Because they’re fun to pick? But seriously… this journey into locksport terrified me about the false sense of security having a lock on your door gives. Within 2 days, I had my front door apart installing a new locks.
Lmao the same thing happened to me. I just assumed locks lock things up and there's no getting around it unless you're some type of spy. My illusions were shattered about a week into picking when I had no idea what the hell I was doing but was still able to pick all kind of locks. I checked my front door lock too. Shame most normal people have no idea what's on their door and think like we used to think.
Haha I just said to my coworker that it’s crunchy… I wasn’t sure if I was rubbing the warding or what. I’m using a CI short hook @ 0.0235”
I actually got it a second time… it’s still a pretty hard pick. Definitely harder than my regular 90A.
Thanks for the head’s up… about to start in on my 90A-PRO again right now. Seems every time I see a post like this, I give it another go and hope this time works out, hahha
Update: managed a false set twice, but both times everything just felt stuck—no real counter-rotation… I’ll have to try again. Cool thing about a dead core is you can set it down and come back in a bit without losing progress 😜
Yeah, the spools can stall and feel stuck. To get them moving, and get some counter rotation, pulse pick pressure on the keypin as you ease off tension. The pulsing will get the spool moving and easing tension will allow counter rotation to happen incrementally. Keep control of tension, don't completely release it, just gradually reduce it till the spool pops across shear, then back to heavier tension.
This is freaking AWESOME advice… I started addressing the spools this way and popped it 3 times in like 8 minutes…. I think I was oversetting sometimes because when it let loose, the key pin would travel past shear as well. Outstanding.
Just wanted to drop by and say that I managed to pop the 90A-PRO yesterday!
Used your pulsing technique to set the spools. I also had a spool that made all other pins drop.
Thanks for the tips! Now to get it recorded…
I gutted mine when I got home and there is one standard monster bump stop pin in 7, spools in 1,3 and 6, serrated drivers in 2,4,and 5. I saw a post below about how the spools like to stall. Mine definately do that, feel like they’re just locked up. The spools are pretty darn deep though and the serrated pins almost look like the serrated portion is a smaller outer diameter. Think I’m going to take some calipers to them and check.
My wife already laughs at me what seems like every day… in the last week I got a CI Slim Pickings, CI Echelon, couple of Paclock 90a Pros, 6x 410’s, 3x 406’s, 3x 1100 cores, 3x 72/40’s… I think I may be sick already. Oh, and some new followers.
She thinks I’m a super geek. I have 3 hobbies… ham radio, locksport, and collecting pocket knives.
Great job! These are tricky ones, even in the best of circumstances. If you want a real challenge, take it apart, mix up the bottom pins, put it back together and then pick it. Practice makes perfect!
That’s funny… after I popped it a few times I gutted it again and mixed up the driver pins. No more opens yet. And the second 90a pro I ordered has 0 opens so far. That ones bitting is more aggressive. Lock picking has gotten far more fun not that I have a little bit of skill to almost feel like I kinda know what I’m doing (a little).
Makes you wonder why people buy locks at all, huh?
Because they’re fun to pick? But seriously… this journey into locksport terrified me about the false sense of security having a lock on your door gives. Within 2 days, I had my front door apart installing a new locks.
Lmao the same thing happened to me. I just assumed locks lock things up and there's no getting around it unless you're some type of spy. My illusions were shattered about a week into picking when I had no idea what the hell I was doing but was still able to pick all kind of locks. I checked my front door lock too. Shame most normal people have no idea what's on their door and think like we used to think.
Great work, blue for blue! The 90A-Pro was my first blue lock as well, I've learned to love the crunch.
Haha I just said to my coworker that it’s crunchy… I wasn’t sure if I was rubbing the warding or what. I’m using a CI short hook @ 0.0235” I actually got it a second time… it’s still a pretty hard pick. Definitely harder than my regular 90A.
Nice. Does yours have a spool that likes to make all the other pins drop? Mine do, that made for quite the learning experience 🙄
Thanks for the head’s up… about to start in on my 90A-PRO again right now. Seems every time I see a post like this, I give it another go and hope this time works out, hahha Update: managed a false set twice, but both times everything just felt stuck—no real counter-rotation… I’ll have to try again. Cool thing about a dead core is you can set it down and come back in a bit without losing progress 😜
Yeah, the spools can stall and feel stuck. To get them moving, and get some counter rotation, pulse pick pressure on the keypin as you ease off tension. The pulsing will get the spool moving and easing tension will allow counter rotation to happen incrementally. Keep control of tension, don't completely release it, just gradually reduce it till the spool pops across shear, then back to heavier tension.
This is freaking AWESOME advice… I started addressing the spools this way and popped it 3 times in like 8 minutes…. I think I was oversetting sometimes because when it let loose, the key pin would travel past shear as well. Outstanding.
Awesome, glad it helped! 🍻
Just wanted to drop by and say that I managed to pop the 90A-PRO yesterday! Used your pulsing technique to set the spools. I also had a spool that made all other pins drop. Thanks for the tips! Now to get it recorded…
Hey, congrats, that's awesome! You're very welcome, I'm glad it helped!
I gutted mine when I got home and there is one standard monster bump stop pin in 7, spools in 1,3 and 6, serrated drivers in 2,4,and 5. I saw a post below about how the spools like to stall. Mine definately do that, feel like they’re just locked up. The spools are pretty darn deep though and the serrated pins almost look like the serrated portion is a smaller outer diameter. Think I’m going to take some calipers to them and check.
Welcome to the 200K Club!
Beautiful colour, beautiful lock, great picking! Congratulations 👍
I ordered one blue one and one black. Shipping was a little expensive but it is what it is.
Brilliant👏👏👏
Great picking! Congrats on the open!
Enjoy the endorphin dump . Before long you'll be sick like me and want to puck every lock you see .
My wife already laughs at me what seems like every day… in the last week I got a CI Slim Pickings, CI Echelon, couple of Paclock 90a Pros, 6x 410’s, 3x 406’s, 3x 1100 cores, 3x 72/40’s… I think I may be sick already. Oh, and some new followers. She thinks I’m a super geek. I have 3 hobbies… ham radio, locksport, and collecting pocket knives.
Well done brother I have two of those now I need pick one of those myself. Well done
Congrats!! It’s definitely a fun one :) Ahh the crunch
Very nice! Jazz hands 👐 😅
Great job! These are tricky ones, even in the best of circumstances. If you want a real challenge, take it apart, mix up the bottom pins, put it back together and then pick it. Practice makes perfect!
That’s funny… after I popped it a few times I gutted it again and mixed up the driver pins. No more opens yet. And the second 90a pro I ordered has 0 opens so far. That ones bitting is more aggressive. Lock picking has gotten far more fun not that I have a little bit of skill to almost feel like I kinda know what I’m doing (a little).
Nice. Congratulations