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

[Fred Cisin]

>> 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.

On Sun, 2 Dec 2018, ethan at 757.org wrote:
> 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.

Having a complete set for ALL tubular locks, not just Chicago Ace, would 
require a lot.  Not so for the COMMON ones.
Other outside diameters are quite rare.
99+%?  are 7 pin with 7.0, 7.3, 7.5, or 7.8mm center hole, and with the 
Chicago Ace standard depths.
Using a 7.5mm center hole tool on a 7.3 lock requires a little more skill, 
or figuring out a way to shim the center hole.
A set of 3: 7.0, 7.5, 7.8 on eBay, . . .
in the "race to the bottom", you can find the set of 3 for $20!
MORE, if you want quality.


> 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*

There already are mail-order code-cutting locksmiths

Do they get enough volume to call for automating it more than a worker 
confirming the center hole size and setting the 7 depths?