(1785) Medeco Picking Tips (REALLY!)

Video 1785 is a result of a flood of recent requests for Tips on picking Medeco locks. I never really thought this would be of much interest, as it is not a "basic" lock picking skill, but here you are.
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[@RyanTaylor-pi8gq]

I'm a very bad picker, so the idea that someone can sense the horizontal rotation of specific pins through a pick seems like wizardry to me. You're a beast Mr. Bill.

[@bosnianbill]

You'll be surprised how quickly you develop that "feel". A couple of hours, max. You get good at whatever you practice... Except the guitar, of course. With that I'll struggle forever....

[@MrDevilishdusty]

The quality of these close ups is undeniably helpful.

[@chessguy125]

Your info about how to pick, the pins and sidebar, was entirely about key in knob or deadbolt cylinders. ..Then you pick a Medeco cam lock (design), which is not the same as a key in knob/deadbolt cylinder. The cam lock design doesn't have a sidebar groove in the pin, it has a sidebar hole. Which means that rotating the pins can't give you feedback on the correct angle, unless it is also at the correct depth.

[@NothingPicksLocks]

Haha I left pretty much the same comment

[@bosnianbill]

Yeah, I know.... 😔 I'd been scripting this video for over a week & creating the labeled graphics. I had the "main actor" (mortise cylinder) laying on the bench ready-to-go. When I went to video everything I couldn't find the damn lock anywhere. With the publishing deadline approaching I tore the locklab apart trying to find another one. Any OTHER time I'd be tripping over Medecos, but with the deadline approaching the only one I could find was that cam lock. Not ideal, I know, but at least the message of the video is intact. The keypins are the same and you can feel them dragging, but instead of the groove there's the hold the sidebar pops into (or not). You are STILL the only guy I've ever seen blind pick a 6-pin Medeco (to control) in minutes. Also, your video of picking the Primus (also blind) is the only one I consider authentic. I truly wish you still made videos!

[@jeffmoss26]

Bosnianbill he just made one a month ago

[@johnmorgan1629]

That's where I've been going wrong, I've been using the wrong pick on my guitar.

[@ohmbug10]

Try a city rake...if you're into speed metal. 🤘 Rock on!

[@JONSLOCKPICKING]

This lock had my life when start picking theses bad boys. Now I can pick them with no bother. Great vid bill👍

[@jaimedelgado7529]

they look like a real tough pick. good on you

[@pokemonplanet3287]

A couple years ago I was watching your vids daily and uve been working on a medeco lock for 3 months or so. Now you pick one in no time wow! Love seeing the improvement through the years you're an inspiration!

[@NothingPicksLocks]

Morning Bill! Happy Friday! Great job with the open. Just FYI the technique you are talking about will not quite work on the lock you are picking here. That is a driverless cam lock so the pins in that do not have a channel but instead just a hole for the sidebar to go in. Instead of driver pins and a shear line the key pins have little holes and the sidebar has rods that poke out so you have to set the pins to the right height and rotation for the sidebar fingers to enter the pin holes so you will have drag on the pin even if you are at the correct angle until the pin is properly set. Also these do not have false gates but instead have serrations on the pins to trap you in a vertical position and you can tell when you are in a serration because the pin will not come back down but can still be rotated. Thanks for the awesome content and have a great day.

[@hipu]

fancy seeing you here buddy :D great addendum, definitely going to mess with these techniques. seems faster than my bruteforcing method

[@bosnianbill]

I hear you.... This video didn't play out quite the way I envisioned. I waited until the last minute to put the video together and the original lock I had laid out on the bench for the demo...walked away. I've since found it, but at the time the only one I had to demo with was that darn cam lock... So, the script was written, the graphics collected and labeled but I had to sub a different actor when the original one was nowhere to be found.

[@NothingPicksLocks]

@@bosnianbill Understood, I know how it goes and you can't always plan for everything. The video still seemed to get the point across so thats the main thing anyway. Have a good night and a great weekend.

