master key

[MaddHatterPYRO]

I recently got a set of old locks at a garage sale and they seem to be master-keyed. I wanted to attempt making a master key and was wondering if the master key places the middle pin above or below the sheer line, or if there is no set way of pinning it.

[madman66]

I believe the master key usually places the middle pin above the sheer line, so that a normal key cannot be ground down to become a master key.

[MaddHatterPYRO]

ok than you. ill post later if it works out or not

[plot]

i'm guessing you have keys for all the locks? compare the keys and all but 1 'tooth' (sorry for terminology, might not be correct), will be the same. that 1 'tooth' on every key should very... that's the pin that's master keyed. get a blank key from the hardware store, and cut down the all the teeth that you know are the same size, and leave that one alone. slowly cut that one down until it opens the lock... if you cut it down to be equal size to one of the other keys, then either they arn't masterkeyed, or you messed up.

what kind of locks are they? it's always nice to find out if they are rekeyable before you goto work grinding down blank keys.

[Varjeal]

A couple of questions:

1. What makes you say they "seem" to be master keyed? (not being rude, just curious) Chances are that if you bought them at a garage sale all taped together or someone said they were "mastered" and they're standard residential locks, they are probably "keyed alike" (which is far different btw) and have only ONE key that will work them all. Therefore making a key to work one lock will open them all.

If they are indeed "mastered" you will need to pick and disassemble the locks, carefully dump out ALL the springs and pins (in order) and compare them.

An easy way is to make sure all the pins are out of a lock, get some blank keys, then put the bottom pins+masters into the lock plug(s) and make a key (through hand filing or whatever) and check operation in the other cylinders.

I would be willing to bet, though, that the locks are actually keyed alike and not mastered whatsoever. That being the case, impressioning one of the locks will yield a key for all three.

[MaddHatterPYRO]

yea I dont know why i said "seems". I know they are master keyed but it has 2 pin stacks that are master keyed. but yea i htink im gonna try to file down a blank to make a master.

[Chucklz]

Be aware that previous information about the relationship between master pins and the sheer line and how to progress to a MK is not universal. I would venture as far as to say that the master pin/shear line information is generally wrong, with a caveat. In a good system, the MK should be such that a change key could NOT be filed to get a MK. This does not mean that in every position the master key is cut higher, just that it SHOULD be in at least one position.

About progressing, plot's info is accurate. But the safest way to to arrive at a TMK is to dissassemble the lock as Varjeal already suggested.