You’ve seen them on vending machines, those heavy-duty bike U-locks, and maybe your gym locker. They look intimidating. Unlike a standard door lock with a flat, jagged key, these use a cylindrical "tubular" key with a hollow center. People call them Ace locks, radial locks, or simply circular locks. Most folks assume they’re unpickable because they look so different.
They aren't. Honestly, they’re often easier to bypass than a standard deadbolt if you have the right tool and about thirty seconds of patience.
The secret lies in the pins. In a regular lock, the pins are stacked in a straight row. In a circular lock, they’re arranged in a circle, all facing forward. When you push the key in, it pushes all those pins to a specific depth simultaneously. If you’ve ever wondered how to pick a circular key lock, you’re essentially trying to mimic that "all-at-once" pressure without having the original piece of brass.
Why Circular Locks Aren't as Tough as They Look
It’s all about the shear line.
In the world of locksmithing, the shear line is the "golden gate." It's the point where the inner plug can rotate inside the outer housing. For a circular lock to open, every single pin—usually seven or eight of them—must be pushed back to the exact depth where they hit that shear line.
Back in the early 2000s, a massive scandal hit the lock industry. It turned out you could open high-end Kryptonite bike locks with nothing but a plastic Bic pen. You’d just jam the hollow tube of the pen into the lock, wiggle it, and the soft plastic would mold to the shape of the pins. Click. Open.
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Companies have since fixed that specific flaw by changing pin tensions and adding "anti-pick" features, but the core vulnerability remains: the pins are exposed and accessible.
The Tubular Pick: Your Best Friend
Forget the Hollywood image of using two paperclips. While you can pick these manually with a single-pin pick and a tension wrench, it’s a nightmare. It takes forever. You have to tension the inner plug while hunting for tiny pins in a circle. It’s tedious.
Most professionals use a dedicated tubular lock pick.
These tools look like a small screwdriver with a circular tip and several thin metal "fingers" sliding along the outside. Here is the basic process of how it works:
- Reset the tool: You slide the collar back so all the picking needles are flush.
- Tighten the tension: There’s usually a threaded sleeve. You want it tight enough that the needles don't flop around, but loose enough that the lock pins can push them back.
- The "Slow Dance": You insert the tool and gently—seriously, gently—press it in while wiggling it slightly.
As you wiggle, the lock's internal springs push the pick's needles into the exact position of the "missing" key. The tool literally "decodes" the lock as you work. Once the needles match the depths of the pins, the plug turns.
Manual Picking: The Hard Way
If you don't have a specialized tool, you’re in for a challenge.
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You need a tension wrench that can grip the inner "lug" of the lock. This is usually a small notch on the inner circle. Then, you use a standard feeler pick to press each pin one by one.
The feedback is subtle.
You’re looking for a "binding" pin. When you apply tension, one pin will feel stiffer than the others. You push that one until you feel a tiny click. Then you find the next one. The problem? Circular locks often have "drivers" that can relock themselves at every 45-degree turn. You might pick it, turn it a fraction, and then have to pick the whole thing all over again. It’s a specialized form of torture for the impatient.
The Dreaded "Variable Tension"
Modern locks, especially those from brands like Chicago Lock Co. or high-end security firms, use variable spring tensions.
This means Pin 1 might have a very weak spring, while Pin 5 is stiff as a board. This messes with the "Bic pen" method and cheap tubular picks because the needles move at different rates. If you’re struggling, it’s likely because you’re applying too much torque.
Lock picking is 90% tension control and 10% manipulation. If you crank on the tension wrench, you’ll bind the pins so tightly they won’t move at all. You want the tension of a light handshake.
Security Realities and Ethics
Before you go poking around, remember that "destructive entry" is a thing. If you mess up the internal springs of a circular lock, it becomes a "paperweight." The pins can get stuck in the housing, and even the original key won't work.
Also, let’s talk legality. In many places, carrying lock picks without a locksmith license is considered "possession of burglary tools" if you don't have a good reason. Always check your local laws. This knowledge is for getting into your own shed or a lost-key bike lock, not for late-night "exploration."
Steps to Success
If you're sitting there with a locked cabinet and a tubular pick, follow these steps:
- Clean the lock first. Use a blast of WD-40 or a dedicated lock lubricant. Dust and grime are the primary reasons picks fail.
- Feel the "Springiness." Before picking, push a small screwdriver into the lock to feel the pins. If they don't bounce back, the lock is seized, not just locked.
- Lighten up. If the tool isn't turning, you’re likely pushing too hard. Back off, reset the needles on your pick, and try again with half the pressure.
- Watch for the "over-set." If you push a pin too far past the shear line, it’s stuck. You have to release all tension and start over.
Picking a circular key lock is a mechanical puzzle. It requires a quiet room, a steady hand, and an understanding that you're essentially "tricking" a set of springs into believing a piece of metal is a key.
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For those looking to secure their own items, consider locks with "anti-drill" ball bearings in the center. These prevent someone from simply drilling out the middle of the lock to collapse the pin structure. Security is an arms race; the better you understand the bypass, the better you can protect your gear.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Identify your lock: Look for a brand name or a "security rating" on the face of the circular lock.
- Inspect for debris: Use a flashlight to ensure no broken key fragments are inside the keyway.
- Choose your method: Decide between a dedicated tubular pick (for speed) or manual single-pin picking (for a challenge).
- Practice light tension: Apply the minimum amount of rotational force required to move the plug.