[@NothingPicksLocks]

@@hipu yeah who would have thought lol 😁. It is a great way to attack Medeco classic, biaxial and M3. You just have to alter the technique a bit for the driverless cam locks.

[@cz503]

Great video as always Bill ! That's exactly what everyone as new picker needs - tutorial . I am far a way from Medeco at this point but please keep going with opening technic tutorials . That's how we can take advantage of your experience. Excellent job!!!

[@JBNL1972]

Thank you, this is absolutely fascinating to watch!

[@DoctorHogmaster]

Thanks so much, Bill! This has really been on my mind lately.

[@bradw0535]

Nice work Bill, very informative and well explained! I'll probably still suck at trying to pick the Medeco padlock I have, but you did inspire me to take another crack at it 👍🏻

[@andyr6850]

Great explanation on how the medeco pins work!

[@KeylessEntry]

Great explanation of the Medeco and biaxial pins with false gates👌 I started with a 6 pin 5IS with has grub screws which allowed me to progressively pin it, that really helped me out. Also tensioning CW Vs CCW makes a difference in picking the key pins to shear or sidebar (rotating pins) first.

[@floorpizza8074]

Thank you for the links to Lockfall Laboratories Medeco videos. Really good stuff. Also had a look at your channel... more good stuff. Subbed to both you and Lockfall. Time to make a fresh pot of coffee and start the binge watching session. I'm now 5 years in to locksport, and I just gotta say what an amazing community. So many knowledgeable and helpful people.

[@waynethebrain7053]

Excellent tutorial, so well explained, thank you.

[@thelockpickinglebowski633]

Nice work. This skill comes in handy.

[@Tipa-fw2rz]

Very good information video about " Medeco" I'm pick that lock but not easy to do it. Thank you for your video!!!!

[@jumper233]

I enjoyed picking my (what people call the 51s biaxial 6 pin ). I stopped when my truck was broken into and they took tool bag with picks in it. When I get new ones I’ll get back to it. Until then I enjoy watching other people pick them. Thank you for all the tips and tricks throughout the years, very appreciated.

[@DonzLockz]

Great practical tips and graphics Bill.

[@RWBHere]

Thanks Bill. Shall keep a lookout for small Medeco locks. 🙂

[@novo1178]

Thank you for a Medeco lock recap! Pain in the ass lock! Thanks Bill. Grat video as always!!!

[@N0B0DY_SP3C14L]

This was awesome, Bill. Thanks!!

[@mikeh9395]

Whole new level..wow...tyvm darn good video. Not ready for those, yet. 💯

[@sigmaman5562]

Hey, Bill, thanks for the video! The back of the lock is a switch. DPDT (Double Pole (two circuits) Double Throw (two positions). The lock does not stay unlocked, so the right turn is a momentary contact-closing the switch only tells something else to do something. The switch likely has its rating printed on it in small print, something like fifty volts, one-tenth amps. The left turn is likely momentary, also. The Medeco camlock pins I own have four levels of height, and three rotational positions. This means twelve values for each pin. Four pins means 12^4=20736 possibilities. There are three (1728), five (248832), and even six pin models (2 million 985984) possibilities!) of the series 60s. Thanks, again.

[@walkernottexasranger7565]

Super cool! Thanks Bill!

[@frankvonbismo549]

Nice video and interesting tips. But what is way better for those who want to specialize in disc detainers..... Disc Pick Tools are available at Sparrows!!!

[@RAkers-tu1ey]

Great Lesson, thanks!

[@apollorobb]

Ive seen a bunch of those Medecos switches used in elevators for the Fire call switches and over rides

[@dsboutdoors7301]

Thanks for the tip. Got out My 5 pin Medico tonight. Never had any luck picking it. Got it SPP picked in about 20 minutes and 1 reset. 👍 Kick Ass bitting on it to boot! 🍻 You Da Man Bill !! Thank You!!

[@sillyseppy7095]

Like a boss !!! Thanks for the killer video

[@ryanwilson_canada]

Now I want to go to my workshop and dig out my three medeco cam locks in that format and try them. Haha, I got them and immediately threw them in my naughty box. Haven't even attempted them. Other than trying the keys to see if they work. Haha Great as always Bill. Keep up the good work. Hope everyone is staying safe.

