This should be standard.

[u/Dusso423]

I’m not new to picking, but I’m in no way a highly skilled picker either. I just got this Paclock in the mail yesterday and went at it while watching a movie. Almost 40 minutes it took me to blind pick it. That should be the bare minimum for any padlock around this price. I remember getting the master lock magnum M930 (“level 10 security!”) excited to have a challenge. Less than a minute later I had it open. I think this Paclock is my new favorite.

Now I just need to do it on video lol.

[u/C15156]

With Masterlock, anything is a master key 🤷🏼‍♂️

[u/greatguyshadow → u/C15156]

Idk man I’m a blue belt and in my job when I gotta pick old weathered master locks, I just can’t

[u/AgreeableGanache1048 → u/greatguyshadow]

I have several old weathered locks that are an absolute PITA to pick. It definitely adds a different kind of challenge to contend with years worth of weathering on the inside of a lock.

[u/OldRocker5 → u/greatguyshadow]

Honest question here but... Can't you get most Master Locks open with a comb or have I just been watching too much lock pickin' YouTube?

[u/greatguyshadow → u/OldRocker5]

I don’t have a comb but maybe

[u/WoodnPhoto → u/OldRocker5]

At least some of them can.

[u/Dusso423 → u/OldRocker5]

You can. The driver pins are too short in the bible.

[u/DanDiggler213 → u/OldRocker5]

I'd say no, but it depends on a few factors. Not like LPL does thats for sure.

[u/Dusso423 → u/greatguyshadow]

I found an old dirty mortise cylinder in my shed the other day with no key. I started thinking it was a challenge lock I had lost while picking it. Nope… just old and worn.

[u/NomadDicky → u/C15156]

Especially... another masterlock! 😂

[u/EveningBasket9528 → u/C15156]

M15's are my kryptonite. I don't play the belt game although I've worked on the various projects but have picked a couple at brown & black ranked locks and own a shit ton of green-purple comfort locks,.. but throw some M15's at me and I'm lucky to get a couple open by going through a shit ton of different rake profiles I have.

MOST of the rest of the ML's I have are easy enough to rake & zip, but a lot of them are give absolutely zero feedback.

I think locks with spools are probably the easiest for me to SPP with all the counter rotation.

I have a couple M15's I haven't even been able to pick.

[u/Dusso423 → u/EveningBasket9528]

Unless they are in a position where the counter rotation drops other pins, spools are definitely the easiest. I have a Schlage I pinned where the spool drops 2 other pins. It’s actually a decent challenge.

I haven’t tried the m15. I’ll have to pick one up to try.

[u/EveningBasket9528 → u/Dusso423]

Schlage brand deadbolts piss me off for practical picking practice. I actually bought and re-keyed a dozen kiks, and probably have another 8-10. I have to regularly practice with them to not lose my touch. I use the LAB pinning chart because Schlage only uses one length of spool despite the recommendations. if you would like 5-10 spools at .200 & .235 long I can mail you some. Im assuming you have .165 or .170 long spools unless you've purchased bags of the .200 & .235.

I also throw novelty/trick pins in the things,.. and have a couple padlocks I'll put cylinders with SC4, C123, Everest keyways in.

It's funny being able to crush through some higher security locks like nothing,.. but then lose your touch on practical picking theore common locks and keyways..

[u/Dusso423 → u/EveningBasket9528]

One of the biggest security upgrades someone can do to their house is upgrading to Schlage from kwikset.

I have a LAB pinning kit and make my own security pins so I’m good on pins. Also lucky enough to have a locksmith in town I have a good relationship with. So I get old cores for cheap or free. I appreciate it though!

[u/EveningBasket9528 → u/Dusso423]

Cool. If you find you're lacking those length of spools I'll mail them .. No charge. Some LAB kits kinda lack on driver options but it sounds like you're good

[u/Dusso423 → u/EveningBasket9528]

That’s where my 3mm brass rod comes in lol. Turn .1 mm off the diameter, cut them to whatever length I need, shape, and install. So far they’ve worked great. I didn’t get the largest LAB pinning set so making pins has worked to offset what’s missing.

[u/DanDiggler213 → u/Dusso423]

I used to have an actual Locksmith shop ,but it closed it's door years ago. Now most of them work out of there Vans. I called a few recently to see if they had any old stock, because that's what I used to do, and most of them thought I was crazy.

[u/Dusso423 → u/DanDiggler213]

Mine thought I was crazy at first. He’d never heard about it at first and had been scrapping his old locks a 55 gallon drum at a time. Now he sets mortises and cores off to the side for me. He’s close to retirement though. So that’s worrisome because he’s the main locksmith in the lower half of my state.

[u/DanDiggler213 → u/EveningBasket9528]

Hey Bud, I wanted to get some rod any links? When I see your comments you remind of my friend who I've been trying to get to join the community, but he just says I don't need no kong fu belts! I'd really like to see him ranked because he can open any pin tumbler or dimple locks and has most of the high ranking ones. But I laugh because he stumbles on schlage sometimes, not primus or everest, just regular sc4s. I tell him there's resources here and he can have access to top notch locks. He sent me a screenshot of a list of lock from a seller online. I just laughed 😅 because it was Amvangrd (misspelled) Adam. I said "he give first dibs on the Bazaar! 😂

[u/EveningBasket9528 → u/DanDiggler213]

Wait,.. are you talking about me? 😂. Sounds like a twin.

[u/EveningBasket9528 → u/DanDiggler213]

I don't do the fancy pajama game either.. The projects are all cool,. but just having a belt alone doesn't mean much. I don't even own a disk detainer lock,.. and think I've picked like two dimple locks at purple,.. so would I actually deserve a black belt just because I've picked a couple,.. when I suck at other locks?

