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, et...@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?