[@walmartviolator]

This lock is used on the medeco Xt spc lock box. It allows for key control with multiple users and settings of security, keep up the great videos!

[@lokpikr999]

Glad you found a technique that works for you, however when it comes to Medecos, I like to picking to shear first, then set the bottom pins rotationally.

[@TheButchersbLock]

Morning Bill. Great video sir , I have one medico and have got nowhere with it. I think I have a better chance now. Cheers mate👍🇦🇺😊

[@locksportviking3019]

Sorry to see you leave 😔 and to hear about all of your troubles. But I understand why and commend you for prioritizing what's really important. You're a legend and I will always be grateful for everything you've done! So thank you and God bless you and your family with peace and happiness!

[@robjones8003]

I have yet to open a Medico, this video helps A LOT!!!. I had no idea the pins were wedge shaped.

[@kasuha]

Since the gate goes all the way to the tip of the pin, you could perhaps pick it using a pick that has a spike on its side where gates are. The idea is to pick them by that gate - plunge the spike into the gate, push it towards the sidebar, and only then start lifting the pin. If you align all pins first, it should be exactly as hard as normal lock. ... in theory.

[@sendtosurge]

Bill I’d like to see an explainer like this on Protec 2 even without a live pick.

[@cliffordperanio9929]

You made it so easy

[@theteenageengineer]

Nice video bill!

[@roysammons2445]

Very good tutorial. Ther only thing missing is the explanation as to how you rotate the pins.... or did I miss it?

[@adamrodgers9175]

When I started messing with a medeco I put light tension on the core and wiggle the pins then put a little more tension. Then I start single pin picking. Not really sure if it actually works though to set the side bar. It seems to work for me but I haven't been able to pick the lock with all pins.

[@randyaivaz3356]

Picked first Medeco 30? years ago. I used a Double half diamond, it allowed Pin to be raised and turned back and forth. No one seems to make that pick anymore, I have seen some of the Cheaper Pick Sets come out the last couple years that is half of an Auto Wafer Pick. Just need to remove half. Good Work

[@user-xm1nq6oy3u]

Hi Bill ! Good work like always ) . I can to pick Medeco . Now I use one but my English language very bad . Very sorry, because I have any questions to you. But to write my question more hard like to pick Medeco )))). Ok. It's not kill me ! Good luck and good day to you...and me too )!

[@CrplCon]

You mentioned guitar playing. I like this video.

[@AlbertLebel]

Great explanation on these locks. I have tried a few but the only ones I have are six pin kik cylinders. Just cant pick them at this time. Not enough room in the keyway to maneuver my pick. BTW, your video #173 two weeks with a Medeco came up on the side bar. That's about where I am

[@texmexgod4002]

Maybe later Bill. I'm still trying to learn Brady LOTO.. no success yet fully pinned with spools. Great info though, thank you

[@lenbones7940]

once you master security pins then security pins plus extreme biddings you find yourselves entering the arena of the slotty angled pins lol... thankfully once u find the pick that gives u the info u need these can be fun... personally unless i need to i find no enjoyment with these lol but some people love em

[@parapicktog7734]

IT'S BACK !!! The disk pick Bill and LPL designed is back in stock at sparrows.

[@curthatt6461]

ParaPick Tog I got one yesterday morning!

[@parapicktog7734]

@@curthatt6461 ordered mine right before I posted that. Hope it gets here quick, I got 3 of them cheap silver ones everybody sells, all busted. The ends turn on the spindle and then fall off. And I got 5 locks I want to use it with that I've never opened because of those cheap pieces of shit breaking when I tried.i even got out the dremel tool and modified one the way Bill showed in one of his vids, then tried to fix the end by crimping it, flattening the spindle and hole it goes in, even tried jb weld, but nothing worked. All 3 are just sitting in a box now waiting for me to get around to brazing the ends back on. Once I get my sparrows order though, that box and those 3 will probably become a spider nursery.

