The fact that you accidentally found the control shear and had to double back actually made it clearer in my mind.. That was very detailed and interesting thank you Bill.

Other than being a nifty tool, that's an amazing way of illustrating the tension / binding order for beginners. Thank you!

That probably wasn't the goal, but you visualized for me the first time how picking is really done. With traditional tools I never could see what happens.

Thank you Mr Li for creating such usefull tools! I've used the LW4 especially to make keys when customer just needed the key cut to code. Saved heaps of time rather than removing to decode.

This is the best lockpicking tutorial i have ever seen to be honest. Apart from the tension, you can actually SEE the pins click.

What a cool video and explanation! I’ve always been interested in the subject and hobby but never got into it, now years later here you are. Thank you for the great content. Happy Trails Everybody!

Thanks for all your hard work! You have positively changed the world of locks and lockpicking!

This video really gave me the insights needed to know how those locks and picking actually works.

I remember the first time I saw some of those, mind exploded! Great job on another great video

Bill because of you, my picking skills have increased greatly. you really are a great man. you help saved my small business.

I had the opportunity to use one of those at our local lockpicking meetup to open a car lock (Audi). They are FANTASTIC picks. Highly specialized, but fantastic. If I were a locksmith or car club I would get a ton of them.

Bill -- quite instructive with lots of interesting comments form many obviously experienced SFIC users -- thanks for showing us your method.

Fantastic video! I like them all but you did a great job explaining this very technical process. Thanks because I am just learning this as a hobby now that retirement is just around the corner. All the best to you and yours!

Great showcase of these products, thank you for showing them.

Wow, after watching hundreds of lockpicking and gutting videos, I just learned some new and very useful things here. Thank you, much appreciated.

Fascinating. I haven't started this picking journey yet. I have a lock collection that are missing keys. No picking tools yet but getting a basic understanding of binding/springiness on pins and tension. Watching that expensive tool with the markings and mapping the cylinder made so much more sense - I think I could do this.

That is a really interesting way to visually see the binding order.

Your use of BE2-6 really helped me see what is going on inside the lock cylinder. Just watching the usual picking process is hard to see the small movements of the pins. Thanks for that demo. That type of tool would be helpful on other demos.

Very cool! Those Lishi's sure are useful. Thanks for the demo Bill!

You will be missed sir! God bless you and your family. Thank you for all your knowledge you have shared. Much love and respect 🙏

That's a great tool to have in the kit for sure. Thank you Bill for the vid

that was a great video on a few different levels. thanks for the time and effort

Awesome video really missing bills videos since his retirement awesome guy hopefully he's enjoying life and thank you for all the videos over years and the info and advice.

Very nicely done Bill. I can pick a Best to either shear line but usually can’t chose which one. Their really good locks.

Just found this channel, heck of a first video to watch. Subscribed.

At first I was totally boggled, but as you began to follow that number scheme to actually pick it, the mud began to clear!! I'm very excited to see more using this tool, as it starts to clear up what's going on inside, where those details are hard to see as you pick it...WE don't get that feedback. Thanks for this! Lynn

in 2018, I bought a bag of idk 10 or 15 old Best SFIC (small format interchangeable) cores but they had no keys. I set about taking the pins out of each chamber in each cylinder and mic’ing each pin and wafer. I used the Best manual to determine the cut number for each shear line. It took forever but I had the time and the inclination to get these cores working and to learn some stuff about SFICs. I eventually ended up with a spreadsheet of all the wafer and pin sizes from each core. From that I was able to locate the operating, control and master sheer lines for each core… or so I hoped. So I called a nearby locksmith and got her to code cut me the control and master keys. When I went in to pick them up we got to talking about what I was doing. I showed her my bag of cores, Excel sheet, and explained what I had done to get the bitting for each key. So she had to know…would the keys work? Well they did! The locksmith was amazed and aksed if I had ever done any smithing before because she said it takes her years to teach that to apprentices. I said no, I’m just a giant nerd with too much time. Partly in gest, she offered me a job on the spot. I was honored but I told her now that this was done I would probably never do such a thing again. (haven’t) It was just a puzzle to me…although one that left me with a bunch of Best cores I now can use if I ever get a lock body for them.

I love those decoders, so finely made!

Great video BB. Thanks for the awesome information 👍

Very good review and tutorial mr. Bill! I have been interested in a few of these lishi picking tools but the cost has held me back.

The other Lishi pin tumbler picks were kinda neat, but these right here could save a lot of time!! Also possibly a lot of drilling too! - Well, I was wondering how many keyways that Lishi were going to make for the pin tumbler decoders for. Now we'll just have to see what's next... Thanks Bill, Stay awesome! 👍

Very awesome! Really cool they work on the sfic!!

