Locksmith - Unbranded Carina Heights, Queensland, Australia
By GadgetJack on 27-Sep-16. Waypoint GC6TM53

This afternoon, I decided to take a visit to Whites Hill Recreation Reserve, and target the recently published *2 Rekt 2 Furious* Adventure Lab. I parked on the northern side of the reserve on Citrine Street, and proceeded on foot with a mix of staying on tracks, and jogging through the scrub. Despite having visited this area a few times before, it didn't look familiar until towards the end of my session. I visited the five *2 Rekt 2 Furious* Locations from west to east, before making a loop of the reserve, and then returning to my vehicle as light began to diminish.

I was making my way around this bushland this evening when I remembered that this archived cache was still here. Hence, as I was jogging past, I stopped and I was surprised to find that this cache was still in good nick! I started to use my lockpicking TOTTs until realising that the cache had previously been sabotaged, and so they weren't required in the end. The cache container and logbook were in good shape, and so it was a shame to see this cache go due to its functional issue. Thanks GadgetJack for the cache placement. Hopefully I see more of your work in the future!

After a seeming resurgence of finds after having forgotten I hadn’t disposed of the cache (and that I was still a cache owner in general) I find myself needing to ask that you do not log a find on this cache as the DT rating is no longer valid. I will be making an effort to recycle the cache in the near future so please do not continue claiming you have found this cache as the puzzle aspect is not functioning and you are not experiencing the thrill which I intended you have when the lock finally clicks open.

Thanks to all who found the cache during its service - building these things gave me great joy.

After a CITO and morning tea nearby a small group of cachers set off in search of more smilies. Found this one on the way so added our names to the log. Tftc GadgetJack.

Out of the blue we came across this one while looking for something else. "Thems the breaks"!

Cache is still there, and a little repair would have made it OK again. Log sheet was dry so we added our names to it.

I had not found an archived cache for some time so it was interesting to find one and not know the name of it. All sorted now.

TFTCache GadgetJack

Cache is damaged and I’m unable to provide replacement. Thanks all for finding it while it lasted.

Came in to check some coords for Fork in the Path, which we had found 2 years ago but not recorded the details for posterity, & decided we best take a crack at the two caches in here that were still unfound by us.

We were looking forward to the challenge here only to find the cache damaged & now a D1 at best.
Apparently the damage occurred sometime back between mid April & late June.
A little TLC from the CO to restore this to it's former glory would be appreciated.
Made our mark & replaced as found.

TFTC GadgetJack

Cache outer has been damaged to the point where the cache no longer meets it's D/T rating.
Disappointing, perhaps a CO visit could rectify?

Out for some caching fun with Brislions. Next, we headed tot his cache. The cache was quickly located. Brislions carried out some quick manoeuvres and we were soon adding our names to the log. TFTC

I was out with Selva Girls today caching Southside of Brisbane. We found 10 traditional 2 mystery and a Letterbox to make 13 finds. After reading the log on this one we had to change our plans to grab this one. And on the way home got 2 FTF. We had a good day out.
*TFTC* GadgetJack. *Find* 3705

I borrowed a friend with the right tools and skill set and went in at dark to have a go. It took a bit of picking but we got there in the end. Signed the log and went for a night bush walk.

Thanks Gadjetjack, glad to have this one converted to a smilie.

Out for a bonus swing around the Southside hills, with oz_bean_counter collecting smilies all day. This was literally on our pathway today, and reading some previous logs we found we had the ability to open this one up OK. Unlikely that would have been the case otherwise, but I'll take it.

Thanks GadgetJack for entertaining me at this location.
*{Overall find #7869}*

One of the 26 caches / labs for the day, out on an epic caching adventure with Pprime to celebrate his 1000th puzzle cache.

This one was on my radar because it was nearby to a target lab cache for the day - the hills of the southside series, and it contributes towards my third DT loop. At GZ, we made a very rapid find and had the cache in hand within a few seconds. Unfortunately the lock is indeed damaged and lock picking is no longer required. Log signing duties completed, we returned the cache as found. Lovely GZ, well worthy of a visit. We continued up the hill - this would be a theme for the day.

TFTC and TB visit x2

We hadn’t read the previous logs and had already picked the lock before realising the security had been breached on this one. Kinda glad for that as it would have taken away from the fun element of the gadget. Glad to know it wasn’t our doing though, and we signed the log. Returned as it was, there is no risk of the inner container falling out. Cool use of that too - love the recycling aspect . Thanks for another great cache in this beautiful spot. Would have liked more time to enjoy a good walk through here but we had a flat tire to fix.