[@whitebear26]

It may be a lift switch for firefighters

[@ceefusjenkins2281]

Some of us have been picking and growing with you and we understand why you left us but we certainly miss you. Hope all is well!!

[@theteenageengineer]

I’ve been picking for 4 years, never been able to open a medeco hopefully this will help me open them

[@rezcellent]

Keep tryin

[@72polara]

Might be a jackpot reset switch from a slot machine. I have seen Medecos in this application, instead of the Chicago that often is factory installed (2341 key).

[@Michael_Mohr]

FYI the 'The Pick That BosnianBill and LPL Made' is available at Sparrows again...

[@iowaphotos9107]

Thanks! I've been waiting for this! I have one now!

[@justinyoung5125]

Thank you for that I just ordered one

[@georgealvarez1086]

It still listed at 1,000,000 for me... I thought it might change during checkout, but when I went to PayPal, it wanted to charge me 1,000,000. I emailed them about it and hopefully will be able to get one at their retail price of $45 before they sell out. How was any of you able to purchase for $45?

[@seriousmaran9414]

" No, there are four ways to open one. You can use the key!" "Burn the heretic! Burn the heretic!"

[@thalivenom4972]

5, SEMTEX it cant be locked if it no longer exists

[@seriousmaran9414]

@@thalivenom4972 they have already used a .50 cal rifle, as well as LPL using explosives on a lock.so that would be six.

[@thalivenom4972]

@@seriousmaran9414 haha, yup, i remember the underfire series. +1 to you!

[@SlayerO013]

I'll stick with the key on these damned things TBH The lock looks like something that would mysteriously appear somewhere out in my yard after taking a short flight if I tried picking it.

[@seriousmaran9414]

@@SlayerO013 (wild eyed look) MUST BE ALIENS!

[@jmr]

I have a Medico with grub screws and a whole bag of pins but I have not gotten around to it yet.

[@sw10mm]

Could you explain how to rotate the pins?

[@TesserId]

Bill, I'd to see a vernier ink stamp for making those reference marks. Maybe one of your loyal viewers has an approach to making such a thing.

[@kareno8634]

Can't pick my Brain for info . . . I'm still Learning. 8 ) Thanks!

[@dhansel4835]

I have seen people squirt super glue in these locks. That messes them up. You have to drill them out and use a dent puller to pop them out.

[@elruffian163]

The pins in key switches are different they have holes not grooves,abit tricky for me to pick I just replace them.

[@dhansel4835]

We used to have people squirt super glue into the lock. That was a real mess. We had to take a drill and drill a hole right down the middle of the lock. Then we would take a 2lb dent puller with a hex head stainless steel screw and put it in the end of the dent puller. We then screwed byh hand the screw in as far as it would go. From there we would yank hard back on the sliding weight of the dent puller. After a few yanks the lock would pop out. Then we had to replace the lock.

[@tytorubio3271]

Can i find new pins for these? I bought a bunch a while ago but the pins are seriously worn and harder to pick probably. As they came from prison doors they were used a lot everyday i suspect

[@ActionCamPOV]

Those are very common as elevator firefighter switches in states like Massachussetts i beleive.

[@lashlarue7924]

They use these cores in high-security applications. They also use disc detainer cores from Abloy, but now the tool that you and LPL used is in the wild, so to speak...

[@idkidk4334]

I've seen Abloy protec2,s on vending machines, overkill for some dollar bills and chips lol

[@steveelle2169]

I think you’re doing your permutation calculation backwards. 4 pins 3 positions would be 3^4

[@MikeF1189]

You are correct!

[@bosnianbill]

Yep, my bad. In my haste I transposed the numbers.

[@coreturkoane5570]

What song is that that plays at the end of the video 11:07-11:27?

[@FusionDeveloper]

Wow.

