• PM_ME_UR_PCAPS@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    While you’re not buying that key, definitely don’t also pick up:

    FEO-K1 - Most popular elevator key

    EK333 - Popular cabinetry key

    22343 - Linear popular key

    C415A - Popular cabinet key

    CH751 - Popular cabinet key

    16120 - DoorKing popular key

    Jigglers - For latches

    1284X - Popular key for Ford police cruisers, taxis, machinery

    • scottywh@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      As someone who has actually.owned and operated lots of vending machines of different types over the years, no this isn’t true.

      You can buy vending machine locks that are keyed the same if, for example, you wanted all 12 machines that you owned to have locks that could be opened with the same key but the chances of that key opening any random vending machine you may encounter are about as good as your house key working to open your neighbor’s house… Not impossible but not super likely.

      In fact, just yesterday I picked up a vending machine key that it took a locksmith over two weeks to make for me with only the lock to copy it from because I’d lost my original for that particular machine.

      I have several other vending keys that I tried (mainly because I was confident that one of them actually was the right key) but none of them worked.

      Vending machine locks and keys are actually quite complex and varied.

      • XTornado@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        About the case you talked that you lost the original key.

        How difficult/expensive to change the lock? Trying to make the key from the lock sounds more expensive but I am clueless.

        • scottywh@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Oh, I just noticed that you actually asked how much to change the lock…

          They quoted me $35 to drill out the one I lost the key for and replace it with a new one and the corresponding key… I could have done that myself for significantly less by just ordering a replacement lock and key from Amazon, but…

          I wanted a duplicate of the original because I do actually have several of these particular type machines that are intentionally keyed the same.

  • Schlecknits@feddit.de
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    1 year ago

    If you are from Europe, especially German-speaking countries: So called Buntbartschlüssel (literal translation: colorful beard keys) are very popular for older buildings and garden sheds as well as for interior doors in residential buildings.

    There are around 70 different types with you being able to spot which one is need by just looking inside the keyhole, there are handy charts for this purpose.

    • rockSlayer@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Tubular locks are extremely simple to pick. The only reason they’re used is because they’re cheap and used to protect cheap stuff, like food in vending machines

      • scottywh@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Some tubular locks are simple to pick and yes a modified bic pen is the poor man’s pick but it’s certainly not all of them that can be done that easily.

        • droans@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Anyone can pick the lock in seconds if they take the time to learn.

          My dad owned a few vending machines when I was a kid. Since they were used, he had to replace the locks on all of them and taught us how to pick them. It’s relatively easy to do so. I think he only ever ended up drilling out one of the cylinders while he was able to pick the rest.

          A Bic pen won’t work that well, but a $50 pick will.

          • scottywh@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            I own a tubular lockpick set and have experience picking locks.

            Not all tubular locks are as easy as you think they are, I assure you.

            You can see my previous comment in this thread explaining that I’ve also owned and operated multiple types of vending machines over the years.

        • scottywh@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          The toilet paper and paper towel holders are usually not tubular locks…

          Most of those can actually be picked with a small screwdriver or even a zipper pull from a coat or similar clothing item though.

          • Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de
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            1 year ago

            They are here in sweden, exact kind of lock as the image. Ever since i worked at a theme park i’ve been unable to not notice the locks lol

            • scottywh@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              Interesting… The majority in the US are definitely not but they’re actually much easier to pick than most tubular locks.

      • Eheran@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        The reason they are used is because people think they are safe because they look special and, of course, they are also small and cheap.

  • Tb0n3@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    I remember a video recently about buying those universal keys and why they wouldn’t work. A lot of the low quality reproducers and sellers didn’t understand the difference between fitting keys and did it backwards where one was supposed to be a low but it was cut at the top instead so it was inverted.