bumping is overrated

[darkk]

After all the recent media coverage of how "easy" bump keys can allow anyone access to anything I decided to make some and try them out once and for all. So far I've tried bumping a Hampton padlock, Mountain Security padlock, Kwikset deadbolt, and a Schlage kik cylinder: I have yet to open one of these locks with my bump keys.

I know the keys are cut fine because they were cut on a code machine, I even filed down the shoulder and tip. The funny part though is that I can easily pick every one of these locks. I dont know if I'm just not hitting it hard enough or putting too little or too much tension on the key or what but it's definetly not as easy as it's made out to be.

[Shrub]

Try hitting the key and then straight after turning the key, this takes some practise but is much better than trying to tension the key all the time,

[Krypos]

no, its not as easy as its made out to be, however, with effort and practice, its not as hard as you say.

read up on all the bumping methods and techniques and practice at it, it may be a week or so in before you get it. just keep at it.

look for a guide on bumping by zeke79. it exists somewhere in pdf format. thats a really good start to bumping.

also, where did you get someone to key cut a bump key for you? did you cut it youyself? are you a locksmith? or did you con a key cutter into doing it for you?

and are you sure its cut properly, just because it was done on a cutter, doesnt mean its a true bump key.

[Shrub]

Also your cut to code key needs the cuts slightly fileing lower

[darkk]

Kryptos: A good friend of mine is a lockie, he cut them for me.

Shrub: I'll try filing the cuts a tiny bit lower and see how that works out.

[Shrub]

Only a small amount mind

You need a 10,10,10 key really,

[Shrub]

If the lock has a 9 cut in it you will be over setting on each bump on that pin,

[Kaotik]

A common low grade Kwikset dead bolt or KIK is just about IMO as cheap as it gets because of all the tolerences made into it and i've bumped several of them. If you will take note some/most of the most expensive and well made locks are some of the easiest locks to bump due to the no-tolerence made within them.

It works, so try researching on proper technique and practice. As Shrub said "Try hitting the key and then straight after turning the key, this takes some practise but is much better than trying to tension the key all the time." It takes a fraction of a second to get the timing right as well as using variations of striking force.

[Krypos]

Kryptos: (blah blah blah)

my username is spelled:


K R Y P O S


there is no T in it anywhere.

why does everyone do that?

[Mothrog]

Try hitting the key and then straight after turning the key, this takes some practise but is much better than trying to tension the key all the time,

Strange. I had always assumed that bumping would involve light tension on the key and always tried bumping under that assumption. Your technique does seem to work better. I'm surprised. I would have expected the pins to jump only slightly above the shear line and return quickly.

[Shrub]

The better you get the quicker you can be with the hit and twist,

[horsefeathers]

It certainly can work - i used this method twice yesterday on two jobs. One a CES euro cylinder and one was a MK2 WMS euro.

It does take practice, but the timing is the crucial bit. Hit and turn. Gotta be just right!

Oh...and the right cut bump key to start with of course.

regards

[horsefeathers]

Oh, and tonight I just made myself a bump key for the Chubb 6 pin cylinder. Works a treat (in practise) though it seems to require a harder knock than other bump keys.



regards

[Vuvdisgir]

Achtung!!

[darkk]

Well after some practice I bumped the kwikset cylinder open a few times. I can still open it much faster and more reliably with picks though. I think it may just be that the lock has such sloppy tolerances that bumping it is so difficult.

Also, how effective is bumping on padlocks with spring loaded cyclinders? The reason I ask is because I cant seem to get any padlocks open via bumping.