bump key problem

[moosemanty]

well, i have been picking locks for a year or two now just as a hobby and i have been reading around this site for quite a while but haven't really posted, and now that i am very fluent with picking, i wanted to try some thing new.
so i got some bump keys... i have seen every bump key video imagineable and i can't seem to get them to work... i have tried the M1 and the KW1 key so far and i can't get it to work. i am having the same trouble as the guy in this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTGvgW0Tncg&NR

i have tried different tensions, hitting strenghts, etc... i just can't get it to work.
what do you guys think??? i know the locks work fine because i can pick them in a few seconds, but when i try to bump it, it doesn't open but i can hear pins falling when i release tension (just like the guy in the vid.)

Thanks,
Tyler

[Iceberg_Slim]

what method are you trying? minimal movement ? pull 1 click out? both? the cuts on the key might just not be deep enough even if you have filed down to the first ward. the angle of the cuts could be too steep or too shallow or spaced apart the wrong way. maybe take a picture of your key and show us

[jimmysmith]

first off. in that video the guys bump hammer looked like a freaking sludg hammer. My home made bump keys work great, especially the kw1. I do shave my tip and collor but...i have not had it at the point that when you put the key in the lock it automaticlly pushes it's self back out. thats kinda wierd. but what ever works. or maybe thats the problem. also they guy in the video...his key looked like it was not cut enough near the tip. didnt look like the lowest depth.

heres something you can try. when you push the key in ...slide it out 1 click and then hold your tension.....bump it...then release it...listen for the pins dropping....if you hear that then at least you know you got your tension somewhat right. after you have figured on your tension and you here the pins dropping.....try bumping it.....hold your tension on the key...slide it back out 1 click and try it again with the tension still applied from your last bump.....understand?

another thing you can try is.....pull it out 2 clicks and bump it a little harder....

like the guy in the video.....i not not sure if the little rubber key cover helps any.....if you have one on your key....take it off. you need all the power of the bump to go to the pins,,,,,not obsorbed by a peace of rubber,...just a thought, ....what are you useing for a bump hammer?

could some one kindly explane the other way to use bump keys,,,,slow movements?.....I heared there was another way to use them.....I think i have done it but am nit aware of the style...

I have this china lock. master knock off. and when i put my master bump key in.....I dont even have to bump it....i just slide the key in holding tension...kinda rake it a little with the key [holding tension] and it opens.
is that the "other" way of doing it?

[moosemanty]

ok, if i get the tension just right, i can get the masterlock open.... so basically it opens maybe 1 out of 40 trys.... but still no luck on the kwikset, and i haven't touched the schlage yet.
but here is some pics and additional info

http://z6.invisionfree.com/balisong_vid ... owtopic=12

[moosemanty]

oh yeah, and i have been trying it by just pulling out one click.

and Jimmysmith, i tried all of that with my same old bad results


,Tyler

[jimmysmith]

Well... I am not sure then.. I do know when i started to bump locks I was getting mad....I was getting it about 1 out of every 70 bumps...but then I started to listen to the pins click down. ...

What I hold my bump key...i hold it in one hand....between my index and thumb and hold a little tension then kinda spin the key in my fingers when it pops open...

tru holding you hammer near the end...close as possable and when you bump the key.....smack it and pull the hammer back tord you in a fast motion...

Your pictures looked pretty good. ....your kw1 key looked kinda like it was all cut down a little far. wanna make sure you have good angles....----->/\_/\_/\_/\_

maybe take a magnafine glass and check out your key...look at where the pins are hitting the angles of your cuts, anything to about half way up and lower is good.

Its very well could be the lower pins are small and just hard to get to bump up.....

[jimmysmith]

All the locks that can be bumped and your key is cut right for that style of lock should open with just a few taps or less. especially...only more then one hit because you got to kinda figure your tension...

I honestly use hardly any tension. your not trying to unlock the bolt...just trying to get plug to move a little......once its open then unlock the bolt.
play with the tension......

have you picked the locks you are trying to bump?

[Spike666]

hey your kw1 looks like its cut w/o any spacing it should have a little meat left between the cut flats. and try a screwdriver handle not a hammer. sc1 and m1 look good in pic. less movement more snap.
another thing chineese locks kw still use a 7 not 6 so you may need a new key and you may have filed too much off the shoulder. they have that much movement when you beat too many locks...

[moosemanty]

yep, i hold the key the same way.

and when you say hardly any tension, do you mean have tension like you are picking it, or tension like you barely touch the key?

and yes, i have picked all of the locks..... except the schlage door knob i tried today that i found in my closet. i can get that like 1 out of every 20 trys.

but still i can't even get a kwikset one


Thanks,
Tyler

[moosemanty]

i have tried a screw driver handle to, but i tend to hit myself more with that.

,Tyler

[jimmysmith]

when i say hardly any tension....I mean.....yes hold the key but dont hold to tight....hold the key in your fingers in such a manner that when you bump it....it kinda automaticlly turns a little bit... dont hold turning tension...just kinda hold it there till you bump it.....it kinda turns on its own. ///

are you sure your kwickset is not a 6 pin? ........

It bugs me you cant get it......lol....pm me, I can send you a kw1 bump key that I know works.

jimmy

[moosemanty]

i have tried BARELY touching the key, to a good amount of tension....

and i have also tried two kwiksets and a brinks (same style key as a kwikset).

and i have double checked all three and they are all 5pins.....

and this bugs me too. i think these keys are not cut correctly or something... so i sent you a pm. and if that key works fine for me, i am sending the guy i bought these keys from an email.


Thanks again,
Tyler

[jimmysmith]

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184 ... res020.jpg

still cant get it huh,, bum deal..
I will pm you..

Edited by zeke79 to link pictures.

[moosemanty]

ok, i am now to the point where i can open a schlage with in about 3 tries.... i got the tension down perfect.

but with the kwikset i am having no luck.... i am pretty sure something is wrong with the key. i mean, i cant even here pins dropping.
and the ridges on your key look longer than on mine..mine are about a milimeter tall.

Thanks,
Tyler