(452) 7 Pin Best SFIC Padlock Picked to Control

[@LockNoob]

I was given this lock about 2 years ago by a good friend and to my shame have only got around to picking it on camera now :-( Still, it’s picked now and I love the lock :-)

[@iyeetsecurity922]

SFIC locks are equal parts fascinating, and maddening.

[@jamesstrain7062]

Peterson makes a tension wrench with teeth that grip the key pin holes in the control core. It puts the tension on the sleeve so you can pick only to control more easily. I’ve had mixed results with it.

[@LockNoob]

Interesting... maybe I should try it... :-)

[@NoctisMotus]

Don't waste your cash! Just make your own and it will be better.

[@chriscapune7873]

Very fun locks to pick! I have two of them , one with a real Best core, and one with a generic Best type core. Have picked the real Best core a few times to control. But not to open. On the generic core I pick it to control 4 out of 5 times One of those 5 times it is picked to an open. I can not “ feel” the difference between control and open. That makes it kinda fun not knowing what you will get!! Thanks for the video! Chris

[@LockNoob]

Thanks Chris :-)

[@AlbertLebel]

That was great, you have wonderful skill. Thanks for sharing, I must say, I was scared to even try picking Best cores until some of you guys intrigued me enough to try it. I am no longer intimidated

[@LockNoob]

They seem to be pretty easy tbh. Happy picking :-)

[@dazevers]

Very nicely done, wonderful locks I’ve got a brass bodied padlock that I can pick very reliably to operate, but can’t for the life in my pick it to control. Great video my friend

[@LockNoob]

Yeh, it’s all random for me which way they go in my experience :-)

[@pyratemage]

Yayyy for Rik! Top man, he is. Awesome lock. I need to find a padlock over here with similar configuration. Schlage cylinder maybe?

[@LockNoob]

Hmmm, probably not - it’s hard to find a similar lock to a BEST :-)

[@pickbeard2690]

Nice picking, beautiful lock and I miss Pete🤔😍😍👍🔓😭

[@LockNoob]

Me too :-)

[@72cmcinc]

Great lock and nicely picked!

[@LockNoob]

Thanks :-)

[@Potti314]

Yeah these BEST locks are fascinating - especially that they implement the interchangeable feature by introducing another shear line which makes picking harder. Great picking by the way buddy :-)

[@LockNoob]

Potti314 thanks Potti314 they are great fun :-)

[@uklockpickaUklp]

Brilliant locks, another one which I'm yet to pick or own, fantastic video as usual buddy

[@LockNoob]

Thanks my friend :-)

[@CameronDunn]

Nicely done, I've had a Best padlock for a while but still haven't taken the time to sit down and figure it out.

[@LockNoob]

No time like the present! :-)

[@themadhatter4761]

Great pick, they look a really nice padlocks 👍👍👍

[@LockNoob]

Thanks:-)

[@Jake1973_]

Nicely done 👍Best sfic is a tough pick(for me), but you blew through it in no time👏

[@LockNoob]

Thanks :-)

[@NoctisMotus]

Nice work. Very nice locks. Light tension is better for picking to control. You might also consider looking at the front of the lock for clues, particularly the control sleeve. As you pick a pin you can watch for movement of the control sleeve. You might also consider making yourself a Finch tool (originating from Jerry Finch). I'm sure you've seen them and understand the theory so I won't bore you with it. Quite often Best will even have security pins, mostly spools. You'll even encounter spool key pins.

[@LockNoob]

Cheers Noctis, always good to learn more :-) I’m note sure I have the picking finesse to learn the difference between control and operational sheer lines, but maybe one day :-)

[@waddac2]

Nicely done and explained buddy.

[@LockNoob]

Thanks Waddac2 :-)

[@mattmchenry6835]

Your lock is strange though, I'm not really used to seeing where the control key and operating key are bitted mostly the same. Did I see that wrong or is your control key very similar to your operating key? If that's the case then you would only need to differentiate between the clicks at pins where the cuts are different.

[@LockNoob]

This was pinned up by a friend with an official BEST pinning kit - age also cut the keys. There doesn’t seem to be any point in making the operating and control keys much different since picking to either operating or control means you have access, so we didn’t change anything but a couple of pins :-)

[@Pyrolock]

I agree with Matt -- Most BEST locks have considerable difference in bitting between Control and Operating Keys

[@LockNoob]

Ken Nixon for sure, but it’s not actually necessary for any good reason :-)

[@mattmchenry6835]

If the lock is in operation this would make picking much easier since normally you have to set all the pin stacks to either the control shear or the operating shear and you don't know which is which. Having a lock pinned up this way makes it so you are always hitting the correct shear line on 5 out of 7 pins meaning you only have to get 2 pins to the correct shear line instead of 7. For a lock you are not relying upon for security this is no problem at all.

[@mattmchenry6835]

It does however make it world's easier to choose which shear line you are picking to. Hold the keys next to each other and look at the cuts that are different, if both cuts are higher or lower on one key than the other, meaning both pins 1 and 2 on key A are either higher than pins 1 and 2 on key B or vice versa, then when you are picking pins 1 and 2 (best locks start with pin 1 in the back if anyone is unaware) you would choose weather to stop at the first click or the second and it would open to either control or operation and you could note which click you picked to. If the keys have one pin that is higher and one that is lower you would just pick to the first click on one pin and the second click on the other.

