(061) Hardening American Lock padlocks against bypass

[@BroadcastBuddy]

Hi, Just FYI, American had the wafer long before Peterson introduced their bypass tool. I've had many NOS American 5260 padlocks circa 1986-2001 and all had one stainless wafer installed. The cheaper models that are not intended to be rekeyed (series 10 20 30 40 50) do not typically have this wafer from my experience tearing them apart. Thanks for the vid.

[@Nite0wl]

+BroadcastBuddy Interesting, I had not heard of any locks of that vintage having the blocking wafer. Do you know if it was specific to the 5260 or a contract?

[@BroadcastBuddy]

+Nite 0wl No, they have also been found on the 5200s, 5560s, 5570s, and the aluminum 11, 12 and 1300 series padlocks from 84-current. I also have a very early NOS 5260 series made for Klein tools in 1982, and it also had the wafer installed. So from my experience, American has had the wafers since the intro of the padlocks with the figure 8 cover plates.

[@NoctisMotus]

Cool, I'd been wondering about adding extra wafers or maybe making a thicker custom-built one. Didn't even think about trying a key retaining actuator. Appreciate the sharing. :)

[@Nite0wl]

Glad it helped.

[@adrianleon9487]

gran trabajo. me encantan esos candados american. SALUDOS

[@Nite0wl]

+adrian leon Gracias!

[@jeffmoss26]

Nice one. Glad I could help a bit!

[@Nite0wl]

+Jeff Moss Oh, the stuff you and I were talking hasn't even begun, this was what I could do this weekend with what I had lying around. The stuff we discussed is at least weeks out assuming I can get the necessary materials for testing.

[@vanderticked]

Coming Spring 2016...the Peterson Key Retaining Actuator Defeater with Built-In Double Wafer Breaker Punch (and bottle opener)? Excellent knowledge to have. Thanks for the great video!

[@Nite0wl]

+vanderticked Thanks for the complement. That would be a cool tool to see.

[@Johnyrocket70]

I believe it's the Brinks copy of the 700 that has a redesigned cam that can't be bypassed. 6 pinner very impressive security pins too

[@Nite0wl]

American Lock's Key Retaining cam is immune to the bypass as well, there are also a bunch of other manufacturers that make superficially similar locks that are not susceptible but few do pinning and cylinders that are as good as American or Brinks.

[@peterv1318]

How about the wafer keyed padlock not pins can that be bypassed?

[@AbuGalib]

Which American lock and Brink models can be hardened this way? Abus?

[@Nite0wl]

Any American Lock using their inline pin tumbler cylinders (basically any of their rekeyable models other than the 7200 and H10) can be hardened this way. Brinks has a few models that are near identical copies of the American Lock design but I don't have their model numbers available. The only vulnerable Abus model is the 72 series which Abus markets for Lock Out/Tag Out use.

[@Nite0wl]

Looking things over later I discovered that I had used the wafer breaker on that model 706 so much that both the tools and the lock internals were so worn that the actuator slides out of the way of the breaker and the wafer just folds over it.

[@jerrywelch1870]

great video

[@Nite0wl]

+Jerry Welch Thanks. I would have been happier if the wafer breaker had worked but either my set or the actuator is clapped out, thanks for the compliment all the same.

[@Johnyrocket70]

can you take that tubular core apart and add different Springs & pins to defeat the tubular pick?

[@Nite0wl]

You can repin them but it requires drilling the rear of the core to mount a special tool. Also, commercially available pins and springs are of limited use against tubular pocks in this core, there may be non-standard methods that work though.

[@gqro1]

U need to be pulling the schackle broooo on the american 700

[@fbw47]

That's a sure-fire way to screw up your Leatherman. Get a hammer.