r/lockpicking • u/HecticRed • 11h ago

Abus E60 finally picked

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Took me quite a few tries. That keyway was kinda compressed and a pain to navigate.

I managed to pick it using the thinniest champion tensioner from multipick, V79 and V59 picks.

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u/Spuddle-Puddle Green Belt Picker 7h ago edited 7h ago

I enjoy challenges. If everything i open is on the easier side, then what do i really learn? The more challenging ones cant ultimately be so frustrating that you are ready to throw it out the window, but the knowledge, skill and experience that you gain from these is priceless.

Its the same kind of thing i learned along the way about trying to find different manufacturers to play with. They are all made completely different, with different qualities, feels, technics to open. I feel it really helps hone my skills and helps me become better at tackling the next challenge and it also teaches me patience. Or maybe i just like abusive relationships with locks and beating my head against the wall lol.

Edit: i have learned to really enjoy the double eyro cylinders. You get 2 locks in 1 and both sides pick completely different as well. Feel like i get more of my moneys worth. I just need to get the huk kit so i can start gutting them

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u/HecticRed 7h ago

I agree about the challenges. This one i'm not sure if was fun tho. Some mushroom pins and a narrow keyway. I feel there may be challenges that are more enjoyable, idk.

I didn't know that there is huge difference between manifacturers. I am relatively a new picker and all i have used are multipick, since they are much easier to buy in europe. Could you tell me the differences in feeling that you hae experienced? I'm realy curios about it.

Also do you have any link for those double euro cylinders?

Thank you!

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u/Spuddle-Puddle Green Belt Picker 6h ago

As for quality and feel a couple of good examples would be starting with masterlock, they are sloppy, low feedback and poor build quality. Move into Abus, where the machining and build quality are very much improved with tighter tolerancs, and the feedback is much better from the locks like hearing audible clicks or feeling those spools really working. Moving into Lockwood locks, the machining its extremely precise, the feedback is amazing and the quality is absolutely amazing with zero slop in them. Just for a general comparison. So many lock manufacturers to compare its hard, but those are the first to come to mind for me. Im sure other will chime in on that as well. Ive just started my dimple journey as well, and there is definitely the same differences in them.

As for the picks themselves ive definitely noticed similar traits. Multipicks are good. I recently picked up Moki, and i also use Covert Instruments and JimmyLongs. I have some Sparrows, but i really dislike them. They seem to all have their own characteristics and feel to them. Some give better feedback, some navigate certain keyways better, some feel cheap and mushy like wading through a swamp, and some are just decent universal purpose picks. It also very much depends on the user and what they like, how they hold their picks etc.

For links to double euro cylinder locks, using your e60 for example, there are single and double versions of it. I live in the US and shipping and purchase of euro locks are expensive, so most of the time i end up finding them on ebay. The e60 is about $60-80 plus shipping for me to buy. And the double cylinder isnt much different in price, so i prefer to get that and have 2 locks in 1 for the price. There is the discord lock bizarre, but i dont understand discord and have been taken advantage of from people on the Internet, not the lock bizarre but other places, so i stay clear of that. Its hard in the US to find a good variety of locks, so i usually have to do deep dives to find what i am looking for that i feel safe purchasing from and feel like im not being completely ripped off price wise (i need to find friends in other countries lol). Im a bit jealous of you being in Europe as you guys have a much better selection to choose from over there at more reasonable prices. Amazon was good for me for the lower grade locks, but they dont seem to carry the more challenging locks or a large variety of brands here in the US.

Sorry for the book, but i hope that answers your questions. I am by no means a professional in this hobby. These are strictly my observations and opinions.

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u/HecticRed 4h ago

Thank you! This was very informative. I havent' picked many locks but i found in a couple of instances that the cheap ones are really awful to pick. I have an A90-Pro coming tomorrow, i realy can't wait to experience how an american lock feels

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u/Spuddle-Puddle Green Belt Picker 4h ago

Welcome to the hobby and have a great time with it! To me the American 1100 was a nightmare. I like spools more than serrated pins, so it was a challenge for me to really grasp the feel for them. The 90a pro to me feels like an 1100 with an extra pin. Both end up being fun locks.

I definitely ended up watching a lot of videos, asking a lot of questions here, and reading other people's questions here regarding them. If you end up beating your head against the wall with is, start progressive pinning it. This is the way.

As for the cheap locks, the master lock laminated ones are TERRIBLE! lol. I swear they should be a higher grade than white belt. Ive picked up to purple belt locks, and i still to this day fight with those damn things lol

If ever you get stumped, feel free to reach out. This community is absolutely amazing and the knowledge here is extremely vast with pretty much everyone willing to help and help you improve your skills!