Bump key problem

[Mawd_Dawg]

http://tinyurl.com/6lwkaa

This is my bump key .. but i cant get it to open lock's and its a bit clumpy coming in and out the lock, requiring to jiggle it side to side to slip in...

any help is appreciated

[Satan130]

I'm no expert, but at a glance it looks like there is too much shoulder and the mountains are too high.

(mountain being the top of each of the lumps. sry, don't know the technical term)

also, it's pretty crude. i would do my best to smooth it out. not only will this help it go in, but it alleviates the chance of the key getting stuck.

[datagram]

Valleys of most keys are at least 90 degrees wide from the base of the cut. Looks like you could take off a bit more material. If the angle is too sharp (<90) then the key is "back cut" and tumblers have trouble rising while inserting/removing the key.

Other than checking your cut depths with a gauge it looks like that might be your main problem.

dg

[arbus]

When you push the key fully into the lock, it should spring back out. If it does that you are on the right track.

[Mawd_Dawg]

Thanks for the reply's guys .. sadly that key accidentally kinda got broke in a lock >.>

However i have another key ready to mod here.. here's two pictures:
Side 1:
Side 2:

before i cut it apart!! !
how deep dose the valleys need to be? how tall should the "mountains" be? it would be nice if someone could show me a picture, or edit mine with paint or something!! I'm a complete newb to bumping, and any help is appreciated


this new key is to fit a ASSA barrel lock, I THINK its this kind : http://www.assa.co.uk/index.php?id=10495
(if you want I can provide a picture of the actual lock i'm looking to bump? (that this key is originally from))

[cppdungeon]

Do you have a lock to bump with that? If not, i would go get a cheap padlock and some blanks. Those locks look expensive.

--Cpp

[Mawd_Dawg]

thanks for the advice cppdungeon, I'll think about that!

however, I have a spare lock to try this key on! that's why I selected to try it!!

if i break [also] this key ill go get a padlock and some blank's

any advice about cutting this key though would be useful?
What is the best tool to use to cut these down?

[cppdungeon]

I'm going to assume you dont have a key cutting machine and depth keys =D.
Well, i would either poke around the net for depth and space charts, or just cut it down to the first ward. see, the pins have to rest on a ward so that they dont fall out of the plug...so by cutting down to the first ward (the first zig on the blank if you look at it from the front) and leaving plenty of hill in between, you will probably have cut down to the maximum physical depth possible for the lock. of course, that might not be the maximum depth, but the technique should still work. if you want to be extra sure go get the depth and space charts and a caliper.
|| ||
[{ <--first "zig" key seen from front of blade Keyway--> | {
|| ||

--Cpp

[Mawd_Dawg]

I'm not sure I understand exactly what you mean....



If i was to cut along the red line, is that what you mean :S ?

THANKS again for your help!

[cppdungeon]

No. Looking at this key, it might not work. see, the pins should rest on the FIRST ward, and your line cuts into that warding. see the top part? where the hills/valleys are? thats where it should go up and down. I'm not sure there is enough material there for a bumpkey.

--Cpp

[WOT]

You should make the root wider, especially for a home made bump key.

If the spacing isn't perfect, you could have some pins constantly in contact with the steeple and raised above the shear line.

[Mawd_Dawg]

Thakns again guys!! think its time i wapped out the files... ill tell yous how it goes over the next few weeks!!

one last question, upon visual inspection is there a way to tell if a lock is 5, 6 or 7 pin?

[Major Boothroyd]

You could count the pins with a pick or check the key. Your first key could use straighter cuts, maybe use a square file? I heard those help and I'm fairly new but I heard the cuts are supposed to be set to the lowest valley of your key or something like that.

Anyway good luck and be sure to post about how it works out.