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How do keys work? Explained in one Gif
41–50 of 81 posts
Re: How do keys work? Explained in one Gif
#42Old but still relevant. I learnt about locks here. http://www.lysator.liu.se/mit-guide/MITLockGuide.pdf
> ...it is worth pointing out that lock picking is just one way to bypass a lock
A sobering insight after a break-in and a conversation with a locksmith. A lock is only as good as the latch, and door that it's sitting in, and the hinges attaching the door, and the molding surrounding it, and the wall it's in.
Re: How do keys work? Explained in one Gif
#43Old but still relevant. I learnt about locks here. http://www.lysator.liu.se/mit-guide/MITLockGuide.pdf
Learned how to pick locks decently well with that guide. It's a good read.
Re: How do keys work? Explained in one Gif
#44Old but still relevant. I learnt about locks here. http://www.lysator.liu.se/mit-guide/MITLockGuide.pdf
Learned how to pick locks decently well with that guide. It's a good read.
Same. My Dad gave me a lock and a copy of this he printed at work one evening. I was pretty young (I think 11?) but I learnt a lot. Dads are awesome!
Re: How do keys work? Explained in one Gif
#45Locks are a relatively simple a fun mechanism to play with. Lock picking can be explained similarly. It's essentially simulating that key by popping the pins up to the shear line (the horizontal plane) and applying tension via your tension/torsion tool so the pin doesn't fall down. Then move onto the next one. If you get all pins to the shear line, the lock opens. It's also a pretty cheap hobby to get into. Though th…
When I was in college, I wanted to learn how to pick locks (just because I thought it would be an interesting "party trick" -- I would never steal, having been a victim of theft several times myself). I ordered a set of lock picks and practiced on a knob lock from Home Depot...to my surprise I was able to open the lock within minutes.
Re: How do keys work? Explained in one Gif
#46Locks are a relatively simple a fun mechanism to play with. Lock picking can be explained similarly. It's essentially simulating that key by popping the pins up to the shear line (the horizontal plane) and applying tension via your tension/torsion tool so the pin doesn't fall down. Then move onto the next one. If you get all pins to the shear line, the lock opens. It's also a pretty cheap hobby to get into. Though th…
I ordered lock picks on Thursday. I can't wait for them to arrive!
Re: How do keys work? Explained in one Gif
#47Earlier quoted context omitted.
It also comes in handy more often than you'd think. Picking real-world residential locks is usually a Bad Idea even if you're allowed to, but with a little practice anyone can learn to open cheap wafer locks (like you find on desk drawers) or padlocks in seconds with nothing more than a couple of bobby pins. Like when I cleverly managed to mail my apartment keys to myself, including my only mailbox key...
> Like when I cleverly managed to mail my apartment keys to myself, including my only mailbox key... If my mailbox key was locked inside my mailbox, I would just wait for the postal person to show up. They have keys that open the entire wall of mailboxes. Just wait in the distance until they open the wall and then go get the mail out of your box. Just act like you don't see anything wrong with grabbing your mail and…
This is bad practice from the mailman. The lock is there so that only the owner of the box can authenticate and retrieve the mail. If he allows people to walk up and select mail from the box then he is allowing a circumvention of the authentication protocol.
Re: How do keys work? Explained in one Gif
#48Earlier quoted context omitted.
A few years ago I went and bought myself the cheapest Yale type lock I could find in order to teach myself to pick it. After repeatedly failing I took it apart and discovered some of the pins had recesses that were designed to defeat this kind of attack (I think they're called "spool pins"). I never managed to put it back together again, and that was the end of my lock picking career.
Here's a video with more info about these anti-picking mechanisms and how to defeat them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQVsI4qyl3g
I got caught up with this guy's videos and watched all of them because they are so cool. Thanks for the share!
Re: How do keys work? Explained in one Gif
#49Earlier quoted context omitted.
what exactly is that little dirt stain that moves from cylinder to cylinder supposed to be? is it supposed to represent tension or something?
It's the currently binding cylinder. With the right amount of tension applied via the wrench, one pin binds at a time, which is what allows you to set the pins one at a time.
why does only one cylinder bind at a time?
It seems to me like the lock shouldn't be able to turn at all until all of the cylinders are pressed to the right height.
Re: How do keys work? Explained in one Gif
#50If I wanted more content like a single gif in a blog post I'd go to reddit. This is currently #1 on HN.