Schlage Wafers

by **GilbertGrape** » 1 Mar 2004 20:59

Hey everyone, im new to the site. I've been reading posts for a long time and decided to join in the fun!! I have a question regarding Schlage wafer locks. Does anyone know how they work and know where I could get some pictures and diagrams are? Thanks a bunch!

by **marso** » 1 Mar 2004 21:07

There is a thread on how wafer locks work which I have included below. Anyone have any idea if Schlage have included any nasty new features? Do they have fake settings?

viewtopic.php?t=1306

Gilgertgrape, welcome to the forum. Have you tried to pick this lock? What sort of feedback do you get from it ?

by **Chucklz** » 1 Mar 2004 22:16

Marso, the Schlage Wafer lock is very different beast than your average wafer lock. There are two keyways, that I know of, W and A. Keying is binary, ie there either Is or isnt a cut in a particular position. To pick, there is a nice set of tools, which consists of 4 keys and a pick wire. You insert the correct key , which is fairly easy, as there are only two possibile insertions, and only one will "click" in. I think that there is some retaining pin that may be pushed, kind of like on the Everest system. To do the picking, you just Insert the wire across the top of the key, and then draw it out while applying tension. Once you pull the wire all the way out, just fiddle a bit with tension, and it opens every time.

Unfortunately, I only have one Schlage wafer available to me, and thats on my back door. I would love to pull it out and see what the heck is going on, but I like having the unique lock there, so I am loathe to screw it up.

Anyone with info please post it.

by **GilbertGrape** » 1 Mar 2004 22:19

I'm not sure, from what i understand they arent your ordinary wafer locks. Schlage quit making these years ago for some reason...i think it was because of their ease of picking with these not-so-conventional tools

http://www.selfdefenseproductsinfo.com/schlage-wafer-pick-set.html

My school is about 50 years old and it has nothing but schlage locks and, not having ever seen one of these locks, i was wondering if these were it or not.

by **Chucklz** » 1 Mar 2004 22:24

Schlage wafer lock keys look as though they are double sided. the W keyway looks kinda like a w and the A keyway looks like -^- when viewed from the side. When I got my Schlage wafer picks, the keys would not fit into the lock. The reason being, that they were stamped out, not cut on actual blanks. Just a touch of file work on the tips, and they fit fine.

by **marso** » 1 Mar 2004 23:19

If it is a school I would think that it would be the Schlage pin tumbler lock so they can master key and so forth.

I know I am point out the obvious but the schools locks are not yours so do not even think about picking it

Just the default plea to new people. I know you have not mentioned it in your post, but normally people will jump as soon as they hear new person asking about a lock is not their own.

These locks sound interesting, I might have to track one down. Anyone able to take it apart and take photos I would greatly appreciate it.

by **Chucklz** » 2 Mar 2004 10:15

I think the Schlage wafer could have been masterkeyed, but I am not sure. For a number of years, these locks were very very hard to pick, so I can see how they could have been installed on a school. My spring break is coming up, so I will go home and poke around the lock. Unfortuantely I have no digital camera, so photos will be difficult.

by **GrEmLiN** » 2 Mar 2004 18:34

Question.. how the heck do you pronounce Schlage?

by **Chucklz** » 2 Mar 2004 18:40

Ahh, the age old question. In fact the answer is on the Schlage website.
http://consumer.schlage.com/

look in the upper left hand corner.

by **GrEmLiN** » 2 Mar 2004 18:42

Cool! Thanks.. sh-uh-lay-guh. schlage!

I am so smrt.

by **Chucklz** » 2 Mar 2004 18:48

If anyone else is interested, check out the alt.locksmithing archives, a lengthy discussion of this topic was done a few years ago.

{Edit} By this topic, I mean the pronounciation of Schlage.

by **CitySpider** » 2 Mar 2004 19:25

Looks like someone's having fun with the edit button. I'm jealous.

Just in case folks can't get it to play (it's a .aif file, which is kind of weird), it's "Shlayg."

by **GilbertGrape** » 15 Apr 2004 7:05

I know this is an old post of mine that no one probably watches anymore, but i just discovered something thats kinda exciting.

I've been looking around for these stupid locks FOREVER and I finally found some

I was talking to a friend when he whipped out his keys for something and i caught a glimpes of a funny looking key that i hadn't seen before. I questioned him on it and he said it was his house key. After staring at it for a second, i realized that it looked exactly like one of the key"blanks" that the schlage wafer pick uses (the "W" key, i dunno which type though) I offered to go and buy new locks for his house and install them for him if he let me keep the old ones. He hasnt said one way or the other yet, but i might have some that i can look at. If so, I can disassemble one of them and see how it differs from standard wafer locks. Im excited!!

by **NDE Bypass** » 13 May 2004 18:50

Chucklz wrote:I think the Schlage wafer could have been masterkeyed, but I am not sure. For a number of years, these locks were very very hard to pick, so I can see how they could have been installed on a school.

You are correct, if you need the exact bit of information I think I have it but for a simple explanation, there was a Master Wafer in the lock and this would allow for Masterkeying.

These locks had a reputation that they were hard to pick. That was partially due to Locksmiths believing Company Representatives from Schlage.

ESP and A-1 Security Manufacturing made the tools you speak of, I have a set of them as well. You also accurately described their use.

In a video, "B & E: A to Z: How to get in anywhere, anytime," there is a fellow in that video that uses this set of tools on a Schlage Wafer lock and it's easy as pie!

But the special pickset is not necessary to defeat the Schlage Wafer. All you have to do is rake both sides like a double-sided disc tumbler and it will pop. I saw Locksmith Ron Reed do this on video and tried it myself years ago and it worked like a charm.

by **xlr8ed1** » 24 May 2004 3:08

i have pulled hundreds of these shit tings apart
they stopped making them because you could use a screw driver
to open them (no im not joking - have done it myself) just poke a
flat blade in there and twist. Where i am from they pop up ALL the time
i just put new locks on instead.

They also pick real easy - so easy it is not really funny - abit sad in fact as these cost $$$$ when they first came on the market - but like all crap they soon went away

they used two key profiles a SH1 and SH2 (if using silca keys) miwa also make a key similar to them . The problem you may have with picking is due to the wide key way meaning a real fat tension tool is needed.

Why they are crap - as already stated there is either a cut or a no cut - hence not all wafers of the lock are sitting in a "locked" position some are already in the "picked" position. Now if you put the wrong key in then these 'picked' wafers would move to a locked postion. Hence all you have to do is give it a few gentle rakes and it is open as half the work is all ready done for you. This is beacuse your pick is not wide like a the key (hence not likely to disturb them in to a locked position) you can easily find the few wafers causing you grief - dont waste your time with them

Schlage Wafers

Schlage Wafers

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