[@NyxKemo]

In my airport medeco locks are used everywhere

[@plug4uk696]

What's happened? I'm not getting any sound off this but other videos are working perfectly.. Odd one, done nothing at all other than leave for some time and try again, working now ;-)

[@apollolux]

Question! Do there exist Medeco spool or serrated pins, with slanted tip AND spool/serrations?

[@bosnianbill]

Yes. The Medecos can have a variety of high security driver pins.

[@todddouglass870]

Wouldn't 4 pins with 3 rotational positions (if I understand correctly) be 3 exp 4 = 81 and not 4 exp 3 = 64? Anyway, I that there are multiple pins, heights, rotations, and sometimes offset. That's a lot of permutations!

[@ufcmmareferee4105]

Bosnianll it's great Master 👍👍👍👏👏👏

[@frankdoemen]

I Love medecos

[@paranormalbreakdown2195]

Oh snap chessguy125 is alive!

[@bosnianbill]

Yes he is! And he's probably the ONLY one among us that can pick up a random Medeco and pick it open within minutes. In one of his videos someone sent him an old 900-series military lock with a Medeco core (no key). He opened the box on camera and had it picked to control faster than you can drink a cup of coffee. Also, he picked open a Primus that he found on the floor of his work van - again, within minutes. Superpower lock picking skills!

[@paranormalbreakdown2195]

@@bosnianbill he could be "our only hope" if Bowley locks are perfected. I just got decent enough to open many types of locks but how are we going to have any fun if all locks are produced like the the new bowleys?

[@adik4919]

Try Assa Abloy Protec 2.

[@justaddjeff1988]

4 pins and 3 Positions is 81 possible combinations.

[@dragade101]

Do you have a better way of showing how you rotate the pins?

[@johncwhite]

SPARROWS Disc Pick are in stock!

[@curthatt6461]

John White I got mine yesterday when they started selling them again!

[@brinsino]

Great video, but I think you're exponentiating the wrong way when computing the numbers of permutations. If there are three possible position per pin, and there are 4 pins, then the number of combinations should be 3*3*3*3=3^4=81, right? That also means that the number of combinations will grow exponentially (triples) with each additional pin, as opposed to "just" cubing.

[@scottmilano2940]

Why 64 and 125? Three combinations over 4 pins is 3*3*3*3=81 and add a 5th 81*3=243.

[@bosnianbill]

Yeah, I jacked it up and transposed the numbers, sorry. Still, it is way too many to try out using the matrix method.

[@beave200]

Hey is the locklab.com site down? I cant get on there

[@bosnianbill]

No, it is up but for some reason people putting the "www" before Locklab.com get an error. My webmaster is working on it. He doesn't get to use the bathroom until it is solved.

[@beave200]

@@bosnianbill understandable, it was my birthday and was hoping for some luck on one of the giveaways lol I'll keep trying hopefully it'll let me get on eventually

[@PDeRop]

I wonder what the overlap is on Guitarplayers and lockpicking-fans

[@RGChandler]

me, for one. terrible at both, but it keeps me busy.

[@bosnianbill]

Me too! It is like golf. Just when I'm ready to quit, I somehow strum something that sounds good. Just enough to keep me coming back to it. 😀

[@Silvers24]

I just got my pickset from sparrows today. Trust me, even if you are new to SPP, I bought the revolver with it. I raked it on accident once (first level). I will need to buy a cut away lock to see what I am actually doing. Watching these videos for 2 years, and even now SPP is hard. Raking works, even by accident. Now I see why bitch picking is the last resort before SPP. So before I can learn to actually pick, I need to get a different lock from them to visually olearn. The sounds, the "Springy on 1, binding on 2, click out of 3" none of that now means jack when trying to actually do it. LOL

[@lashlarue7924]

So, would you say that single-pin picking one of these is beyond the skill level of most locksmiths?

[@idkidk4334]

There's a big difference between sitting on a nice chair with a lock in a vise at a preferred angle at home and trying to pick a dangling padlock off a gate that the owner lost their key too in 95 degree weather :).

[@Scapularbore]

The only thing I hate is when you have all the gates lined up and you got set them and the pin rotates.

