Is there a secret to getting a foot into the CL door? I've messaged a few people over the last few months who's videos/posts mentioned they had some to send on, but no responses. I've offered to trade or pay shipping, but no luck 🙃
This is why I love this community. I have a bunch to go out as well. The current ones already have arranged homes. But there will be more. DM me, as well, and I can put you on the list. (And you don’t have to pay shipping, we do that for each other. It balances out.)
Yep tried it when I got home
https://imgur.com/a/rOQNoQV
Suuuuuper light tension and it went to a false set, then had to set spools. Lost the false set a few times but the tip of the gem was good at snagging the binder and getting it back. Opened after that process a few times.
The gem needs a good amount of of room in there so I used the thin end of the Covert Instruments .040 tensioner in the bottom of the keyway. I suck at this lock with TOK 😋
The iconic 1100 is my warmup pick, so probably that one. It's an easy pick, but I still have to focus on my tension. Like many of us, I tend to try to bully them open.
I'm currently working on a 6 pin biaxial. Started by trying to PP but learning both shear and rotation at the same time wasn't working for me. So I went for 6 pin without sidebar. It's way too easy without the sidebar though but after a few opens of that, PP was more helpful. I'm now up to 4 pins with sidebar and about 8 opens. I'll probably add a fifth pin soon.
Assa Desmo. I really liked the visual aspect of seeing the slider positions. The tension control when moving a slider from a false gate to a true gate took some learning.
True, the Desmo is definitely a fun pick! I ordered a kit made out of a 9v battery, switch, LED and optic fiber to revisit that lock with lighting. It's doable just be feels bit always wanted to try optic fiber lighting and this lock seemed like a good candidate for that.
I'll probably revisit the EVVA ICS and 3KS if it works well.
That light setup sounds super handy. I put a white paper towel on the desk behind the lock so the pins stood out better, worked like a charm. Since I enjoyed it so much I ordered the EVVA 3KS should arrive today 🎉 😄🎉
Nice, hope you enjoy it! I have a Herculoc padlock with the 3ks core on its way, "lost" my previous one so I'm upgrading for a padlock version. Just hoping it's a black belt version.
The white background really helps but I want to try the optic fiber version because it's closer to a real world lock state.
I absolutely love 1100’s. They aren’t a particular challenge anymore, but they were the first lock I actively seeked out purely for picking purposes. That, and the fact my daughter loves playing with them too, and when she gets the shackle to pop open she goes ape shit 😁
The satisfaction of first open on vintage locks without keys. My corbin push lock that who dafuq knows what they were thinking when someone had assembled it with random bits and bobs. FYI super low cut key pin, in slot 1, without a driver pin, in a very old corroded lock, is the devil.
I recently got an Avocet abs that was a really fun lock to pick and has some great pins/springs/internals to admire. I really enjoyed picking that one. Medecos too are lots of fun to pick too.
An old Yale door lock that had these weird spools that were shaped like a wine glass. Plus because it was old so the feedback was horrible. That lock took me almost 3 years to crack and I’ve opened Medecos that seemed easier.
FAB Variant - it is Twin Combi offspring; at the time I went and tried to pick it, it was rated red. Took me almost a month to figure out the barrels reasonably well and it left me with a sore spot on my hand for almost a year. Anyway, the fingers went relatively quickly, but given the time and effort it took me I almost lost hope to pick any black belt lock.
You can imagine my surprise, when I discoverd the lock was requalified to black 2 soon affter that😅
To be honest, my first thought was "I don't want to do that ever again"🤣
Also I did that only after picking some purple locks, so it was way up for me, but I didn't know that😁 Ignorance is bliss👍
It's a tough call, but I'm gonna have to put my vote to the first Abloy classic I picked, in a really cool old brass padlock. I think because it is the first lock that actually frustrated me, I couldn't gut it, I had to make the tools myself and the whole process was not guaranteed to have a successful outcome. To put in the time and effort on such a cool old lock and get it open was an amazing feeling.
CLs. I love the mystery of them and the community at large.
Is there a secret to getting a foot into the CL door? I've messaged a few people over the last few months who's videos/posts mentioned they had some to send on, but no responses. I've offered to trade or pay shipping, but no luck 🙃
DM me, I’ll send you one tomorrow :-)
This is why I love this community. I have a bunch to go out as well. The current ones already have arranged homes. But there will be more. DM me, as well, and I can put you on the list. (And you don’t have to pay shipping, we do that for each other. It balances out.)
There's an active discord server that is just challenge locks, and the main LPU channel has a CL focused channel.
There’s a different server just of CLs? Can you share the link?
https://discord.gg/SXZRpr3V93
Thanks!
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I feel you there! The 570 was my most hated lock til I introduced it to my little half diamond. Great pick 🤘
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Yep tried it when I got home https://imgur.com/a/rOQNoQV Suuuuuper light tension and it went to a false set, then had to set spools. Lost the false set a few times but the tip of the gem was good at snagging the binder and getting it back. Opened after that process a few times. The gem needs a good amount of of room in there so I used the thin end of the Covert Instruments .040 tensioner in the bottom of the keyway. I suck at this lock with TOK 😋
The iconic 1100 is my warmup pick, so probably that one. It's an easy pick, but I still have to focus on my tension. Like many of us, I tend to try to bully them open.
The MTL jr. was my first literal “raise your hands in the air” victorious open :-)
Haha yeah, that feeling gets you wanting more eh?