Out today to continue a couple of challenges which are, a traditional a day and a cache a day. Today I was also looking at completing the date placed grid and a couple of other target caches. With just 2 dates left on my grid I had grabbed those earlier but now it was an oldie, so I headed over to Whites Mountain to grab the oldie and a few others.

This was my sixth cache in this area and the first of the 3 puzzles on the hill. I found the cache very easily and got some funny looks from people as they passed to see what I was doing. I tried picking the lock for about 20 minutes with what felt like watching the icons coming down on a pokie machine, yes, yes, yes, no and disappointment. Then as I moved the cache around the item fell out. I saw that someone has damaged the cache and the lock can be removed now. With the log signed and replaced I tried to make it so it still requires the lock to be picked but I don’t think it will last in the current condition. Log was all nice and dry. With the log signed and cache replaced as found I was off to grab another around this area. Thanks for placing this one here and maintaining it.

COVID-19 adventures -we found the cache but our lock picking skills are not up to scratch

This was our second 'lock' of the day and thought this would be easier than the previous one but it actually took well over an hour and even had a muggle trying his luck for us. Tenkae finally cracked it and I couldn't help but do a happy dance as it was starting to get dark and we didn't want to leave empty handed.
Lots of activity in this area due to very popular walking trails, well worth the effort here and well done CO, a favourite point from me.

TFTC GadgetJack
Found January 11, 2020

Saw a lot while picking this lock. There was a boy who nearly passed out after his mountain bike ride down the hill, koala watchers who spotted a koala near gz, another boy with two dogs who turned around when he saw the snake across the road, a curious muggle who tried to help. We even had time to watch the tutorial on you tube!
An hour and a half later - a smiley!
TFTC GadgetJack. Thanks for placing this cache for our enjoyment.

Cheers, E

Nice easy hour and a half to pick this lock, haha.. but in our defence we aren't criminals and had to battle hoop snakes and drop bears. Love this idea, tftc

This cache - unlike the first one I came to check on - was still intact with exception to the lock. I have replaced the lock with one of the same difficulty - or lack thereof. Good luck everyone!

Nice quick find and was about to have a run at it but had the bejesus scared out of me when a living 8 legged cache guardian appeared and the lock magically popped open. Log signed and replaced. TFTC GadgetJack

As per the recent logs on this one, it appears that an unbranded lock is truly not the way to go when securing belongings and evidently geocache logbooks. I will be disabling this cache until I have the opportunity to replace the lock and restore the D/T rating. Thanks to all who have enjoyed picking the old lock, a new one will be back soon.

This lock was very easy to open.. so easy in fact that it turned out I didn’t need any of the tools I’ve been practicing with.. A great idea, and a great hiding place! I will bring a new lock if I pass by this way again

Lock is opening and closing but it is broken and can be opened with a firm pull.

School's back so time for a caching day with nikid1 - yay! This was our third cache of the day & didn't like our chances at lockpicking as we are well behaved citizens of good standing but you gotta do what's required to get a smiley! The more dubious of the two of us attempted the picking & luckily for us I think that at this point in time this was way easier than it's meant to be... woo hoo. A quick sign of the log & onto the next one.
TFTC GadgetJack

We were walking past here and KerriMG suggested we should try unlocking this cache (damn I didn’t bring my bobby pin as I’ve watched plenty of movies and seen all you need to do is wobble a bobby pin and bingo!)
Well I looked through my bag a found something pointy. Put that into the lock and bingo just as good as a bobby pin!
Thanks for the fun GadgetJack

Burgo78 asked if I had the lockpicks in the car, always!
At GC it was B that did the heavy lifting.
Log signed and all returned as found.
Like the simplicity of these caches
R

After spending the last couple of days around Brissy for a work conference I met up with Karicka this evening to find a couple and to look for some spot to hide.
Quickly into the lock here as it appears that only 1 pin is holding it in place.
Thanks for the fun challenge in a scenic spot.

After finding the other cache like this one, we were only too eager to put our new break and enter skills to the test again. We took the nice stroll in and saw all the kids playing soccer and the parents watching and thought to ourselves 'Thank god, those days are over for us!'

Arriving at GZ the tolls of the trade were pulled out and Mr 4ando thought he was now a master at this business and missed his calling of being a locksmith, until when I was doing it up realised that this one may just of had a bit too much fiddling with it in the past. Log was signed and we put it back together before heading off.

