Alternative Designs
Project Kruger started as a method for increasing the tactile sensation available to a person while using lockpicks. A standard lockpick only gives a small surface area that comes in contact with the sensitive pads of the fingers. The design of Project Kruger increases this to the entire fingertip and further increases sensation by running metal leads down the finger. This, in theory, should allow the whole finger to feel what is going on inside of the lock. Coupled with the idea that the pick is now an extension of the finger of the user and can be manipulated much easier than a standard pick should increase opening success on difficult locks. I did this design to emphasize that you don’t need an engineering background to start coming up with new ideas. This design, while different, has proven effective in opening standard locks found in most American applications.
A second idea with the design is that this pick can be used by people who have some form of disability or injury. The design could be incorporated into a hand harness, and using something in this method could help the recently disabled to increase their finite motor skills. After all, opening a lock requires precision movements which not all physical therapy intends to restore. Most therapy intends to give basic skill, but practicing with this would help hone skills to a very effective level. (I realize this is an idealistic statement.)
Finished Torsion
The thumb mounted torsion tool is a little more suspect in its usability either for standard or rehabilitative methods. During initial testing I have found that the device is not quite as effective as I had hoped, and I placed the torsion tool too close to the thumb. This requires the thumb to be over the lock and can get in the way of picking efforts. While the initial design is not quite right, this still could be a useful alternative where direct pressure from the thumb replaces the torsion and is more of just a forward force.
The main difficulty in constructing the prototypes has been with the method of connecting metal. While copper and brass will solder quite easily, the material used is not all the same type and is causing problems with getting the solder to form a proper bond while getting the metal to a good temperature. I am going to work on some other methods of joining the metals in the future. A cleaner build which should increase sensation instead of using an industrial epoxy like in this version which I suspect is absorbing a fair amount of the feedback from the pick tip.
Semi-Tourniquet
I am also concerned with the current tie that keeps the pick in place on the finger. This tends to get overly tightened and can cause the reverse of what I intend by the rig cutting off circulation to the finger. Initial fit testing showed a bit of creativity needed when securing the rig to a finger. After doing some testing while in the Lockpick Village at DefCon, I found that I should probably widen the leads running down the finger to about twice what they are now. That would help keep the rig steady. I was able to open a few locks with the pick, much to the suprise of some spectators. There was a good feel, but as I suspected it will take some time to get used to using something like this.
Build Process
This project used:
- windshield wiper inserts
- a thumbtack
- a large hook lockpick (something I never use)
- some ribbon
- solder
- JB-Kwik
Rough Tip Shaping
I took the large hook and shaped the tip to a more useful shape and then polished the tip.
Joined Tip
I then joined the tip to the thumbtack with solder and ground off the actual tack part.
A little blurry, but this is the slit
Tip inserted through slit
One of the wiper inserts is a full bend with a slit cut through the center for the pick to slide in, and the other one is cut into two parts which mount on either side of the pick tip. There is a slit on one of the inserts on each of the rigs that allows the ribbon to be threaded as well. As finished pictures are above, no need to put more down here. If you want to see more detailed photos or have questions let me know.