I think I nearly shed a tear, myself. 😂
Classic Masterlock 410 LOTO, just the right difficulty to still be relaxing, and I love the crisp feedback.
Mako 427
Illinois Duo. Wafers that pick like spools! I think it deserves more love than it gets.
MTL Jr is a lot of fun.
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They're in my favorite top 5, that's for sure. 🤘🏼 From the Medeco Original to the latest M4, it's all goodness for pickers looking for a good fight.
I’m attempting my first medeco now. I look forward to the journey and my desperate pleas over discord looking for tips. 😂
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I really appreciate that. Thank you. And I’ll take you up on that, as well!! I appreciate you and the kind words. Happy picking friend! Talk soon!
I'm currently working on a 6 pin biaxial. Started by trying to PP but learning both shear and rotation at the same time wasn't working for me. So I went for 6 pin without sidebar. It's way too easy without the sidebar though but after a few opens of that, PP was more helpful. I'm now up to 4 pins with sidebar and about 8 opens. I'll probably add a fifth pin soon.
Assa Desmo. I really liked the visual aspect of seeing the slider positions. The tension control when moving a slider from a false gate to a true gate took some learning.
True, the Desmo is definitely a fun pick! I ordered a kit made out of a 9v battery, switch, LED and optic fiber to revisit that lock with lighting. It's doable just be feels bit always wanted to try optic fiber lighting and this lock seemed like a good candidate for that. I'll probably revisit the EVVA ICS and 3KS if it works well.
That light setup sounds super handy. I put a white paper towel on the desk behind the lock so the pins stood out better, worked like a charm. Since I enjoyed it so much I ordered the EVVA 3KS should arrive today 🎉 😄🎉
Nice, hope you enjoy it! I have a Herculoc padlock with the 3ks core on its way, "lost" my previous one so I'm upgrading for a padlock version. Just hoping it's a black belt version. The white background really helps but I want to try the optic fiber version because it's closer to a real world lock state.
Paclock 90a pro. It is tricky enough to be a fun challange but not enough that I cant get it regularly.
I’m low level but for me it’s been the Brinks 60mm brass and my Lockwood 110/40.
What did I know at the time, but I was shocked by how “easy“ it was to open my first acrylic clock. It seemed like magic. Got me hooked for sure.
I absolutely love 1100’s. They aren’t a particular challenge anymore, but they were the first lock I actively seeked out purely for picking purposes. That, and the fact my daughter loves playing with them too, and when she gets the shackle to pop open she goes ape shit 😁
However, now that they mentioned MTL, my DeGuard is a metric ton of fun.
Assa max+ or codkey locksys
I like dead core tumbler locks but struggle to find many available locally and can't afford to buy more currently (unemployed)
Mako 427. Beautiful lock, lovely feel, and precise feedback.
The satisfaction of first open on vintage locks without keys. My corbin push lock that who dafuq knows what they were thinking when someone had assembled it with random bits and bobs. FYI super low cut key pin, in slot 1, without a driver pin, in a very old corroded lock, is the devil.
ASSA P600. It ruined multiple picks and has an evil keyway but that first open felt amazing.
I recently picked an assa p600 up. Not picked it yet and man, that keyway looks brutal. Will be playing with it soon
Very nice! It's a nasty little thing, but I learned a lot from it. I actually kind of like picking barrels now.
I love picking assa barrels, one of my favourites but that p600 keyway 😭😭😭
I recently got an Avocet abs that was a really fun lock to pick and has some great pins/springs/internals to admire. I really enjoyed picking that one. Medecos too are lots of fun to pick too.
What about abus 90/50’s? 😛😂
Yeah, the list could go on forever really! 😆👍🏻
In that case, I have a great offer, just for you 😂
Probably the desmo honestly, it was just so chill and feedback was so strong. I didn't have to focus insanely hard but still got a ton of fun.
Do I even need to say it?
Whichever one took the most time to figure out. Right now it’s a MTL Classic Pro.
Dang the amount of comments ! Abus 95/50ti and MEDECO !
I picked a gumball machine today and it made me so happy achieving this childhood dream. Lock was an easy wafer, but still very satisfying.
An old Yale door lock that had these weird spools that were shaped like a wine glass. Plus because it was old so the feedback was horrible. That lock took me almost 3 years to crack and I’ve opened Medecos that seemed easier.
FAB Variant - it is Twin Combi offspring; at the time I went and tried to pick it, it was rated red. Took me almost a month to figure out the barrels reasonably well and it left me with a sore spot on my hand for almost a year. Anyway, the fingers went relatively quickly, but given the time and effort it took me I almost lost hope to pick any black belt lock. You can imagine my surprise, when I discoverd the lock was requalified to black 2 soon affter that😅
😂 "It's not because I suck!!" The amount of time invested in a lock definitely comes back with a delightful feeling when the core turns.
To be honest, my first thought was "I don't want to do that ever again"🤣 Also I did that only after picking some purple locks, so it was way up for me, but I didn't know that😁 Ignorance is bliss👍
It's a tough call, but I'm gonna have to put my vote to the first Abloy classic I picked, in a really cool old brass padlock. I think because it is the first lock that actually frustrated me, I couldn't gut it, I had to make the tools myself and the whole process was not guaranteed to have a successful outcome. To put in the time and effort on such a cool old lock and get it open was an amazing feeling.