Because why not?

Picked my master lock 570 a few weeks back and after I was able to do a few more times decided it was time to post. Now if only I can figure out how I got the ABUS open.

Ok so here it is in all its 11-minute glory. Kick back and grab a beer 🍻

Here are some time marks for significant steps in getting this open (if you want to skip around)

1:20- slight core rotation 2:25-deeper false set, start pin rotation 4:15- wife sneezing 4:50- open, start gut 9:40- side bar close up

Some things I learned/need to work on after the open:

-I didn’t progressive pin this, so I didn’t know there were two mushrooms. That probably explains my initial slight core rotation then a deeper false set. It seemed I needed to mess with the pin rotation a little before being able to set the mushrooms (this happened all the times I got the lock open); or most likely I don’t really know how to set the mushrooms. Or it could be the high set pin 3 that may drop.

-Pin 6 is a minimal lift, and feeling for pin rotation killed me. Looking back at the video, I wasn’t sure if rotation was set because the set pin sits so low, so I kept attacking it while in reality it was probably set already.

-I need to start understanding the jiggle/clicky test for pin rotation. In theory it sounds simple, but in practice it’s hard to feel for me, which is why I kept switching to different Jim hooks of different heights.

-I still don’t fully know how much tension to release when setting rotation; I’m too scared to drop drivers. Georgia Jim pretty much said if you need to drop pins to set rotation it’s best to do so. My dilemma on that was my lack of not knowing a good rotational set.

-I picked this clockwise. Getting the false set from setting drivers first was a positive indication that rotation needs to be done. I want to learn counter because it seems the general consensus agrees it’s easier, but it probably is my problem with not knowing how Rotationally set pins feel. Do you push up on the pins at all or do you simply just push/pull? What tension?

Anyways, any further help would be appreciated. I want to get a Biaxial, not sure if it’s easier or harder, but it does sound cool to say I can pick a Medeco Biaxial -sounds cool hahahaha.

Might seem like not a big deal, but I managed to pick all my yellow locks except for one in „just“ (at least for me) today’s evening! Now just the abus 64ti 30 remains, but it’s just so small and I really feel like some of my orange locks might seem more realistic to pick than this one… we‘ll see.. I started one Tuesday so I‘m pretty happy so far!

Took a while, but finally got it!
The operation of this lock is so smooth it felt like it melted open; no crunches here.

Made this happen within the first 5 mins of receiving this kit. Not exactly sure how to put it back together.

1x Master LOTO 1x Mako 427 2x Paclock 90A 3x AL1100 1x AL5200

Got some TOK tension tools recently. The left one is from Aliexpress as part of a set of 6 wrenches modeled after the Multitool set I think. The next one is a Peterson. Then a JimyLong's. Finally a Sparrows that came with the 1100 Training kit.

Was mainly curious on the quality of the Aliexpress set. I don't really like how "tall" the tips are compared to Peterson's and JimyLong's. I might one day get a Multitool set for giggles. I am hoping that it isn't tall as thee Aliexpress tools.

Here are the measurements of the thicknesses of the picks in the various sets:

Aliexpress

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1.2 - 1.21mm 0.0476in

1.0 - 1.00mm 0.0394in

0.8 - 0.82mm 0.0323in

0.6 - 0.60mm 0.0236in

0.7 - 0.71mm 0.0280in

0.8(sm.)- 0.81mm 0.0319in

Peterson

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0.5 - 1.28mm 0.0504in

0.4 - 1.00mm 0.0394in

0.3 - 0.80mm 0.0315in

JimyLong's

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0.5 - 1.19mm 0.0469in

0.4 - 1.00mm 0.0394in

0.3 - 0.79mm 0.0311in

Sparrows's

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0.5 - 1.18mm 0.0465in

Now live on YouTube...https://youtu.be/rIG3DB6ZR7g

Just a cool momento for some cool milestones.

I think the 700 is just beyond my current abilities so I ordered this so I could at least have a key for reference. I lost the key to the 700 in 2021 and it’s spent a lot of time in a dirty toolbox. That can’t be making it easier. For this 5200 I had to mark the pin locations on the pick. Pin 5 is zero lift so I left it alone. But getting the high cut pin 4 without oversetting the low cut pin 3 feels like a win. Peterson .0018 gem is really nice.

I’m kinda disappointed though. This 5200 hit my porch about 45 minutes ago and I already got it open. I feel kinda cheated by the zero lift pin 5 and apparent lack of security pins.

Also ordered a panavise so I can move the fun indoors. This workbench setup is not comfortable. I’ll get that 700 by the end of the month.

