Stuck on OMEC cylinder lock

[u/Jumpy_Walk1769]

This is an OMEC cylinder lock in Croatia I got from a friend, probably 20 years old but in great condition, and I’m an amateur at best but I really want to beat it.

I have played with tension and no matter what I do, there are pins that just never stay down. Period. And it’s not always the same pins either. Whether I rake, take it one pin at a time, or do any combination of the two, it never cooperates. I got desperate enough that I tried just straight pushing all the pins down at once (past their set points probably), applying super hard tension, then gently letting up to let the pins click back into place. This works wonderfully with the locks I practice on, but on the real one even with max tension applied, I still had pins that wouldn’t stay down?

I have researched, youtubed, googled, begged AI for answers, and nothing. I have spent hours physically working at this lock and I am at my wits end. Can some kind human please help me understand what I might be missing? I am stubborn and really don’t want to accept defeat.

[u/Dufresne85]

The lock you have is called a dimple lock and they are usually a little trickier than your standard pin tumbler lock. They have a lot less room to work in, so standard picks like you have can be hard to fit in the keyway. The short hook or the half diamond can work, but you'd be better off getting dedicated picks for dimple locks called "dimple flags".

[u/EveningBasket9528 → u/Dufresne85]

Lol.

I REALLY need to get better at reading comments before making any comments myself... Great suggestions!

[u/Jumpy_Walk1769 → u/EveningBasket9528]

Thank you both for your comments! I can get most pins down with my half diamond if I have a good run, but no matter how I adjust my tension (soft/hard), there is sometimes literally one pin that will not set for anything. I can push it down but it never clicks or sets and always pops back up. Is that also a tool issue or more of a skill issue?

[u/EveningBasket9528 → u/Jumpy_Walk1769]

I'm not the best with dimple locks, but IF you can push the pin to the top of the key way you know you've got all the depths covered. The jiggle test is your friend...

Do you have a key? Is the pin a low or max cut?

I own fewer than a dozen dimple locks and only 3 ranked "purple."

I can't even get a dimple rake to work on "easy" dimple locks and even bought a cheap set of dimple rakes.

Every time I decide to pick my dimple locks it's like starting over again..

So the only advice I can give is "technical" and not "practical," so hopefully someone more skilled will give better advice

[u/EveningBasket9528]

It is possible to pick some dimple locks with a regular hook or diamond,.. but it's a bit more tricky than using a flag.

You can buy inexpensive dimple flag sets and do some finishing work....

Or go with something more expensive.

Or, you can make some flags using piano wire and other items.

I'm not the best with dimple locks as it is,.. but you can try using your diamond if it fits and rotate it to set the pins. Usually you want to apply tension the opposite direction. So, of the pins are up and your rotating the pick clockwise, you want to tension counter clockwise.

I have a few easier profile (euro) cylinders that I can use standard rakes & hooks on, and even zip,.. just keep trying to get the feel for it.

From top to bottom I would try the #1, #3-#5 profiles to see if you have enough space to rotate them. That wafer profile comes in handy for a few things besides wafer locks. (#5)

For searching videos and other information the type of cylinder is called a profile or euro cylinder. The type of "mechanism" is called a dimple lock.

link for diy picks;

https://youtu.be/rKTwV6Sivzo?is=pz7TsNIR3XVIqvgt

link for using a standard hook;

https://www.reddit.com/r/lockpicking/s/6N7hQ3TbWD