(PRIVATE) Challenge: Gatekeeper

These are the last three Challenge Lock videos and I am only making them available to LockLab supporters. The "Challenge Lock" series has come to an end. Not only am I out of the "Whipped" PacLocks, but there were many other things that I took into consideration.
1. Cost. Every day I was receiving between 5-10 locks from around the world. I had to return most of them to the owner, which was a SIGNIFICANT expense - always more than $500/month but sometimes approaching $1000. What little I receive in viewer support was quickly consumed in return postage. I was spending several hundred dollars of my own money every month just to return locks.
2. Quality. Some locks were well designed and contained some unique innovations, but they were few and far between. Most "challenge locks" were threaded chambers with serrated pins built on old,beaten up Kwikset cores. The number of trap pins and super springs has continued to increase as copycats realized this might be a way to get a "Whipped" PacLock - meaning I was breaking and bending more expensive picks. I found this very discouraging.
3. Time. Unpacking, picking, disassembling, repacking, answering emails, etc. Each challenge lock took a lot of time to figure out and then return - even if I did not make a video of it. I was spending most of my time setting up and videoing locks that turned out to be copycats of other people's ideas - meaning I could not post the video for fear of viewers saying "WHAT? Another Kwikset with threaded chambers?"
4. Viewer Interest. My goal with LockLab was to remain "New Picker Friendly" and attract new members to LockSport, but LockLab was quickly becoming the "Challenge Lock Channel", interesting to only a limited number of people with advanced skills. Every time I posted a challenge lock video people complained and unsubscribed to the channel. New pickers were overwhelmed by the complexity of challenge locks and became discouraged. My analytics were very clear on this: If I want to lose subscribers all I needed to do was post a challenge lock video.
5. Channel growth. The LockLab's growth was stagnating and I needed to change something before it was too late. Since I stopped doing challenge locks the number of subscribers has increased, the number of comments increased, "likes" went up, and the channel has grown.
So, yes. I stopped making challenge lock videos. It was not an easy decision but I could not afford to continue doing it for all of these reasons. The money saved from NOT returning challenge locks I am now spending on locks - and have been doing so for the past month or two. I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to return to picking real-world locks in a wide variety. It is good for me (mentally), as well as good for LockLab.
bill

[@PhrontDoor]

Congratulations on your retirement. Of course we will all miss you, because we're greedy, but you and yours deserve a most wonderful time together. Ciao.

[@SaltyHermit]

Wow, I made that ages ago. I figured it was lost in the mail. Good show, great video. Been worried about you Bill. Hope you're doing well! As for the 2nd pin, I oversized the chamber slightly and I think that made the spring slide down some and get caught up in the serrations. Probably got banged around in transit. Then, when the key was hammered in it really bound it in there.

[@_aullik]

I mean that video was uploaded 2 years ago for supporters.

[@RouteBGP]

Also, hoping your doing well Bill.

[@dracomenda2]

Thank you for the years of knowledge and entertainment, have a happy retirement! We'll miss you!

[@RAkers-tu1ey]

Hi Bill. Thanks for releasing these previously private videos. What a great way to treat your fans during your difficult times. Best wishes to you.

[@jessesanford1953]

these make me so happy

[@b3kCat]

Congratulations! Thank you so much for sharing this information with the world!

[@thumperlockpicking9269]

I AM SOO HAPPY THAT YOUR BACK, AND PICKING CHALLENGE LOCKS AGAIN. MISS YOU MR.BILL

[@lancebila4543]

One day a coue years ago or so some algorithm at you tube randomly recommended one of your videos for me. I watched it and was immediately hooked. I bought a cheap set of chinese picks and after breaking one off in my friends car door I spent some money on a good set. Lol. Anyway the point is that I love your videos and you are doing great work. You are the reason I became part of the lock sport community. We love you Bill! Thank you and keep up the good work.

[@robertsharp4269]

Congratulations bill. Wishing you good health and happiness in your retirement

[@isaacr7416]

God bless you and your family.

[@nextbizzy]

Thanks for all the content Bill!

[@JH-6]

Good luck in retirement and the life that follows. And thanks for all the knowledge you dropped.