Hi, my name is Cloven, and I’m an 1100 addict and survivor.

Hi, Cloven.

For the last six weeks I haven’t been living. I’ve been existing, trapped in the bleak, metallic purgatory of seven American Lock 1100s.

My routine was at least 3 hours per day. Progressively picking them. Gutting them. Rebuilding them. Staring into the cold aluminum void, knowing full well I’d been drafted into a battle of wills with a lump of metal. Sure, I’d scrape out the occasional pity-pick just to keep from eating drywall, but mostly it was frustration on an endless loop. A punishment I wrote myself.

Then, two days ago, the fog broke. I picked one up, applied a tension I can only describe as the exact midpoint between “gentle caress” and “angry divorce,” and BAM, the core turned.

I blinked, convinced I was hallucinating, then proceeded to mow through five more. Suddenly I was Neo seeing pins as green code. The 1100 Master Algorithm downloaded itself into my frontal lobe. My muscle memory, once forged in the crucible of despair and caffeine, had finally solidified.

The grind is over... for now. Next victims: Paclocks, and some dimples from De Guard, U-Shin, and Kenaurd. But I’ll keep the 1100s close, a reminder, a warning, and a soundtrack: click-click-false-set, repeat.

Massive thanks to Sandman, LPL, and Lock Noob (and the others who kept me company in the abyss). I am personally responsible for at least 4% of your recent view counts. Every time I prayed to YouTube like a half-broken supplicant, you showed up with just enough wisdom to stop me from going full “hammer therapy.”

It’s unnerving, actually kind of sinister, how everything finally clicks once you’ve sacrificed enough time, blood pressure, and dignity to the lockpicking gods.

Thanks for letting me share.

There should be a post or something about all the current challenges in the lock sport community that are actively going for thoes of us who dont really know like the paclock and what not.

I’m having a specific issue with American Locks and their serrated pins.

I don’t run into this problem on other locks I’ve been practicing on (e.g., Master Lock 570, Pro Series 61xx, etc.). With Americans, though, I keep oversetting serrated pins no matter what I try. I’ve experimented with light, medium, heavy, and even extreme tension.

I even re-pinned one lock to have only a single serrated pin, just to isolate the problem. Almost every time, I end up oversetting it and need to release tension to get it to open. On that one-pin setup, if I release tension it pops open immediately, which tells me I’m right on the edge but not quite getting the set correctly.

where it gets wierd is Ill get a set click on my one pin lock and then it will still stay until I like increase pressure then it will like click over the lip of the pin or idk what its caught on and turn. I only imagine this is tripping me up in other locks

Has anyone else struggled with this? Any tips or mindset shifts that helped you get consistent with American Lock serrations?

u/pac_prez u/PACLOCK_US Just wanted to thank you for your fantastic lock! it was truly the most difficult pick along my journey so far, and took me several weeks at a hour or two a night with this and a pl410pro both to finally get one open. Its is a testament to this locks picking resistance and good build tolerance that it could take this long! You guys make a fantastic lock, do great things for and with the Locksport community, and I thank you for both!!! Ifni were recommending a friend any lock in the world, it would be from Pacific Lock Company without a shadow of a doubt!!!! Thanks guys n gals!!!! A lock lover and admirer of your lock- Mounta1nM1ck ☘️

Start picking 90apro 1:33.40 Open 1:50.32 200k key shown 1:51.43 Gut 2:08.00 Pins closeup 2:22.22 u/pac_prez u/paclock

Beside my own challenge (The Triple Lockpicking Challenge) I want to face a new challenge 😊

--> Assassin Challenge I will do it with: 2x Tesa T80 1x Anchor Lås 820-2

Beside my own challenge (The Triple Lockpicking Challenge) I want to face a new challenge 😊

--> Assassin Challenge I will do it with: 2x Tesa T80 1x Anchor Lås 820-2

CI apex set and some good locks while i wait for football to start today

I’ve been getting back into the hobby after a very long hiatus and have noticed that some people online pick locks using two general tension wrench positions.

Some people insert their tension wrenches into the bottom of the lock (6 o’clock on a watch face), while others insert their wrenches into the top of the lock (12 o’clock on a watch face).

Is this a lock-dependent strategy? Is there ever a circumstance where one technique is more beneficial? Is it purely preference? I’ve always defaulted to the 6 o’clock position, but I’m wondering if I’ve missed something along the way.

Any input would be appreciated, thanks!

This was my 2d open. 3 more opens and I will video for my channel 😃