magnetic pins

[kelly]

Could the entire bumpkey method be thwarted by just making the pins magnetic? Just a thought.
-k

[illusion]

Having the top and bottom pins attracting would work in theory, but I question whether they would be strong enough to resist the impact of a bump key.

[kelly]

I know it wouldn't be enough to hold it down, but possibly enough so that they move as one when the key is struck. I'll experiment on one of my trash deadbolts once I can find some magnets I don't mind grinding down into pins. [sarcasm]That'll be fun.[/sarcasm]

-Kelly

[Shrub]

You would be better off getting some rod like silver steel the right diameter then magnatise that, grinding down magnets will destroy them.

I think they will have to be quite strong but its a great idea, as said i dont know if the force exserted will separate them or not.

[79commando]

The best way to de-magnetise an object is to strike it hard. For instance bumping Could be a case of two strikes and the magnet is out.

[IceMouse]

Another thought would be that if the pins were magnetized, you could probably stick a strong enough magnet to the outside of the lock and viola, the bottom pins would repel and the top ones would be attracted(Because they would probably have to be set up as follows:
<N S| |N S|
So putting an S magnet close would repel the bottom and attract the top). So long as your magnet was strong enough to overcome the springs, you could open the lock with no problem - Presumably.

Oh, wait.. It would attract both pins.. You could still move the magnet along the side and try and line them all up with the sheer line.

[datagram]

I don't remember much about magnets, but if pins were magnetic then wouldn't it be relatively simple to just give them all opposite charges and make them push apart? Also, as someone said, just hitting it will de-magnetize it.

[Prodigy]

There are some of the manufactures out there now supplying magnetic pins. they are infact magnets fitted on the ends of the top and bottom pin.

This does thwart the "bump" method as the pins stay together. The bumping is the same effect as the pick gun only and is not as vicious as the pick gun.

This was brought out way back in the mid 70's and early eighties when bumping was the fad back then.

Yes striking a magnetic object does reduce the magnetic field however it needs to be agaist something and not under spring pressure down a keyway which people have problems inserting picks in.

[kelly]

That's fascinating. Which manufacturers?

[Prodigy]

Well, most of them are the euopean manufactures, DOM, ISCAR are the 2 I have seen. There was a Security EXPO in Germany late last year and the other lock was the ASSA twin. but it was explained to me this was just a reto type fit.

Well when you think about it what else could they (manuf) do really.

[Shrub]

Well when you think about it what else could they (manuf) do really.

Well theres lots of things but the one they are tending to favour at the momnet is pins that stop short of the keyway as in they dont let the keyway stop them dropping out rather a counterbore on the chamber holds a pin with a spigot on in which the spigot is the only part that the working key can touch but a lower cut key will not raise it.

[keysman]

Well when you think about it what else could they (manuf) do really.

Not being the smartest or the most creative, I am sure there are many ways to "thwart" bumping.
Not all of these ideas are in production but..
In addition to magnetic pins,
+there could be telescoping top pins, or even telescoping bottom pins
+specific top pins to match the bottom pins and a blocked upper chamber
+the cylinder could be drilled to prevent the bottom pins from bottoming out
+the cylinders could be drilled at angles

+ the cylinders / plugs could be manufactured to require the key to enter slower
+ shock absorbing materials could be built into the plug

+Interlocking top and bottom pins such as the corbin russswin

[SS454]

First off, I'd like to say I think that's a pretty good idea.
But isn't bumping sort of a novelty? Just a neat trick? Or is it an applied, practical method?

It seems there is a lot of security that goes into locks considering how few locks are actually picked by theives.

I suppose it's neccessary though. Depending on the application.

[Shrub]

I dont know if its a crinimal tool of the trade but i tell you this once you have the technique and the right keys its scary.

I dont use it on the job but a MTL key would be helpful and the first tool to try for example.

[sams choice]

it is pretty scary. It allows you to open locks that you sometimes dream of opening with picks. What would be neat if there was a complete lock bar, that if the cylinder was strucked, it would lock down completly. This is impractical though because i image through use, and the way people are with locks sometimes, it will end up going off anyway with out bumping. A neat idea could also be if the pins were made of a weak brittle plastic, or glass perhaps. So a strong strike would damage the lock to the extint that bumping would not work, nor another key. But in the end, the lock would not last from use. Neat idea and glass is cheap, and locksmiths need work!