Tftc GadgetJack

Lock cache #2. Sweet, this one’s not in a tree Nice walk through the Bush, no muggles () or koalas () spotted, and cache quickly found. I opened this lock quicker than expected, perhaps the padlock is generally loose from all the abuse it gets from geocachers . Log signed, inner cache replaced and padlock closed. TFTC!

Awesome, here it was. Quick look around, signed the log and off to the next.
My 174th find.
TFTC, GadgetJack

I'll be in Brisbane in about 2 weeks - the main reason is to go in a Donkey Kong competition - so I am of course sussing out the local caches. There is a similar cache in Sydney - ["Window on the world " (GC57QY8)](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC57QY8_window-on-the-world) - which I bought a cheap lockpick set for, and I very much enjoyed the cache. So for the record I am looking at bringing up a pick or two for the sole purpose of the two Brisbane Locksmith caches (I'd be anxious if I didn't mention this somewhere). Cheers all!

This cache was being specifically targeted as it helped us with some caching stats. Upon arriving at GZ we soon found where the cache was hidden.
I’ve done a few caches over the years along a similar theme so felt I had the necessary skill needed. Our caching toolkit came out and it didn’t take too long before I had the log book in hand.
Thanks for the cache and for the fun it was.

I have to admit I am very impressed with TeamARF's lock picking skills. Had that thing cracked in seconds! Great little walk to GZ and good hide! TFTC

With days of lock-picking practice under the belt and a failure due to muggles n mutts at the Master site, I was keen to test my skill on this lock.

The story started when I borrowed a set of picks. With obviously the wrong technique, I broke a 'fav' pick of the borrowers and had to replace it with said pick from a new set of lock picks.

My first experience with lock picking was one of embarrassment. From there I went to frustration, tedium and boredom. Then I cracked the practice lock, which resulted in elation and excitement. So last night I managed to crack a commercial lock for the first time. I'm now ready for my first real test - anticipation!! With my lock picking at a plateau I've also invented the new set of the seven dwarfs ie embarrassment, frustration etc.

Finding the park full of junior sporting muggles, parking was at a premium. Managed to snag a spot close to the trails. Dragged along a heap of tools and other weapons of war ready for the challenge. At GZ failed to spot the container quickly. So doing the GPS circular foot step, came across the container just where it was suppose to be. Out came the tools, priming myself for a long stay if needed. To my utter dismay I had the lock opened in less than 5 secs. And for good measure managed to open it quickly and 3/4 times.

Even though I got frustrated with trying to open the locks at home, what a buzz it was to open this lock in the field. Happy to pay up with a FP for a great challenge GadgetJack.

I had a few hours free this morning after dropping CrookedEm to work and decided to break out the lock picks and other assorted Tools of the Trade and venture to the southside collecting a few gadget caches.

Second lock picking cache today. A little harder that the master cousin, only by virtue of the lock position, making it a bit harder to apply tension. No problems though.

On the way back to the car, I an into some muggle friends walking a dog, who queried my presence on the south side carrying a bicycle pump and lock picks down a path. I explained geocaching and pointed out the location of this cache. With my lock picks in their hand they soon sent me a photo of the open lock!

Thanks GadgetJack

Pete

#4,918

2/2 from the locksmith adventure today. With a light shower and a swarm of mossies cheering us on it was muddy, slip slide adventure up to the cache. Imbunda’s son found it before the geocachers caught up . An easier lock to pop this time it was no time before we were signing the cache and planning our next adventure! Tftc ️

Second of the Locksmith caches on our list for today. Chasingadventure and my son and I set of in another Mossie infested area to try our luck once again. Mark had the lock unlocked before I could get up the hill as we were looking for a well renowned fork on the way. Signatures left and cache replaced as found. TFTC

This was one we had looked at before but had not tools and did not think a bobby pin would cut it. Recently we made budget purchase on eBay and came armed with the tools today. We have done a few of these before and was pleased to remember our questionable skills to gain entry and as our name to the log. TFTC

I acquired a pick lock set last year and set about practicing for the Breaking Bad Geo-art series in Townsville. Nailed that one in about 5 mins. I haven’t touched my kit since as I lent them to Ardom for him to practice. So whilst we added the two lock pick caches to our list today I wasn’t too sure how we would go. Arriving at this cache there was a muggle standing right there! We had a small chit chat as she waited for her partner to run up and the down the massive hill! Then we set to work, Ardom had an unsuccessful crack at it then it was my turn. Before long and we heard the happy sound and the log was signed. Even better than cracking the lock we had a downhill walk back to the car! Leaving a favourite point for you!

