Bumpkeys Rererevisited (Sorry for any redundancy)

[Mr. Glass]

Hello Everyone.

(Firstoff, I want to appologize for the redundancy in talking about bump key related issues that may have already been discussed.)

After years of picking, I am finally jumping onto the bump key craze. The other night I attempted to make a bump key using a KW1 blank, but was unsuccessful. I had no problem reaching the proper depth but ran into trouble with correct horrizontal bitting.

My first question is this:

Is there (on this site or anywhere else) somewhere where I can get bump key templates for common blanks? [It would be fantastic to get a set of templates for all the SFIC blanks as well, as I inherited loads of them when my church made the switch to medico, but I would still be very happy with a basic set.]

(When duplicating a regular key by hand, I prefer to make a photocopy of the original, then use a gluestick to attach the image onto the blank, and cut away the white spaces from there.) I have had great success with this technique and feel that I would be able to make much better bump keys if I could use the same process.

(Btw, I also tried having bump keys cut locally, but was met only with refusal and sometimes real harshness by just about all ten of the lockies I contacted.)

My second question is:

What do you guys like to use to "bump" your keys? I read about the tomahawk kinetic energy tool in the toool bumping PDF. Is this something designed specifically for bumping or does it have an alterior purpose? Another device being used in some of the toool videos looked a little bit different appeared to possibly be homemade. If you have any suggestions for that route, I am all for saving money.


Thank you to everyone who has had the patience to trudge all the way through this long-winded post. I look very forward to your feedback and advice!

[PickPick]

The tomahawk was made specifically for bumping. If you want to use something else, try something springy with a weight on the end. A sap might work

[ComTech]

If you are interested in making a bump hammer, here's how I made one.

The head is made from a plastic wood splitting wedge purchased from Northern Tools for about $5.00. Take a hack saw and cut a square off the thick end, you can easily make 2 and have most of the wedge left.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p112 ... /wedge.jpg
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p112 ... memade.jpg
I went to Lowe's and bought a 8"x10" sheet of lexan plastic, located in the glass replacement section of windows and doors.
It cost about $3.00, I put it on a tablesaw and cut a strip about 1" wide, cutting length wise. You can easily get 6 handles out of one sheet of lexan.

Then I heated the end with a heat gun and bent a 90 degree bend about 3/4" from the end, then heated it again and made a 45 bend about 3/4" from the first bend. photo at
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p112 ... handle.jpg
The homemade one works good.

[zeke79]

Nice work ComTech.

[Shrub]

You dont need or use templates for bum keys,

You need a set of depth and space charts

[Eyes_Only]

Templates for bump keys, lol. Thats just sad.

[freakparade3]

If you go here www.bumpkeyforum.com they have alot of information about bumping.

[Mr. Glass]

Alright alright, I see now that I have posted quite the newbie thread. The reason that I would prefer to use an actual template rather than just my space charts is because I sometimes have trouble lining up my bitting horizontally with where the pins hit the key. Does anybody have some advice to remedy this?

Also, is there somewhere (on LP101 or off) that I can get a prinout of SFIC key space charts? I figure I could just print them out and glue them on to cardboard of cut them out of metal.