Always learn something watching your videos :). I've been thinking about trying a Lishi out but the cost makes it hard to choose which one first. Great tutorial!

Those Lishi tools are awesome indeed. Absolutely fantastic tutorial Bill.

Wow this is a total game changer. Awesome demo & video as always Bill.

Those are some nifty tools! These remind me of my stint in artillery. In school, we learned to solve the aiming problems using slide rules, aiming squares, maps and pins. Later, in the Fleet, we got computers. We got the same result, just a bit quicker with the computer. Still, i like knowing the "primitive method" first, then the sleek new stuff. Gives one a fall back option.

I have been waiting for these to come out.

That seemed incredibly complex to me. Raked and opened my practice lock today for the first time. Have a lot to learn. Well done video.

Great video! I haven't even finished watching yet but it's very informative!

That's very nicely done, thanks Bill.

amazing source of knowledge as always

Great video, Bill! It gave me an idea for how to open a BEST that I've had sitting around. (Sadly I don't have one of those nifty tools and have to do it the old fashioned way)

Absolutely cool tool. Thank you!

I have a few of the pin tumbler Lishi's, and while I like them, some of the "cool factor polish" has come off.. Mostly I consider them just another tool in the tool bag.... Useful, but not necessary though they make life easier and decoding quicker... THESE though, could be SOMETHING of a gamechanger for commercial locksmiths.... I FREQUENTLY get commercial jobs, mostly retail where I have to pull a core to replace worn out hardware... Problem is, no one can find the control key... Usually, they don't even know what I'm talking about... Now most of those are on pretty massive masterkey systems, so yeah, it's still going to take a bit to decode, but it's gonna be a lot quicker than drilling the hardware for the lug, HOPEFULLY hitting it just right, pulling and dissembling the core, THEN decoding it, and repinning a new cylinder. The ONLY problem of course, is when the keyway isn't the A keyway... That's the most common, but loads of places use other keyways. That's when it's good to know the old way.

I never had any intention to pick locks but this tool... It just looks like something I MUST have.

This is actually helped me understand picking more.

Those Lishi tools really are something. If I had money I'd probably order all and any types they sell. But as I don't I guess I'll have to hope on winning them ;) Thanks for the great explanation. I haven't come across any SFIC locks but I find the principle highly interesting.

That tool is a game changer for sfic. Very nice demonstration. I imagine these particular lishi picks would have a great return on investment for locksmiths.

You make it look so easy sir. I love it.

I love my Lishi picks. Some of the 'best' tools I've ever invested in!

Just for kicks and giggles it would be interesting to see those in action on a lock that has serrated pins. To me these picks greatly enhance my visualization of what's going on in the lock and while I'm picking. I could imagine those would help in building your "feel" a little too, though their shape isn't the same as the normal picks you might use...

lol i remember when i first started getting into lock picking i had an old best lock that i didnt have keys to. And as i was picking i got it to turn a bit and then to my surprise the whole core came out. i never could get the core to go back in. i think i ended up throwing it away.

Lishi tools are awesome. We've been using them in the automotive side of locksmithing for years. They've made my job considerably easier. Super cool they are moving in to building keys. Lishi for building locks are roughly 3 to 4 times as much as an automotive lishi tool. Automotive lishi tools are anywhere from roughly $30 to $45 on average with some going higher. Either way lishi tools are amazing. Totally worth your money.

Handy tools and a very generous giveaway! Have I mentioned you're my hero and the single best youtuber on the planet?(did that improve my odds? 😆)

Great job, awesome tool!!!

I've been servicing Best SFIC for over 30 years, and the Lishi looks like a fantastic add to the arsenal. Unfortunately, I deal with about 9 different keyways, so this could get very expensive. Perhaps they'll make one with the "FM" keyway that does fit multiple keyways, which would help a lot!

Great video - cool little tool - thx for posting

Those look super handy. Pretty easy to use too, I would be interested just keeping one in my edc in case i get into a bind

Another informative vid , thx Bill

Coincidence, I just received some Best SFIC locks. Now your going to make me have to save up for the pair of Lishis.

That looks so much more easier than the conventional tools of lock picking. Great video. Differently subscribing to your channel.

You might consider a series of videos using one of the Lishi tools and a contact microphone, like used for horology, for training. This tool allows seeing what's going on inside and is a fantastic training aid.

Wow! That's a great education tool as well.

Great video I look forward to watching more.

"Whoa, it moved..." ahahaha, so unexpected 😅 Totally threw your education plan out the window 😆 Nice vid, good sir!

Note the allen wrench that comes with the LISHI allows you to move the tensioner part of the tool closer to the face of the plug which gives you more control and better feel -- that is the "Propper" way to use a Lishi

Wow, that’s really handy. I’ve got some old locks i pick that have replaceable cores. Maybe I’ll put them to good use.