I finally return lockpicking tools to JACS this morning, so we had to pick a lock or two while they were in the car! I attempted, failed, the JACS demonstrated how to do it! TFTC.

It's a family tradition (since my parents got old, anyway - for the past few years) to go to "the club" (Easts) for dinner on Thursday night. This time, I'm visiting Brisbane for a whole month and have a long list of caches I hope to log while here - some to fill gaps in my charts and some for challenges I'm working on. Mr STW isn't over yet, so I'm trying to coopt other family members to join me on some of my caching adventures, and the obvious accomplice for this one was ArchMonkey.
We met at the club and had dinner then a coffee, found the Master lock, then made our way to this one. After looking for a few minutes in the wrong place, we consulted the map and decided we should be looking on the other side of the track, and once we moved to the right area, we located the cache quickly. ArchMonkey made it look easy- this lock also took the monkey less than 30 seconds to crack. Thanks for a fun and novel cache - we both loved this cache, the concept and the wonderful park.
As well as filling a spot in my DT chart, it fills a missing requirement for the 8 days a week challenge (and we did find it on a Thursday, even though I appear to be a bit tardy in logging my find!)

Good cache. Easy lock. A new picker could learn to pick this one with a bit of YouTube training.

Good cache. Easy lock

Found it. I didn't know we had a black sheep in the family (Aussie Clarke) kept waiting for a tap on the shoulder from the local constabulary.
TFTC

Arrived down from the periscope with the apprentice in crime "Aussie Pete".

Area quiet mid morning so a chance to brush up on our skills. Had read previous logs so had the necessary gear to open up this puppy.

A squirt of WD-40 on the hasp, a check of the keyway, Aussie Pete holding the instruments and the operation commenced. In a short time the patient was opened up so we made our marks before closing the patient and applying a generous quantity of the above anesthetic.

**TFTC_Gadgetjack**
and for reminding us that these skills are still in demand. Must remember not to open the geomobile this way as it triggers the alarm.

Today I remembered to take some tools with me. Thankfully, I managed to open it within 2 minutes of fiddling and had signed the log when I heard a big group approaching. Much to my surprise, closing the lock again was much harder... A puff of WD40 won't probably do any harm.
TFTC

Hats off to dahumbug for having the magic touch with this unrelenting beasty!
A great day to be out and about with both him and 1MinnieMoo.

Thanks for another tricky cache Gadgetjack

30/1/18, 12:30 pm Find #139
Having had success at the other cache in this series courtesy of NyssaFlutterby's talents, it was only obvious we had to head here next. I guess cockiness had hit me a little as I thought this would be a walk in the park for Nyssa after the last one, but upon arriving at GZ we realised it may not be so easy because of the particular position the lock had been replaced in, not to mention the lock itself seemed to have seen better days. Some significant fiddling by both Nyssa and I returned no results, so it was time to hand over to dahumbug, who amazed the pair of us with his particular technique, having the lock open with ease.
Thanks for the cache GadgetJack.

After early success on the sister cache of this one, we were running on confidence and thought we would have a crack at this one. Nyssa and MinnieMoo tried very dilligently to open this one but in the end my skills from a previous life came in handy. Thanks for the invite ladies.

Thanks for the Field Puzzle Gadgetjack

A trip South of the river to visit the Darkside has been on the cards for a while. Along with a target cache with a particular DT we're after, there were also plenty of solved puzzles, older caches and Earthcaches to find. At the 11th hour Slow Puncture agreed to join me for some good company and laughs aplenty.

Between trips into the bush to look for the other elusive puzzle nearby, I broke out my crappy ebay special lock pick tools for this one. After a short youtube video and some practice convinced me I had sufficient skills to perform the shady arts, I was now getting a bit dubious that this stiff and rusty lock would be pickable, well by me at least.

After waiting out some dogwalking muggles, I set about the business at hand, and was extremely surprised when the bugger popped open within a minute . Hurrah! Log signed, and we were off to the next gadget .

Thanks **GadgetJack** for bringing us here, this find makes #3713. Discover our trackable TGQNRV.

2446

Tuesday. Mr Slow Puncture and Orange Crew were at the dark side today picking up some long-solved puzzles and and other targeted caches.

A quiet walk into White's Hill Reserve was only punctuated by other walkers, of which there were a few! I watched in admiration as my caching partner expertly opened the cache using his TOOT. In case that is at all unclear, I mean tools of the trade. Someday I might have a little job for him!

This was the 3rd of 20 caches found on today's trip.

Thanks ***GadgetJack***, for showing us this place.

