Schlage SC1 bump key Q&A's

[Squelchtone]

I see a lot of ppl get shunned from this forum for asking questions that sound criminally intent.

Then the moderators and I can high five each other for doing a good job. If we stop 10 criminals from learning, and we happen to offend 1 or 2 people who don't realize that their particular question or situation raised a bunch of flags, then I can live with those numbers and all due apologies to anyone who gets butt hurt by our questions.

At least you wrote a decent reply and explained things and stuck around. Some people just leave in a huff and tell us to delete their accounts and get all upset that we dared question their intentions. I can't make everybody happy, just doing the best I can.

peace,
Squelchtone

[radical rob]

For everyone curious why I wanted to make my own SC1 bump key. Here is a pic of my schlage cores I am struggling with link is at the bottom of this, I tried posting with imageshack but too difficult for me to understand but imgur is awesomely easy to upload and navigate.

[pickmonger]

I don't know if this is of any help but this thread has some measurements of a few bumpkeys.

Click on the image of the key for a larger image.

http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=61151&p=450922&hilit=diytds#p450922

[cledry]

One of our employees that is really good at bumping locks doesn't just use a 9 depth. He also has 8 depth and 7 depth. If he can't get it with the 9 after a minute or two he switches to the 8 and so on. Seems to work for him. He sometimes bumps 50 locks in a day at work. We get a load of office trailers to rekey, all levers with no keys. He goes through them quickly.

[stratmando]

Like Mentioned, Schlages you're having problem with may have spools or other Security Pins, Tolerances are tighter. Should be able to pick them after getting to Carnegie Hall, Squelchtone has good points, Shimming sure is the way, and are cheap.
You remove all things off Cylinder/plug so you can push a shim through the back, as it hits each pin, lift from the front with a hook, diamond til shim goes to next pin, lift that pin til shim goes through that shear line, when past all pins, use a plug follower to remove core, determine cuts with depth Keys or pin to an existing key. Great for putting lock to use that have no keys.
Later A Locksmith Buddy mentioned using a Blank Key, Schools teach that. I learned as a kid, never though of that, Good Luck

John Wayne also said, "Life's Tough, it's Tougher when you're Stupid"

[GWiens2001]

As for getting the last pin to set or shimmed there may be security pins.

Gordon

[GWiens2001]

The way I shim a core is slightly different than the way mentioned above. I use a blank, or a pick to lift the pins all the way to the top of the keyway. Gradually pull out the blank while trying to insert the shim. That way even if there are any security pins, you will shim the shear line before the security pins are able to affect the shimming.

Doing it the other way can cause issues with trying to shim the middle of a spool pin. Keep pressing up the pin and you deform the shim.

Gordon

[stratmando]

The way I shim a core is slightly different than the way mentioned above. I use a blank, or a pick to lift the pins all the way to the top of the keyway. Gradually pull out the blank while trying to insert the shim. That way even if there are any security pins, you will shim the shear line before the security pins are able to affect the shimming.

Doing it the other way can cause issues with trying to shim the middle of a spool pin. Keep pressing up the pin and you deform the shim.

Gordon

Agreed, I mentioned the Blank Method, with no training, just tinkering, The Diamond Worked, this was since the Seventies, Used a Diamond for everything, Only started SPP maybe the last 10 years. Did OK for for just a Diamond.
I also had a Double Diamond(double half diamond?) Can't find them anywhere now, Pick my first Medeco with it. You could push and pull to twist the pin, and also lift up and down on the pins.

[cledry]

Another tip when shimming that can help with a tight tolerance, is to gently squeeze the cylinder in a vice. This will give marginally more clearance at the top of the plug and make shimming easier. I use the key and do as Gordon does. If you want to test your shimming try practicing on American padlocks, they can be aggravating.

[ivebeenthere]

I usually make two bump keys for Schlage as well as KW, Yale, Sargent, etc.. One cut to deepest depth for series and one cut the same, but smooth out the peaks. One of the two will work almost every time.
John