Pins

[sugurfoot]

Why the two different Universal pin kit's .003 and .005

[Slick Pick]

The difference between a .003 and .005 universal pin kit is the increments in terms of the pins going up in length, not the size of the pins.
From what I've read the .003 makes it easier to find the exact size needed because of the smaller increasing increments in length.

[maintenanceguy]

.005 kits have pins that are sized for every 5 thousandths of an inch. There is a .280 pin, a .285 pin, a .290 pin...etc.

.003 kits have pins that are sized every 3 thousandths of an inch. There is a .280pin, a .283 pin, a .286 pin.

The .005 kits let you get within 2 thousandths of an inch of any pin length. The .003 kits let you get within 1 thousandth of an inch of any pin length. Keys are rarely cut with an accuracy of 2 thousandths of an inch, I really don't see much advantage of the .003 kits. I use a .005 and have never had a problem

One other difference: The .003 pins have a flatter top while the .005 pins have a rounder top. The difference in radius of the top is a fraction of a thousandth of an inch so it's not much.

[Engineer]

Maintenanceguy gives an excelent explanation of the different sizes and why we have them.

I personally like having the .003" kits as it allows me to get a very close fit to a specific key. This is not necessarily a good thing though, since if you get that key duplicated, the dupicate should still open the lock of course, but it is unlikely to have quite as smooth an action. I can also "correct" a lock to where a worn key has had a set of keys duplicated, rarther than cutting a new key to code and making a whole new set of duplicate keys.

These are pretty esoteric reasons though, generally you can get away with a .005". Locks you re-pin might be slightly "out" but still workable. A .003" kit is about twice the size and price, which might also be a consideration if you are going to be wanting to carry it in your vehicle, etc. or are not doing it professionally, but only a few locks.

[sugurfoot]

Thanks for that information, When ever I order new pins they never ask which one I want. I just get pins and never thought about it. But when I did a Kwikset deadbolt and needed a 7 I used a 6 plus .023 and it made a 7. Is this the right way?

[maxxed]

the 6 plus .023 certainly works but I wouldn't call it the right way to do things.
I use a .005 pin kit for most of my rekeying plus I also carry a Weiser and a Yale pin kit.
Most of the precut keys I make now are all cut to Schlage depths wich keeps things simple. So I could funtion with a pin kit containing 10 pin sizes