Quick and easy find, unfortunately no lock picking expertise. Will come back another time to open

First mystery one solved

I heard about this cache on the grape vine a while ago and have been busting to get up here since. It's not exactly in my back yard so it's takin awhile. I was catching up with another cacher for a caching day later on so I left home bright and early to give myself enough time to have a good crack. I have done a bit of this in my job but not for a long time, I still have some tools at work but of course I couldn't find old faithful.
The area was pretty quiet really which was great but not long after arriving at GZ, the walkers started. Easily ten or more people came past which I managed to spot from a distance and not get busted but it wasn't easy. I could feel it wanted to turn but it just didn't want to go that last little bit. After half hour or so I figured a walk to another nearby cache might be a good idea and I'd stop again on the way back. One of my tools was a little thick so on the way to the other cache and back I was rubbing it on a piece of blue metal rock to try and thin it down a bit. Harden steel isn't easy to wear down but it looked better.
So I stop in again on the way back, giving myself another 15 minutes before having to leave. Not long after I started a rainbow lorikeet flew in and landed on a stump on the other side of the track. He stayed there the whole time like he was waiting for it to open but a few minutes before it did he took off. I was about to do the same when I decided to put a few drops of water in the keyhole.
A few more minutes and it finally turned, omg, I couldn't believe, boy that was tough.
I was happy to see a nice clean log sheet, almost felt like a ftf.
A favorite for sure GJ, always nice to find something different.
Cheers

With our success at the Master we decided to give this one a go. A short walk and the cache was soon located. We had not even started our attempt when we were accosted by a local from the land care group. He was concerned that we were up to no good.

No Sir. Just picking a lock. Perfectly legitimate activity. The gent hung around for a while and we explained geocaching to him. He offered helpful hints, but the lock remained closed.

Today, teamdfl and myself, have planned a BIG day geocaching around this part of Brisbane with a few target caches planned and finding a few others as we go along.
We had our first find around 7 am and our last find was about 4 pm with approximately 20+ finds for me.
With both of us having cached around here before we sometimes had the case of this cache is for me and that cache is for you.
This one was a target cache.
teamdfl brought the 'tools' needed but I got the job of using them. A search onto youtube and now I have some sort of idea how to use them. Well sort of. Well I did also open another nearby cache before this one.
Unfortunately this lock proved a bit more difficult and after almost an hour we gave up.

3/10/2016, 5:12 PM Find #1328 *FTF*

Joint FTF with RidgyPidge and Ms Maddy

I was sitting at home on a wet public holiday logging yesterday's caches. What else do you do on a rainy Monday afternoon? Oh, what's this? GadgetJack has a new cache out. It's a lock pick. Hmm. Who do I know who can pick locks? Ms Maddy springs to mind. I shot her a message. She's out getting groceries but after a bit of wheedling she agrees to meet me in 30min.

It's not really raining when we arrive and, after a short walk, we rock up at GZ. Ms Maddy gets to work and, a short while later, she's still working on it. A really amazing number of muggles come running or walking past with their kids and their dogs. They do know it's raining right?

After an hour or so of alternately taking turns trying different methods, googling different methods and leaning nonchalantly against posts as muggles pass, we are still no closer to access when RidgyPidge turns up. He gets to work with his own tools while we give him helpful advice. And soon enough he has it open. I'm sure he must have pulled out the key when we weren't looking.

TFTC Gadgetjack. It was a lot of fun. A favourite point from me

Joint FTF with Ms Maddy and Vennfamily @ 5;12pm log to follow

**FTF** (Joint) with Ms Maddy and vennfamily
This was a hard lock to crack in the rain! Sorry Gadgetjack the log sheet is now rather damp
Really enjoyed doing this one and meeting up with fellow cachers
TFTC and a well deserved FP coming your way Gadgetjack

Joint *FTF* with Ridgypidge and Vennfamily on a rainy afternoon...

What can I say? Sore and tired from the Mt Warning trek yesterday. Out buying cream (for my ) and kibble for the purrgirls. An SMS from Vennfamily... wanna pick a padlock? Dumped some stuff in the fridge and grabbed the toolkit.

Well... ! Hoping never to encounter a cheap Unbranded padlock again as it nearly did my head in. Rain was annoying but not heavy. HEAPS of runners, walkers, and dogs. Hey it's raining! Difficult to tell how long we loitered as the muggley (and doggy) interruptions were chronic Guessing at least 30 minutes picking and/or raking a piece. Maybe more time for me.

Then along came RidgyPidge and he went at with his tools. Same as my tools but blue

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