Personal Masterkey system?

[bluetyr]

Hi all,

Background: I've been a landlord off and on and years ago started rekeying locks rather than pay to have them rekeyed. It has been most cost effective and enjoyable over time. I've always been into problemsolving and puzzles so am looking at lockpicking for fun now too.

I now have three houses and two garages that at the moment have different keys. Also I have twelve different keys for the locks I've used over the years. I would like to figure out how to masterkey so that I don't have to carry as many key or figure out which I need at a given moment. As an aside I'm not particularly concerned with the retroactive keying of masterkeys as most all the locations are now used by my family and they wouldn't know how or be interested in that kind of thing.... it's my job anyways..

The goal would be to have my masterkey. A seperate key for house 1, garage 1, house 2, garage 2 and house 3. Is it possible to have sub-masters? As in master controls all, sub master 1 controls house and garage 1, sub master 2 controls house and garage 2, and then house 3?
That way a subcontractor could get a key for one specific location but the resident (my mom, or wife) would only have one key for their house and garage.

So....? What is the proper way to figure the pin code arrangement that would make this all happen? Any chance I can make it work with keys I already have? If not how do I get the keys I would need without having them?

Thanks in advance..... I lookforward to lowering the mass of my keychain.

mountain eagle

[vitti]

Never done it myself but I do know that what you want to do is completely possible and common.

The schalge website has a beginners course in master keying:
http://everestprimus.schlage.com/essentials/home.htm

[bluetyr]

Never done it myself but I do know that what you want to do is completely possible and common.

The schalge website has a beginners course in master keying:
http://everestprimus.schlage.com/essentials/home.htm

Thanks! I'm looking at a three level system from what I see there.

http://everestprimus.schlage.com/essentials/tools/pin_config.htm

The pin code calculator a bit beyond me unfortunatly. I'm not sure which system type I should be trying to use for my Schlage locks. A2 depth? A3? A4? Not sure about the formulas either.... probably trying to startout over my head I'll keep reading and see if I can get it figured....

any hints or help out there?

[keysman]

1. Complete the masterkeying 101 class .. ( on the linked web site)

2 fill in your information so the members know where you are from ( different parts of the world have different systems and different ways of doing things ).

3. please keep in mind this is a HOBBIEST LOCKPICKING site not an amature locksmithing site. You might do better asking your question on Clearstar Public Area http://www.clearstar.com/yellform.htm or ALT. locksmithing.

[mitch.capper]

Creating a master key system is not hard and if you do some reading on how master key systems work you should be able to put such a simple system in place without much effort.

The problem is you should not use master key systems. They are severely vulnerable to anyone who has a key in the system being able to create a master key. (So renter at house 1 could generate a key for house 2).

I am not sure why you want a separate key setup for the garage/house either:)

[bluetyr]

Keysman- points noted. Profile filled out. New to looking for this kind of information online so I'll check out your suggestions. Just to note I'm shopping for a set of picks too...... so I think I'll stick around for that too.

Mitch - the keying system is strictly for my convienence. I'm not concerned with the security issues as anyone who would be able or interested in reverse keying would be able to pick it, or use a brick, or just ask for access. I do allow people access to my garages depending on need, community minded help and whatnot. Right now I have a keypad code I give out for that on the garage door opener, and likely wouldn't give out a key. I don't need to have my mom just walking in to my house tho. And if she wants someone to drop off things in her garage she wouldn't have to give out her house key. She is disabled and the fewer keys she has to handle the better. The A - AA1 - AA2 - AB1 - AB2 system would allow for the most all concievable needs.

Thanks for the help and the heads up.

[linty]

Don't let your tenants know that you put your own convenience above their security. Some people might find that a bit upsetting.

[bluetyr]

Don't let your tenants know that you put your own convenience above their security. Some people might find that a bit upsetting.

Just to be clear.... there are no tenants anymore. Just my house and my moms house, and an near abandoned empty house which is near unrentable or unlivable. I'm for fewer keys, not concerned with keys getting out and security compromised. My disabled mom would prefer one key as well..........

We're we to rent outside the family again I would rekey to a unique code again as I don't just carry tenant keys at all times..........

[mitch.capper]

Well there is no real trick to master keying for example you would key the front door to 14141 and the garage door to 13141 instert a 1 height master wafer in the garage door in that 2nd spot and the key that opens the front door will open the garage door.

For the other place do a front door of like 14142 and garage of 13142


Make a master key of 14143

So for front door 1 all you do is insert a 2 wafer in the last spot for the master key.
For front door 2 you insert a 1 wafer in the last spot for the master key.

(Then obviously an additiaon master wafer in the garage door).

You can make it more complex than that (or atleast should have more than a 1 height difference) but thats the idea;)