A question of MACS

[lordofbaal]

Hi

I have a quick question concerning MACS: What is MACS!

I assumed it was a set of guidelines for keying a cylinder but after searching for information on this 'standard' I couldn’t find anything other than people stating they had either keyed there lock to "absolute MACS" or simply "keyed to MACS"

Could you point me in the right direction?


Also are there pin configurations that can increase pick-gun resistance?


Many Thanks for your help


LordOfBaal

[Pheniox]

MACS
abb. maximum adjacent cut specification

I assume its like how high one pin can be, with the pin behind it not being less than this much of a difference.

[CaptHook]

Exactly, based on the keyway, and the number of pin depths, there is a macs. Say on cylinder "x", you cant have a number 1 pin next to a number 6 because the macs for that cylinder is 4 pin depths. If you have more than the recommended number of depths next to each other, the key may not enter the keyway, or worse, may enter and may not be able to be removed.
Chuck

[Pheniox]

Exactly, based on the keyway, and the number of pin depths, there is a macs. Say on cylinder "x", you cant have a number 1 pin next to a number 6 because the macs for that cylinder is 4 pin depths. If you have more than the recommended number of depths next to each other, the key may not enter the keyway, or worse, may enter and may not be able to be removed.
Chuck

*NOTE*
This doesn't apply if your just re-pinning for picking, feel free to do a 1 - 9 - 2- 9 - 3 if you feel froggy enough.

[Guitar_J]

Where can one find a list of MACS for different lock manufacturers?

[Chucklz]

yahoo locksports has a nice file of locks, depths spaces and MACS.

[locksmistress]

In addition to the key funtioning well, the MACS also are defined to ensure longer function of the cylinder. If you have a 9 adjacent to a 1, the 1-cut running into the 9 pin will tend to wear it down disproportionately.

If you have time and a few older cylinders it can be pretty informative to examine the tips of the pins relative to their placement and size.

[Chucklz]

Ive noticed another interesting wear characteristic of some locks. I've seen this with Yale cylinders so far. Nickel silver keys can really wear down brass pins, on insertion/removal. I have Yales whose #1 pins are severly worn by this.