[@pestilentz6106]

Nice job. I have a vintage all brass Best padlock(with green letters) and the shackle sticks when I use the key. I haven't picked it yet, so, sorry no advice.

[@LockNoob]

That sounds like a lovely lock :-)

[@gkeyman565]

Nice job, and lock, I have an all brass best i picked up 2 weeks ago, still working on it, no keys, yet, once i get it out I'll make them.

[@LockNoob]

All brass? Sounds lovely:-)

[@gkeyman565]

Yes, I thought you'd like it, being brass, all brass, ; )

[@bird718]

thats the best lock ever....

[@LockNoob]

Lol :-)

[@johnmccormick2883]

Very nice video… Those best padlocks with the interchangeable cores are really cool! I went looking for the Pete Restill links you mentioned but could not find them... Thanks for this nice video!

[@LockNoob]

Hmm, I thought 8 puts them in the video as information cards... I’ll have to check :-)

[@johnmccormick2883]

Lock Noob maybe they were there ... I’ll check !

[@wesdresen9994]

I have one of these cores. I can pick it to control and can't pick it to operation. Don't know why. Nice job.

[@LockNoob]

It’s all a bit random for me :-)

[@JasonCarlson]

Good showing! I will be diving on to the Best lock event.. I have never picked a 7 pin. It is just another pin.. right?

[@LockNoob]

Yeah, pretty much :-)

[@bryce909]

Great video thank you, was wondering if I needed light or heavy tension,been trying to pick this one every day now for about 4 days, going to try heavier tension from now on 👍🙏

[@billbacardi3262]

Nicely done sir beautiful padlock my friend

[@LockNoob]

Thanks Bill

[@JoBianco]

Two things: First I don't see the link to Pete's video. Second, what would you rate this lock on the belt list? Thanks!

[@shualang]

impressive pick awesome job

[@LockNoob]

Thanks :-)

[@Leonslockpad]

Great job my friend I have a best core with control key and normal key can only pick 2 control or at the moment👍😊👍😊😎✌✌

[@LockNoob]

Yeah, I finds it’s a bit random. An open is an open though! :-)

[@Leonslockpad]

Lock Noob and open is an open my friend cos when you drop the core you can open the padlock without it😂👍😊👍

[@leozendo3500]

If pin3 always bind first and I cant get to it unless maybe oversetting pin 1, what can I do?

[@JimBailey]

Thanks Lock Noob

[@LockNoob]

Thanks :-)

[@mattmchenry6835]

If you think about the way sfics are pinned you have a key pin, any master wafers, control pin, or build up pin if you're Corbin, and driver pin and there are two shear lines so you will get at least two distinct clicks when picking a stack, now determining which is which takes time and practice but you can just try the first click and if that doesn't work try the second click. If I can come up with a reliable way to differentiate between them I will let you know.

[@jeffmoss26]

great job!!

[@LockNoob]

Jeff Moss thanks :-)

[@mattmchenry6835]

Great Video as always!!! And beautiful lock BTW! So when picking to control there are tools that tension only the control shear to make it easier, or you can do the measurements and make one. I have just recently gotten a little bit of control, no pun intended, on weather I will be picking to control or operation and I have found that a lot of it is feeling. I'm having a hard time making words right now lol. The more you pick a lock the more you get to know it and I'm starting to be able to tell what feels like what. I had a medeco keymark sfic yesterday morning that I had to remove from it's housing and shocked myself when I intentionally picked it to control in under 2 minutes when I hadn't touched this lock in months, but now this morning I have a best 7 pin sfic that I can't seem to pick to control to save my life lol. Sorry about the long comment.

[@ТимурАденов]

hello, you can open the castle of Calais ??

[@LockNoob]

Um... sure?

[@RAkers-tu1ey]

REALLY NICE LOCK GREAT PICK R

[@LockNoob]

Thanks :-)

[@jumper233]

Hello like your work have you tried the best cormax sfic yet? I’ve had zero luck with mine

[@LockNoob]

No, I haven’t - sounds good though :-)

[@DonzLockz]

From what I've seen, picking to either is random. Nice lock, I have the same one but awaiting a 7 pin cylinder from BB. 😎🍺

[@billbacardi3262]

Don'z Lockz Don I think I've sent those SFIC cores to 5qu1n7 already, I'll have to get ahold of him and find out buddy.

[@DonzLockz]

Bill Bacardi I have received a package from Squint recently my friend... just haven't opened it up yet. I want to do an unboxing soon and expect it to be in there. It's a big box! I'll be doing a vid hopefully tomorrow from Daz. I also have a big box from Kris in Germany that I want to do on camera soon too. I think Squint may have left for Vegas possibly, just hold out till I check the box buddy, appreciate the goodies and your concern. 👌🏻🍺😎

[@LockNoob]

Happy picking :-)

[@NoctisMotus]

Worst case scenario, I have some. :)

[@JMLockpicking]

Nice video.

[@LockNoob]

Thanks :-)

[@BD90..]

Cool stuff

[@LockNoob]

Thanks :-)

[@forrestgumpv9049]

Looks like the FBI has cleaned house here too. LOL.....

[@georgercsd4771]

It looks like the operating and control keys are identical on 5 out of 7 bittings - BAD DESIGN! A well designed 7-pin SFIC system with a grand master allows for about 16,000 locks. But whenever a lock has every bitting for control less than or equal to that for operation, or the opposite, that lock should never be made or listed for being made. Whoever designs the computer program that designs a key system had better understand how SFICs work!