![[179] Tutorial - Picking Assa thin lipped spools @MichaelMaynard](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dZ6-RSij7Vs/maxresdefault.jpg)
Uploaded July 2019 | Updated September 2026, 4 minutes ago
The newer Assa Abloy sharp edged spools can cause folks trouble...but they're actually pretty easy to pick. This tutorial tells you how it's done.
The newer Assa Abloy sharp edged spools can cause folks trouble...but they're actually pretty easy to pick. This tutorial tells you how it's done.
![[179] Tutorial - Picking Assa thin lipped spools](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dZ6-RSij7Vs/mqdefault.jpg "[179] Tutorial - Picking Assa thin lipped spools
The newer Assa Abloy sharp edged spools can cause folks trouble...but theyre actually pretty easy to pick. This tutorial tells you how its done.")
![[174] Making a cutaway Lexam 1548 safe lock, and a stand to go with it.](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eHYB7nPhlZQ/mqdefault.jpg "[174] Making a cutaway Lexam 1548 safe lock, and a stand to go with it.
I need a quick and dirty safe lock cutaway for filming for a talk at OzSecCon 2019. I use this Chinese Lexam 1548 (an obvious La Gard knockoff) and learn a whole lot along the way.")
![[47] Sparrows Warded Pick Set review and giveaway](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eICXFW8TnAQ/mqdefault.jpg "[47] Sparrows Warded Pick Set review and giveaway
[47] Sparrows Warded Pick Set review and giveaway")
![[51] Review - Abus 83/50 picked and disassembled, I like this lock.](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eIHJqwQQ5PI/mqdefault.jpg "[51] Review - Abus 83/50 picked and disassembled, I like this lock.
[51] Review - Abus 83/50 picked and disassembled, I like this lock.")
![[145] Review and pick - Cisa 285/85 - all padlocks should be like this](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ebrRxV97t8U/mqdefault.jpg "[145] Review and pick - Cisa 285/85 - all padlocks should be like this
The CIS-28584-KD is a fantastic heavy duty padlock with very few weaknesses. For around US$100 there is nothing to match it and I was very pleased to finally get it picked.")
![[69] Medeco Biaxial 4 pin picked and disassembled](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/edxEQKM7oig/mqdefault.jpg "[69] Medeco Biaxial 4 pin picked and disassembled
[69] Medeco Biaxial 4 pin picked and disassembled")
![[168] First look - The Cei 385T - a construction keyed Mul-T-Lock MT5+ clone (sort of)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gYSRAH9irMI/mqdefault.jpg "[168] First look - The Cei 385T - a construction keyed Mul-T-Lock MT5+ clone (sort of)
Ive never seen one of these things before, and neither have you - its a top of the range lock made for the Chinese domestic market. We strip it and find out that its not as good as it looks, and we learn a bit about construction keying. With massive thanks to Frank, who put me on to this lock and bought it for me in China.
The sales video is here if youre interested:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbNiAejTnO0")
![[98] Review - Peterson City Plus and DCAP sets - do not buy](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/h4hJs4qzcCw/mqdefault.jpg "[98] Review - Peterson City Plus and DCAP sets - do not buy
[98] Review - Peterson City Plus and DCAP sets - do not buy")
![[122] Review - Peterson otoscope and HUK fibre optic 120 lumen flashlight](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/h5v0RIuPF7I/mqdefault.jpg "[122] Review - Peterson otoscope and HUK fibre optic 120 lumen flashlight
The Peterson Otoscope and the HUK fibre optic flashlight both try to help you look inside a lock. One does a far better job than the other, and is far cheaper. The cheap USB so-called endoscopic borescope inspection camera gets a dishonourable mention as well. Its junk.
https://www.thinkpeterson.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=OTS-2")
![[91] Tutorial - Group 2 safe locks, the cam, part 3 of many](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hG5TthtamdI/mqdefault.jpg "[91] Tutorial - Group 2 safe locks, the cam, part 3 of many
[91] Tutorial - Group 2 safe locks, the cam, part 3 of many")
![[191] Medeco M4 Picked](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hTNsNKU6Zu4/mqdefault.jpg "[191] Medeco M4 Picked
The Medeco M4 is a truly excellent mechanical lock, and I think a very important one for Assa Abloys product offerings in North America. Picking it is an interesting experience in that it picks slightly differently every time. Not because the tolerances are super close (like say an MT5+) but because the inherent randomness of the rotational Biaxial pinstates means that you sometimes end up with an easy problem to solve, and sometimes a harder one requiring more steps. Binding order can bounce between top pins / rotational keypins / finger pins and in this instance I got a lucky roll of the dice.
I have a LOT more to say about this lock and will do a proper review video which Ill link here in due course.
http://incompetech.com/music/")
![[134] Review - Superlock Blocker pin-in-pin with interactive element and extra trap pin picked](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i7JwZRmTQ3s/mqdefault.jpg "[134] Review - Superlock Blocker pin-in-pin with interactive element and extra trap pin picked
This Israeli pin-in-pin lock with active element and trap pin is a very, very good lock.
With thanks to Zbzzn in Israel for sending me this beauty.
www.sls.co.il")
