Maslo & Grift
Hey Grift, I was thinking about building a lock that only opens with a specific key pattern. Got any ideas on how to make it both tricky and cheap?
Sure thing, letās keep it simple and lowācost. Start with a standard barrel lock and swap out the tumblers for a set of pinātumbler pins that line up only with your custom key. Instead of buying a whole new lock, just take a cheap skeleton lock, reātool the pins, and add a small, cheap keyway plate. Use a tiny brass plate to add an extra notch patternāthis is your āspecific key pattern.ā To make it tricky, add a secondary lockābar inside the barrel that only releases when the pins are in the exact right order, but keep it short so you donāt need a whole extra bolt. Cheap steel, some basic machining, and a little ingenuity, and youāve got a lock thatās both tight and budgetāfriendly. Good luck, and remember to keep the key safeāyou donāt want to be the only one who can unlock it.
That sounds doable. Grab a cheap skeleton lock, strip the pins, and fit your custom pin set. The extra brass plate with a notch pattern will keep it unique. For the secondary bar, a small steel rod that slides out only when the pins align should keep it tight but cheap. Just keep the key in a lockboxāno one else should have it. Good luck, and if you need a hand measuring the pins, hit me up.
Sounds slick. Just make sure those pins arenāt too shortāwouldnāt want a ākeyādropā accident. And if you need a second pair of eyes to doubleācheck the alignment, Iām happy to take a look over. Keep that lockbox tight, and weāll keep the lock tight. Happy tinkering!
Thanks, Grift. Iāll doubleācheck the pin lengths and keep the key in the lockbox. If youāre around, a quick look at the alignment would be handy. Appreciate the help. Happy building!
Sure thing, just drop the lock here when youāre ready. Iāll give it a quick look, make sure those pins line up right, and tell you if anythingās slipping. Donāt worry, I wonāt let you get stuck on a trickedāout design. Happy building!
Got it, Iāll bring it over to the back entrance around 3. Thanks for offering a second pair of eyesāappreciate the help.
Sounds good, see you at 3. Bring it to the back, and weāll get it sorted before anyone else notices itās a killer lock.
Will do, see you at 3. Iāll bring it to the backāthanks for the heads up.
No problem, see you then. Bring it in, and weāll make sure itās tight. Take care!
Sounds good, I'll bring it in. Thanks, see you at 3. Take care.