Made Bump keys, got questions.

[jimmyboy]

i am in the middle of this (experimenting with bumpkeys as well) -- i simply had a set of keys copied twice and will use a bench grinder/chainsaw file to get the cuts done - but templates would help alot - heck - just a photo of a working bumpkey with a ruler as reference would help alot - i may post mine with my digital camera if i get any positive results - people seldom include the ruler lately in their pics - you would think it would be a given - but i guess all you really have to do is scale the pic up to the actual key size - but a ruler always helps i think

[jimmysmith]

So it can go ether way?, higher peeks or lower peeks, ? should the cuts look like a v or more like this-----> \_/ ?

[zeke79]

It depends on the manufacturer specifications. Locks like schlage have a flat that is around .045" or thereabouts while kwikset has a flat that is .090". This is due to the differing shape of the tips of OEM pins.

[jimmysmith]

How and where do I find the lock brand specafication, for bump keys I have a key dubing machine {ilco} and I have attemped to cut a kwickset bump key and had no luck, so I researched bump keys a little more, now I am debaiting on the high or low peeks working better. figures its all about the brand specaficatons. now...how do I get those spec's.?

[jimmysmith]

I made a snap pick out of a coat hanger, and it works 10 times better then any bump key i have ever tryed, I dont no what the heck i am doing wrong, I have attemped bumping a lot lately and ....sad to say with no luck. maybe the lock i have been bumping is not bumpable because of the pins being to big or small. any ideas? I am going to get a camra back from a buddie and i will take a pic of the keys i have made and you guys let me no if they look right, for what i have gathered.....they look right....but i must be doing something wrong. !

[zeke79]

Try looking at framons website and getting the cutting wheel specs. They will be laid out in degrees of cut / root flat . A kwikset specific cutting wheel is a 9090 so you then know the root flat is .090". An 8445 is a std cylinder cutting wheel with a .045" root flat. You are just going to have to do some research to find the info you are looking for.

[jimmysmith]

Framons?..... cant find anything on framons. do you have a link? or www. address?

Thanks

[zeke79]

www.yahoo.com
Search for Framon locksmith .

[raimundo]

Even zeek79 leaves the egg tooth on the tip of his bumpkeys.

[jimmysmith]

Is it safe to say that is you have made a bump key, tryed it about 50 times in two diffrent locks and has not worked yet...theres something wrong with the bump key?



How do i post a pic with my message? I have a pic of the key...wanted to show you guys...get your opinion's[/quote]

[jimmysmith]

should the bump key work close to every time if made right, ?

[zeke79]

No, it may not work every time.

There is a sticky topic on how to post pictures, do a search for it.

[raimundo]

No, its not a matter of made right, there is actually a lot of tolerance in how well its made, the trick is in 'using' it well, and the bump hammers really do change the paradigm. they are light unlike the steel things like butterknife handles and large spoons which i tried and found not to work.
I believe that bumping is a skill, a matter of knowing what to do in each separate case. Bump keys are very user dependant.

[jimmysmith]

What is the bump hammer made out of...and whats a good replacement....i.e household items? {homemade}?

[fredflank]

It truly is a question of technique. Like most, I got nowhere in the beginning. Having a bumping hammer helped a lot. With the hammer, I can usually open the lock in the first couple of tries. Without the hammer (using a screwdriver, wooden spoon, etc.), It takes a lot more attempts. As many of the previous posts say, it's frequently the hammer and technique that carry the day as much as the key. The key doesn't have to be exact, and minor differences can be very forgiving.