spools and not serrated!) - I will just have to examine it when it arrives, which the guy said should hopefully be tomorrow.

Also, any idea if those ACE padlocks are basically American 5200's or what? I've heard various things about them... do we know if American made them or anything like that? Either way I think they are on par with American locks, so at least I'll have 2 locks to add to my goal list

Oh, BTW - any suggestions on what lock to get after I've picked the Americans?

[fgarci03]

I'm not familiar with ACE padlocks.
Heck, I'm only familiar with American Locks because Gordon was kind enough to send me some

Maybe some of the old guys can help you more with this.
As for locks after the Americans, what kind of locks (or pins) haven't you picked? Rotational? SIde bars?

I'm trying to get an EVVA 3KS to give it a shot

[happykill]

For me, sadly its a Master lol... 911 series, couple spools in it, but it cheers me up when i am stuck on another lock.

[subver]

I'm not familiar with ACE padlocks.
Heck, I'm only familiar with American Locks because Gordon was kind enough to send me some

Maybe some of the old guys can help you more with this.
As for locks after the Americans, what kind of locks (or pins) haven't you picked? Rotational? SIde bars?

I'm trying to get an EVVA 3KS to give it a shot

I should have the ACE lock tomorrow.. I think it's basically an American 5200.
As for things I've picked.. just basic security pins.. Nothing crazy yet.. Right now I've mastered the Max Security Brinks padlock so I'm waiting for my American 1105. I feel like the Brinks lock I have is too easy, though.. I might get another one if I can't pick this 1105 over the weekend. I feel like it should've been harder! It barely goes into false set, it doesn't feel like there are many security pins. I wish I could open it up and see!