Bumping problems.

[Sbecspeledrx]

Well I've just emerged from two whole days in my shed practicing bumping! And I've had some great results, bumped a wide variety of cylinders and have now created a huge selection of bump keys. I'll post pictures of them and my "tommohawk" as soon as I have managed to get my flickr account working.

But having succedded on all sorts of cylinders (and now starving and cold wanting to come in and stop experimenting) I have just hit on a snag. I've realised all the cylinders I've opened have gone counter clockwise. Having gone to show my new prowess to my dad on our front door, i realise counter clockwise won't pull back the latch, and i can't get the bumped key out to insert a plug spinner without first re locking the cylinder .

I cannot for the life of me bump the cylinder clockwise. Is it just the habit and style I've got into, and is it just a case of repracticing and perfecting my style. Or do some locks bump easier one way than the other, the same as picking?

[sivlogkart]

I am no expert, but I did make bumpkeys ages ago, and I too found it was often easier bumping in one direction than the other, but I did not find a case where it only worked in one direction. So I am sure it will work in the direction you want when you get it just right again.

Out of interest which locks do you now have bump keys for? There has been a lot on here about bumpkeys, and when I get a moment I want to make some more. I just need to get the right files first.

[Sbecspeledrx]

Thanks for the info mate. Back to practicing then> I've had my tea and I can listen to the footie on the radio in the shed.

I have made keys for the following

Yale A1 (opens Birds and Yales so far)
I cannot open my zone cylinder with anything though. I thought it was same depth and spacing as a yale. Is it different?

Union UN11
Opening union cylinders

Garrison
Working fine

Mul-T-Loc
No cylinders to practice on unfortunatley.

Viro
Opened my only viro cylinder but isn't doing so anymore. I think I've bust the cylinder!

Tri Circle Padlock
Just beacause!

I've plenty of different key blanks in my shed but no keys to work from. Anyone know where I'll get my hands on depth and spacing keys?

[Sbecspeledrx]

Just to say. I'm now making myself up a nice set on welsh flag key blanks

[Sbecspeledrx]

And another question - When I've seen proffesionnaly made bump keys, theres always a couple on each set. I'm only using the one for everything and it seems to be working fine. Why would there be a need for more than one key?

[keysman]

And another question - When I've seen proffesionnaly made bump keys, theres always a couple on each set. I'm only using the one for everything and it seems to be working fine. Why would there be a need for more than one key?

Because not eveybody is as gentle with their keys as you, and the keys get beat up ,hence the "spare"

[Sbecspeledrx]

Ah right. Well to be truthful I have two of every key. As soon as i get a key to work i stick a great big red keyring on it to show it is the original, then i make a copy of that to practice with. The originals are never to be used for bumping