There is the 7-pin tubular lock, 8-pin, and 10-pin lock. The 7-pin tubular lock is the most common, while the 10-pin type is the rarest.
Standard tubular-lock drill bit diameters are 0.375 in (9.5 mm) and 0.394 in (10.0 mm). To prevent drilling, many tubular locks have a middle pin made from hardened steel or contain a ball bearing in the middle pin.
Overall Latch Size = Backset
An easy way to choose which latch you need is to measure from the edge of your door to the centre of your door Stile. Choose the Backset which is closest to this measurement, and the handle will be as central as possible to the Stile on your door.
Instead, tubular locks have universal keys designed for each lock type or model. Most manufacturers produce these locks in versions, providing a single key to access all the locks under it. Thus, it prevents the use of different keys to access the tubular lock and further heightening its security.
Just like regular keys, tubular keys are distinct, so you need the model and identification number from the machine when you contact the manufacturer.
The first thing you need to know is that there is no such thing as a universal key that will open all machines. For security purposes, vending machine keys are all keyed differently. The locks on these machines can only be opened by a key that has a compatible "key code".
Tubular locks often found where higher security is needed such as high security bicycle locks, vending machines, and fire safes. Tubular lock picks come in several different configurations to work on the various configurations of of tubular locks. The most common configuration is the 7 pin centered arrangement.
Using a lock pick is the only verified way to open a tubular lock without the key so, if you have time to spare, purchase a pick to open your tubular lock. If you're in a hurry, you may be able to pick your lock with a ballpoint pen, but this method is less guaranteed than using a pick.
Although they can come in different sizes the two most common sizes in the UK for internal door latches are 63mm and 76mm. These sizes are the overall length of the latch, or the case. When measured to the spindle mechanism, the backset, then they translate as 44mm for the 65mm case and 57mm for the 76mm case.
The backset is the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the 2-1/8-inch bore hole. In the United States, there are two common backsets for residential door locks: 2 3/8 inches and 2 3/4 inches.
Tubular locks offer superior protection to pin-tumbler locks and wafer-tumbler locks, but they are also more expensive. Instead of one row of pins, tubular locks have pins positioned all the way around the circumference of the cylinder plug. This makes them much harder to pick.
Contrary to popular belief, dimple locks are neither more secure or less secure than other conventional pin tumbler locks. This impression might arise from the fact that dimple keys have dimples cut into the grooves while standard keys do not.
Abloy Protec offers a full range of high security door cylinders and uses a “one key, many locks” system making it very easy to cut one key to fit and open many types of Abloy locks. With a unique, rotating disk cylinder, keys and cuts are made in two different radii making Abloy key duplication impossible.
Step 1: How a Tubular Lock Works
The shape of the key is circular, open in the center, and has grooves that are cut into the outsides of the circular shape. Once the key has been fitted correctly in the keyhole, it will depress the key pins to the correct depth and the key can be turned opening the lock.
The easiest way to pick a Master Lock is by raking it. This is done by first tensioning the core and using a lock pick to bump all of the pins to the shear line. Master Locks can also be picked with a variety of makeshift tools including paperclips, bobby pins, soda cans, and even chicken bones.
Tubular locks are used in the creation of elevator locks, locks for coin-operated washing machines, locks for vending machines, ATM locks, Kensington computer locks and bicycle locks, including the Kryptonite lock.
Tubular locks have a variety of pins arranged in a circular pattern, most tubular locks use 7 or 8 pins, some may even have off set pins. The Tubular Lock Picks have feeler picks that spiral the tube and correspond to pins in a tubular lock.
Bump keys are specially cut keys that can bypass the security mechanisms built into traditional pin and tumbler locks. Bump keys are also referred to as “999 keys” because all of their ridges are cut to the maximum depth (999) in a key-making machine.