26 Pin Tubular/Dimple Lock
Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 8:01 pmHey folks, 1st post on this forum and I must say the selection of smilies is epic 
I'd like to share my project lock! It's a 26 pin tumbler of my own design. I'm not sure if anyone has ever made a lock with this configuration but it wouldn't surprise me. I built it mostly for fun, and because it looks cool.
This is my first prototype and was thrown together with some misc materials I had laying around. It works really well for a 1st try.
I built it around .115" diameter schlage pins in 0.015" increments. It will accept pins .225" (zero bit) through .300" (deepest cut) giving it 6 possible depths per pin.
There are 4 rows of pins, the first having 7 pins, 6 in the second, 7 in the third and 6 in the fourth. The front of the lock looks like it has 8 pins, but the one at 12 o' clock is a press fit dowel pin that both aligns the key and allows the lock to be tensioned.
The key "blade" is 1/2" diameter with a .305" hole. It is 7/8" in length bow to tip. It has 26 corresponding dimples ranging from .005" deep (zero cut, schlage #4 pin) to 0.080" (deepest cut, schlage #9 pin).
During the design stage I tried to make this beast as pick resistant as possible. I offset every other row of pins in hopes of blocking access to the rear pins. It would probably be pickable with a standard set of dimple picks as long as the first two rows aren't cut to maximum depth. Right now it's pinned up with all standard pins but I imagine filling it with serrated pins would make picking it an extreme challenge with any bitting.
I've been contemplating a few attacks for this beast. I could see bumping and foil impressioning turning into viable techniques. I have every intention of testing them
I can also think of a few physical attacks that would do the job rather quickly, but these will be designed out if I get around to making a second prototype. One is the brass pin in the center. If i were to drill or otherwise remove this piece, all of the pins and springs would fly out in short order. A hard steel center pin would be a good remedy. After that option I would try drilling the pins themselves with a hole saw. A row of hard steel key pins would slow this down, but getting all the way through might let the uppers and springs fall out once again. I've got an idea for this as well.... maybe making some special driver pins to provide a relocking action.
All in all this thing is pretty useless lol! Maybe one day I'll finalize it and make a housing to attach it to the deadbolt on my front door. Would certainly be a conversation piece.
Sorry for the lowQ pics. I'll post up some better shots plus internals when my camera is back from a friend.
I'd like to share my project lock! It's a 26 pin tumbler of my own design. I'm not sure if anyone has ever made a lock with this configuration but it wouldn't surprise me. I built it mostly for fun, and because it looks cool.
This is my first prototype and was thrown together with some misc materials I had laying around. It works really well for a 1st try.
I built it around .115" diameter schlage pins in 0.015" increments. It will accept pins .225" (zero bit) through .300" (deepest cut) giving it 6 possible depths per pin.
There are 4 rows of pins, the first having 7 pins, 6 in the second, 7 in the third and 6 in the fourth. The front of the lock looks like it has 8 pins, but the one at 12 o' clock is a press fit dowel pin that both aligns the key and allows the lock to be tensioned.
The key "blade" is 1/2" diameter with a .305" hole. It is 7/8" in length bow to tip. It has 26 corresponding dimples ranging from .005" deep (zero cut, schlage #4 pin) to 0.080" (deepest cut, schlage #9 pin).
During the design stage I tried to make this beast as pick resistant as possible. I offset every other row of pins in hopes of blocking access to the rear pins. It would probably be pickable with a standard set of dimple picks as long as the first two rows aren't cut to maximum depth. Right now it's pinned up with all standard pins but I imagine filling it with serrated pins would make picking it an extreme challenge with any bitting.
I've been contemplating a few attacks for this beast. I could see bumping and foil impressioning turning into viable techniques. I have every intention of testing them
I can also think of a few physical attacks that would do the job rather quickly, but these will be designed out if I get around to making a second prototype. One is the brass pin in the center. If i were to drill or otherwise remove this piece, all of the pins and springs would fly out in short order. A hard steel center pin would be a good remedy. After that option I would try drilling the pins themselves with a hole saw. A row of hard steel key pins would slow this down, but getting all the way through might let the uppers and springs fall out once again. I've got an idea for this as well.... maybe making some special driver pins to provide a relocking action.
All in all this thing is pretty useless lol! Maybe one day I'll finalize it and make a housing to attach it to the deadbolt on my front door. Would certainly be a conversation piece.
Sorry for the lowQ pics. I'll post up some better shots plus internals when my camera is back from a friend.
thanks for sharing .. can't wait for more pix!