I'll order one of these for the 7 pin best locks, i've got a ton of those. Should be a fun change. They never really interrested me but i'm in for something new

This giveaway was to nice for me to sign up for👍good luck to you all.✌️

Awesome tool!! Very good work.

Would love to see more of those decoding some of the harder pins

You may just train me to start picking, waiting on my first kit as we speak. Went with the wizwazzle and going to get a .015 kit soon after if I have the hand for it.

Way above my pay grade today,did learn something.

very cool bit of kit!

Really cool tool. great video

You've sold me on another product @Bosnianbill. Need those lishi picks in my life.

Great demonstration. I was wondering how these work.

I Iove your videos you explain everything very well and I I get excited seeing some of old strange locks Amazing would love to have a set trying to start a small Business. Love the craft my ex girlfriends uncl taught me a few things in Florida. And ever since I’ve been hooked now I’m moved back to New York I want to start a Small handyman’s company and this would be perfect for a small veteran owned company.

I've been wanting a Lishi pick for a while, but didn't have the funds. I have my fingers & toes crossed for this one.

Geez bill didn’t even get to play with them and now your giving them away you are incredibly generous have a great weekend and stay warm in this nasty weather.

LMAO! You must have been watching me through my webcam, Yep they were glazed, but this amazing video snapped me out.

These Lishi tools, given very minimal training, are easy to use and work great. They're absolutely a GREAT investment. It's expensive, but worth it to anyone working with Stanley/Best locks. The only downside, it only works with the A keyway.

Love the videos Bill, would love to see if you could find an OBD-ii lock worth a dang.

I have never gotten so lucky to accidently pick to the shear line 😃 I think that is skill Mr Bill. But then again the Best locks I played with also have master pins in them. I never had any luck with the special tension wrenches made to pick the control line.

I've been trying to pick this best lock as my 2nd lock ever and now seeing I need this makes sense. I didn't really understand but I need more practice.

Thank you again for a great video

Nice vid, great pick, I have a best I could use that one on, got it open but not to control.

Great Video. Wish the lishi best 2n1 came with an interchangeable keyway. I have a bunch of keyless best padlocks with a b keyway so I’ll have to wait.

Super cool to watch. Thanks for sharing. I have 10 E core Best padlocks of unknown vintage ( I believe 1950s) and only 2 keys. It would be neat to decode them and have a control key. I'm willing to bet, based on where they came from, that the keys I have are master keys and that there are operator keys out there.

I wish the picks were more modular so instead of buying a new pick for each keyway you could buy a different end. Fascinating tool nonetheless

I've seen this before... Trying to remember BB or LPL... Also accidentally picked the control key... BB I think you did this before, or it's an extreme case of deja vu - literally - my memory going back months ago. I recall, how sweet these picks are and how I will never be able to own one... - YES - Well, kind of... It was 1554, 1463, where you reviewed the picks, but was LPL that accidentally picked the control key and pulled out the core... So we know when you are picking removable core locks, it's sometimes easer to tackle the control shear.

Spent 25 years working for a telephone company that used Best changeable core locks on just about everything, and in several different keyways. During strikes or if we discovered a security problem we would do mass core changes on some or all sets (trust me that was one Hell of a lot of locks). Most cores were master keyed (keys labeled 2, 4, 6, and 8 with "8" being the highest master level, and of course "C" control keys. A typical marking on the key would be "DX" on one line and below it the key level, for example "2" for a limited location contractor key. I really enjoyed learning about those locks when I worked there (I was an engineer with "8" keys for two states), and those little Lishi tools are fascinating. (Would have been a lot of fun to play with.) One thing I did notice on all of our company keys I had a chance to examine is the tremendous amount of planning that went into the system. For example, in any of the series, the lower level keys could not be simply filed down to a higher master level as the lower level keys always had at least one position cut deeper than any key number above it. :) Thanks for a great video!

Terrific explanation!

I have a Best lock that was left on a lawn mower that I purchased new a couple of years ago. I didn't find the lock until after I had been using the mower for a full season so I just kept it. I never could pick the thing so that little tool would be just the thing to try out, but I just cannot in any way justify spending that much money just to get that one lock open. So, here's hoping for a nice little surprise in my inbox when this giveaway is over. :)

those clicks are immensely satisfying

Cool device for working with locks without keys to change out the core to the one you have a key for.

Maybe it's the camera angle but it looked like you were writing down the wrong numbers... consistently.

Very cool! It’l be interesting to see if lishi creates one for the pks series. If you don’t want the old core, I am interested in it.

Very educational! Nice!

Now THAT's a proper specialty tool. One purpose and expensive the way it should be 😁