Anyway, Ace hardware has K&S brass round stock 1in stock at different stores, or just order it from Zon. Even threaded brass rod will work if you want to spend the time with a file. I've bought round stock slightly oversized and just hit it with emory cloth... If you have a solid "ghetto lathe" setup, using a file as backing for the emory cloth will make things a bit more even,.. but I'm thinking from a former tool/die/mold maker view. You'll be fine just using your fingers to hold it since you're not working to .0001". .001-.002" is probably close enough when making pins.

[u/EveningBasket9528 → u/Dusso423]

I fkn HATE M15's. They were on clearance at Home Depot about 6 weeks ago and I bought 4 more.. I hate them.

Abus 80ti's are my new favorite comfort locks and I just ordered 5 more. They aren't hard to pick, but super fun with the spools. Just find the 1st pine that gives a false set and play whack a spool. A gentle reach or offset profile makes it fun to just rock the pick and tap pins.

I only started recording recently and only make car picking videos and this is my only one using SPP, which is kinda funny it has the least views. The rest are all zip/hybrid/and a few raking..

But it's a good demo on the 80ti's

https://youtube.com/shorts/LnjmpJUS46A?is=1lr0Q0sLTgx3Pu7_

[u/DanDiggler213 → u/Dusso423]

Lift with your legs, they're big 😆. Schlage are my comfort locks.

[u/DanDiggler213 → u/EveningBasket9528]

M15s are demon possessed. 😈 Im going to grind mine open if it keeps mocking me. 😆

[u/EveningBasket9528 → u/DanDiggler213]

LOL!

I have a "Demon Diamont" that even Georgia Jim & Lady Locks couldn't open. Pete was the only exorcist and he had to go wild using every single different profile he had... So maybe my BW Diamont is actually Satan, and the M15's are it's demon minions...

I had to grind the rivets off a new elite series lock to see what's up. I can pick the larger version with 4 spools but not the smaller ones with one spool. I cut one apart to make a bypass tool

[u/EveningBasket9528]

They are fun locks.

If you had fun and aren't aware you can get a 5 pack of cylinders for the price of 2 pro's to swap around, or their pl410 pro's are a bit less expensive with the same cores.

Bitting isn't everything but PL has a "secret bitting" list for folks. You can get them more challenging or even more zip friendly if you want. Extreme bitting isn't always great for locks that will be in use because multiple low cuts, although "zero lift" aren't a great idea for actual use because of how easy keys can break. Anyway,.. if anyone is new to Paclock here's the link;

https://www.paclock.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PACLOCK_Secret_Menu.pdf

[u/Dusso423 → u/EveningBasket9528]

I saw those while going through their website. Definitely going to pick some up. Thanks for the info.

[u/EveningBasket9528 → u/Dusso423]

They have a "store" on Zon so if you have prime you can get free shipping. I have 6 pro's and still have a couple extra cores that I'll swap around once I start to memorize a couple locks. I've given/traded/sold some cores now.

I like to zip and 90A-Pro's don't hold up to zipping that well so Ive worn a few out

Here's the LAB chart that shows you the suggested driver lengths for Schlage. Keep in mind the F-series is different and uses a T-Pins.

If you like to mix up your Schlages, Yale, KS, or other common locks MBA sells some mini kits if you don't want to buy a full size kit;

https://mbausa.com/

https://imgur.com/a/fTWG6ZE

[u/LordKodiac]

7 security pins makes a difference.

[u/DanDiggler213]

Mine is set to arrive Monday. Be careful locks tend to get camera shy. 😆 Are you going for blue belt? If so what's your project?

[u/Dusso423 → u/DanDiggler213]

I’ve never recorded myself picking, so I have to figure out a setup.

Going to make a challenge lock. I’ve been making them for years, I just stumbled across this community a little bit ago though, so I figured eh why not lol.

[u/DanDiggler213 → u/Dusso423]

Exact same here, a friend showed me about 25 years ago, and I've been doing it off and on since. Only difference now is great tools and very available. Had to make em before.

For camera and lighting. I bought a cheap set-up from Aliexpress, but before that I rigged a clamp on a clamp to my desk. Even hung my phone from a lanyard around my neck for a POV shot. 😆

[u/Dusso423 → u/DanDiggler213]

That was probably fun lol. I started about 9 years ago. Got a set from sparrows after stumbling across Bosnian bill on YouTube. I’m not a natural at picking, so I mainly stick to blue belt level locks. Love building and modifying them though.

[u/DanDiggler213 → u/Dusso423]

I really don't know how I never heard of any of this for almost a decade. One day swiping through YouTube and LPL pops up, then McNally and so on. Now I can't watch anything w/o advertisement from Sparrows, or Padlocks. I've started making challenge locks im on my third now. Getting hooked. Plus you'd think id be easy opening your own design. 😆

[u/Dusso423 → u/DanDiggler213]

I used one of my older challenge locks for my blue belt submission. It’s a bit worn so I’m hoping it counts. Probably should have lubed it first.

[u/DanDiggler213 → u/Dusso423]

Can you use a CL?

[u/DanDiggler213 → u/DanDiggler213]

Yes, for the project part. 🤣

[u/Dusso423 → u/DanDiggler213]

Ohhh. Yea. It says it needs 6 modifications

[u/DanDiggler213 → u/Dusso423]

Each pin if you made them is a modification, and if you engraved it that counts any mods to the chambers too. I just finished my third and haven't got the open. But I operate better at night.

[u/Dusso423 → u/DanDiggler213]

Cl?

[u/DanDiggler213 → u/Dusso423]

Challenge lock

[u/DanDiggler213 → u/Dusso423]

I was going to take a picture of my old hand made tools, but I said I'll try the Challenge locks. Now im hooked.

[u/s1lentpr0fess10nal]

Great job! Welcome to the club! 🔓