[@brandonn5371]

So saddened to hear about your retirement! I’ve been a long time viewer of yours and will tremendously miss your videos! I entered many times in your giveaways but unfortunately never won. But all the best to you and your family! Enjoy your retirement!! And your loyal fans will always be waiting if you ever decide to upload another video or do some giveaways 😁

[@rickbooker]

Will miss the challenge locks but fully understand the reasoning behind it. Enjoyed seeing the modifications people come up with but when you've seen it once you've seen it. I never understood why you would return the locks sent to you . Especially at your own expense. Looking forward to the next video as always

[@herbhunter5520]

If I wanted one back I'd include a self-addressed and stamped envelope...

[@spencerdavis45]

Thank you for all the awesome videos, I loved them all. I hope you enjoy your retirement, you deserve it.

[@JanekGrom]

Thanks for all the great content Bill! Grats on the retirement, and I wish you the best in everything in the future! Stay Safe brother

[@Cinderbox]

Happy retirement dude! I have seen your work through LL's channel and it sounds like youre going in a good direction with your life xx

[@nolantaylor1760]

Congratulations on your retirement. Thank you for all the fantastic information and techniques you have shared. Here's to wishing you many many happy years in retirement.

[@roysammons2445]

Very cool idea with the crazy gate keepers.

[@lowtech_1]

We don't need that stinking key.

[@Shoorit]

I feel naughty that I’m watching this. 😈

[@sirseriously]

it was released 2 years ago - he just released it to everybody today.

[@MrFallenhero363]

Yes I’m so happy this video on my feed! Bill I’m glad your back can’t wait to see more content

[@Ikantspell4]

So fun to watch you. You're better with a pick and wrench than I am with a key. Kudos to Brian and all the people who make these monsters. Definitely not something you're going to see in the hardware store.

[@virallab4944]

happy retirement bosnianlegend

[@tytorubio3271]

Wow, that's a lot of money to spend on challenge locks alone.. I also think you shouldn't have to send them back. I'm shocked that you received so many. That money can indeed be spent on better things, like the existence of the locklab!

[@davidworsley7969]

Was this the final straw?? Having to hammer the key in for God's sake!

[@RichardsWorld]

Thanks for showing us the private video.

[@penfold7800]

Maybe you could try and fix chamber 2. If banging on the Bible doesn't work, try drilling a 1mm hole from the outside to the bottom of the pin chamber and use a needle CAREFULLY tapping it with a fibreglass hammer to knock the pin and spring out

[@U8uxa8SP]

I hope that all is well with you, I love your videos. Thanks

[@Прохожий-ы8к]

Hi 👋 Nice work 👍 Nice tool 👍 And with all moments of hi pins and low not something problem !!! I want just to see driver pins.... So I waiting to see it. ... Now I see!) Interesting .....!!! Very interesting pins. I think to pay one set of tools that brand !!! " Multipick . Thanks for your video 👍🔓👏👏👏👏👏👏🎉

[@richardedwards3098]

love your videos bill. i guess the kids are giving “uncle bill” some alone time? glad to see you return bill! ❤️❤️❤️

[@PolyclefSystems]

Maybe You should Accept Challenge Locks On the Grounds That 1) They Must Be Something Never Featured Before & 2) They Will Not Be Returned Unless There Is A Money Order. For $50 in the Package & 3) If They Are NOT Requested Back, They Become The Giveaways To The Whipper Snappers ! !

[@loganslocksmi]

Great video!

[@herbhunter5520]

You give me such helpful tips, I thank you as a newbie. Watched your disc detainer video and have purchased the silver bullet.

[@MyAvitech]

I actually liked the challenge locks series. Kinda sad to see it go, but understandable.

[@jim_walker]

The cost you were incurring could be seen and motivated me to join Patreon last week and send some money your way. While the quality of the locks was mostly poor, I did see a few gems. I actually think some of the concepts demonstrated will be found in the commercial locks of the future. The ingenuity is what interested me and not how well it worked. Great products come from good ideas that solve problems.

[@Ben7seven7]

3:55 "A good amount of flop" one pick, everyone knows the rules.

[@danareed1656]

good to see some videos again bill!

[@herbhunter5520]

Yah.. Just use the subtle technique of "professionally forced compliance " 🤣😂🤣

[@pw3111]

Congradulations in your channel and retirement. I’ve only began my interest in lock living a couple of weeks ago and have enjoyed your videos (particularly your commentary) immensely. It’s also been a great learning experience. Is the Locklab still open or is that closed to new members?