[@8notorious8]

I do sell mine... because it never will come out of my naughty bucket... Way to hard 😫

[@parapicktog7734]

Whoa. Waaayyy beyond my skill level at this time. Not exactly pick proof, but a lock that takes over an hour to open i would consider thief proof. A locksmith would have the time to pick it, but I don't think a thief could afford to spend an hour on it.

[@johnopalko5223]

Don't four pins that can each be set three ways give you 81 combinations? Three pins that can each be set four ways does give you 64.

[@bosnianbill]

You're right, I transposed the exponent. Sorry. It is STILL too many to try though...😀

[@johnopalko5223]

@@bosnianbill No problem. I was just being my usual pedantic self. 😁

[@blazerbarrel2]

You are missed every day from youtube .

[@brendank2820]

Is your website down bill?

[@bosnianbill]

No, but several people reported that if you include the "www" before Locklab.com, it errors. My webmaster is working on it.

[@johnsavage8873]

Two locks I won't own, and I'm in the vending business!

[@LaserFur]

They could make it even harder by making the side-bar have a T shape on the outside. that way if the side-bar is not retracted when you rotate it the side-bar would jam in place. This would of course require a spring to pull the side bar in along with a detent to hold the core from rotating until you turn the key.

[@BrkaKuronja]

I can't be the only one curious if he's actually Bosnian

[@andrewwest9532]

He is not Bosnian he just speaks the language and was given the nickname off that. He talks about in a video I cant remember which though.

[@andrewwest9532]

So I guess he's a retired EOD technician and he was the only one in his unit that spoke Bosnian.

[@BrkaKuronja]

@@andrewwest9532 well usually no foreigners speak Serbian Croatian or Bosnian so that's why I first thought he was Bosnian

[@junkman8742]

I thought you had to tension these mechanisms from the inside on the sidebar itself. ?? So many LOCKS!

[@floorpizza8074]

That was the best video on how Medeco locks work that I've seen yet. Thank you, Bill! *PSA*: The disc detainer lock pick designed by Bosnian Bill and Lock Picking Lawyer is now in stock at Sparrows.

[@bradw0535]

Thanks for the heads up! Just placed my order, thanks!

[@KeylessEntry]

floorpizza kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKPLZI2MocmYaa8

[@KeylessEntry]

floorpizza kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJCUfoGMg7x9raM

[@floorpizza8074]

@@KeylessEntry Thank you! Those are great vids!

[@bradw0535]

@@KeylessEntry great videos, thanks for the links!

[@idkidk4334]

Lock lab in 2030: Abloy protec picking tips (REALLY!)

[@u.v.s.5583]

3 ways. Rake, bypass, single pin pick (for those who like to spend more time)

[@beardedmike9835]

GUT THE MEDECO CAM LOCK!!!! you've got to know that the pics you used are from a mortise cylinder not a cam lock.

[@bosnianbill]

Yeah, I know. I'd been planning this video for a week, gathering visuals and scripting the important stuff. The mortise I was going to use somehow disappeared off my bench (still MIA) when I was ready to video. With a rapidly approaching publishing deadline the only Medeco I could find was that cam lock. Not ideal but the message is still valid.

[@craigc828]

@@bosnianbill Only started a channel so I could respond to your videos. I'm a newbie and I've been watching your channel (and LPL's) for months. The videos are so awesome it prompted me to buy a beginner's set. Bogata raked my first cheap lock in about 3 seconds. It felt like cheating (but as you say "I'll take it") so I went to SPP and opened it in less than 5 mins. Now it's on to tougher locks with more than 4 pins, then maybe on to security pins and eventually learning how to pin. Thanks tons for the content and totally respect your EOD background. My son is currently serving as Light Armoured Crewman Recce. Cheers from Ontario, Canada.

[@nopenope9945]

I can't play guitar either.

[@wardellrichardson7218]

All of these comments, shows how complicated the Medeco locks are. 20 minutes to pick, go the next house!

[@Br4daform]

This video is being released at that time because the patent for that cylinder was about to expire. Just be honest. Bill.