Locks and Stuff...

New Video: Plug spinner in action.

2006-09-27T22:27:00.000-07:00

I ended up getting the good quality plug spinner, as the inferior one broke on the first day. I am very grateful to lockpicks.com for their great customer service. Here's a video of it in action:

LSATS suck

2006-09-26T22:16:00.000-07:00

Excuse the lack of posts lately. I've been studying for my LSAT. After this Saturday I promise to rejuvenate this blog though. I'll tell you one thing: lock picking owns studying for the LSAT.

New Video 2

2006-09-18T21:43:00.000-07:00

A First Watch cylinder I've had for a while.

New buys!

2006-09-16T17:58:00.000-07:00

I bought the combination steering wheel to pedal lock for my car (it'll lighten my key chain)
I also bought a basic plug spinner. This should make picking in tight areas much easier.

I'll put pictures of both, and likely a video of the plug spinner once they come in. I can't wait!=)

My new video

2006-09-13T23:24:00.000-07:00

Just a little show-off video. Nothing difficult, just a Kwikset cylinder.

Security Flaw- Master Lock 1547DCM

2006-09-12T23:05:00.000-07:00

I expose how to easily bypass this lock here

Early Egyptian Tumbler Lock

2006-09-12T13:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of an early Egyptian tumbler lock from The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing Fifth Edition by Bill Phillips: The lock is discussed in this thread at lockpicking101.com

How to put spool pins in a Kwikset

2006-09-10T15:46:00.000-07:00

You can find my pictorial guide over here

PlugBlok

2006-09-08T11:09:00.000-07:00

This is probably something asshole parents would use:And look how they advertise it:

Bitches! Maybe I'll buy one and advertise an exploit for afflicted children.

Ebay Alert: Sobo Lock

2006-09-07T18:05:00.000-07:00

I'll stop numbering these ebay alerts because they seem to be so far apart. This Abloy knockoff has caught my eye:
At $12.70 and $5.60 for shipping it is not such a bad deal, and it looks solid.
Here's the link

Cheapo luggage locks

2006-09-07T17:51:00.000-07:00

Here's the inside* of those mass produced cheap luggage locks that are all openable with the same key and come with just about ever piece of luggage. As you can see they do not work like real warded locks, but employ the same reliance on wards for security .*Forgive the low quality picture. I couldn't get anything sharper, try as I might.

How to pick locks (the beginner's guide)

2006-09-04T01:56:00.000-07:00

I made a guide on youtube

While googling "locks and stuff"

2006-09-03T18:55:00.000-07:00

ha ha
Link

Quality padlocks at Walmart

2006-09-03T15:11:00.000-07:00

For around $10 each anyone can buy secure padlocks at Walmart:
First, there is the six-pin Brinks shrouded padlock loaded full of security pins. It has dual ball-bearing and the moderately restrictive AM4 keyway This is my top pick.
The R70 is Brinks version of the best-selling discus padlock originally made by ABUS but widely copied by many companies (for example: the Master #40). It is a little less secure to picking as it only has 4-pins and the wide-open M1 keyway. However, it has a couple of spool pins, deadlocks, and like the padlock above, has a shackle with increased protection against bolt cutter type attacks.

Locks & Society: the beginnings of an essay

2006-09-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to the essay I started-- but never finished-- a while back:

Essay

I received great feedback from my fellow lp101 members.

Warded locks and picks

2006-09-02T18:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a video of me explaining how to pick warded locks:

On youtube.

Master Lock Security Bar

2006-09-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

I bought this a while back when my brother's keys and car registration were stolen and I needed something to secure the door just in case they came back for the house. It makes forcing open a door quite an ordeal. I've been thinking of getting a couple more for the other main doors in the house.

Brinks House Key Padlock

2006-09-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

I found this padlock at Walmart. There is an SC1 version and a KW1 version. Naturally as my house key is a Kwikset I bought the KW1 version. I found at least moderate security in the dual ball bearings and spool pins. I love any form of security that lowers the number of keys on my keychain (hence my preference for combination locks) and I figured it was higher security than a Master #3 or similar lock.

Later I found this video on youtube of a guy easily raking the same lock. I have not been able to rake it as easily, but I also purposely re-keyed my house so the key configuration is not one that is easily raked.

Guy on youtube raking the Brinks House key padlock

Overall my opinion of the lock remains favorable. It is a snap to re-key and well-made.

Ebay alert II

2006-09-02T00:06:00.000-07:00

I guess I'm fascinated by low-grade physical car security (i.e. steering wheel and pedal locks). My own car has an unbrakeable steering wheel lock with a cruciform key (pictured below).

I found this steering wheel-to-pedal lock on ebay. There's nothing really remarkable about it other than the fact that it has a combination. Something I've never seen before in these type of locks. Quite a novelty:

Steering wheel-to-pedal lock with combination

Ebay alert

2006-09-01T23:59:00.000-07:00

This is such a steal on ebay. I've been eyeballing it for a while:

A medeco padlock and cylinders currently at a bid of $5

I might bid on it.

lockpicking101.com

2006-08-30T23:49:00.000-07:00

lockpicking101.com is in my opinion the best lock picking forum on the internet. If you are just starting to pick locks or are interested, it is a great resource. My user name is "lockedin" in the forums. Here is the sick signature my brother made for me:
Does he have skills or what?

Some of my links on youtube.com

2006-08-30T23:40:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of videos of me picking locks. Nothing too fancy-- although for now I have the only video on youtube.com of an electric pick gun in action (dorky, I know).

Me picking a 4-pin Master Lock #5.

Me picking a 6-pin lock of Chinese make. The brand is unknown.

Me using my electric pick gun on the same lock.

First post: My toolbox and tools

2006-08-30T23:12:00.000-07:00

Ok, as the first post I guess I'll put up a picture of my toolbox and tools.
This is my magical yellow toolbox.
My tools for door locks and padlocks.
And my car tools with a cd for how to open all cars up to 2005.