[@Litruv]

Oh hey. Private videos

[@daviddavidson2357]

Guess someone lockpicked their way into his YT account.

[@herbhunter5520]

Right. Oi. Fair dinkum quality private video...

[@Zethrel]

did he just get hacked? is there a way to contact bill and let him know?

[@kenai2316]

Exacly my thoughts

[@kstogie]

I'm wondering if he did it since he hasn't been able to create any new content, lately.

[@NetAndyCz]

I am pretty sure it is KZbin thing, they had some issue generating urls of videos ages ago and decided to lock all old Unlisted videos. Creators got choice to either make them public, or reupload them again as Unlisted. I do not think there was an option to keep them Unlisted. I suspect Bill decided to make them available to all, rather than none, since it is rather old material anyway.

[@PDeRop]

I feel I have no right to watch these.. they’re marked private.. not watching them until permitted.

[@koyo4625]

Might have honestly did that to 2 when you took the hammer to the key unfortunately.

[@nelsonahlvik6650]

This video isn't so private…

[@sirseriously]

Could you theoretically create an 'unpickable' lock by including a gatekeeper pin that must be fully down to open but has more slop than anything else so that it automatically binds first unless it is all the way down. The key would be very hard to make and silly looking, but wouldn't that keep you from picking the back pins without lifting the front and if you lifted the front you couldn't release it again without releasing the rest?

[@kstogie]

I've thought about this but with a dimple pin as the gate keeper on a tumbler pin lock. It could be a zero lift pin where there is a hole all the way through the side of the key (easier than trying to cut a key nearly all the way through from the top for a long tumbler pin). If the warding was good enough you couldn't access the tumbler pins without over setting the dimple pin. Not sure how easy it would be to guarantee the gatekeeper pin was the first binder.

[@sirseriously]

@@kstogie couldn't you just slop all the other pins holes and make sure the first pin has the tightest tolerances or am I missing something with picking that would mitigate that?

[@kstogie]

@@sirseriously seems like that would be a simple enough solution. Even if you have one pin that was tighter to keep the core from flopping around, it would still work if the rest were sloppy.

[@davidcastle6350]

Was the pin in pin used in order to get the gatekeeper pins to set that low

[@pierremonteux8397]

Interesting video to see.

[@Ae3lolz]

hate to break it to ya, this isnt a private video lol

[@herbhunter5520]

🤣😂🤣

[@herbhunter5520]

I think he knows; what a great guerrilla marketing tactic for viewers!! Title it 'Private,' and ensure maximum views (if Bill added 'Caution...violence and nudity the views would explode, given the nature of human beings!!😂🤣🤭🥰

[@kabelor56]

many replies are from 2 years ago

[@benjaminscott1927]

@BosnianBill why can't I access the website? Locklab.com

[@mattferrigno9750]

Lol, I guess these are suppose to be private. FYI, they are not! Same thing with the other one you just posted as well.

[@stanervin6108]

They were Private 21 months ago. Just released today for everyone else.

[@mattferrigno9750]

Oh, thanks!

[@bostongoats1784]

i hope bill didn’t get hacked

[@m.k.8158]

Does he know that the website is down??

[@michaelcouey1383]

Couple questions...this video says it was posted Jul 22, 2921...but some of the comments say they were made 3 months to 2 years ago? Also, I can't get www.locklab.com to load. Is it up and running?

[@PiepsiPanic]

Can't load it either and according to www.isitdownrightnow.com/locklab.com.html it's definitely down. :(

[@Faraonqa]

is this supposed yo be private

[@alexisrodriguez7127]

Bill did you get hacked?

[@duckyjp17]

I have never been a fan of the challenge lock videos - usually skipped those.

[@mscottdowning9682]

You need to check the volume on your audio. This one is barely loud enough to hear even with earphoones.

[@BytebroUK]

Hello Bill. I've been on the Patreon thing with you forever, so... question. As a person who is mildly "on the spectrum" there is this one thing watching your vids that drives me insane! Can you pretty please get the pinning tray out *before* you start taking things apart? When you have the screwdriver/whatever in your hand I am sat there shouting "Where's the pinning tray?" Yes, I am aware that I am not everyone :) It just "grinds my gears" ( 'Famiy Guy')