Picking tubular locks (WAS : Text encoding Babel. now PICKING LOCKS OR FINDING KEY MFR AND KEY #

[ethan at 757.org]

> The commercial tools are just a tube with slots and sliders, with variable 
> friction.  Almost trivial to make your own (as I did in High School), 
> although a well machined one will be a joy to use.
> As such, sometimes just sliding that into the lock (WITH THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF 
> TORQUE) will get each pin to stop when it aligns.

I had one of those tools and it ran about $70. You had to buy a separate 
one for each size and pin count. Could add up. It was all pretty tight 
size wise, machining it would be possible if you precision tools but I 
don't think you could make one easily with a dremel grinding wheel or 
anything.

I was trying to talk a friend into starting a website where you could 
order tubular keys cut by robot by number but he didn't seem interested. 
*shrug*



--
: Ethan O'Toole