stupid question - KA vs KD

[Squelchtone]

Ok, another stupid question:

I've read up on the difference between KA and KD.

My question is this though:

According to the site I'm looking to buy from, they have 4 different "sets" of KA's.
KA XJ12
KA XJ23
KA XJ34
KA XJ45

If I order one of these, does that mean that anyone who buys a lock with the same set would be able to open my locks?

Is KD definitely the way to go?

[Solomon]

Keyed different means the padlocks each have individual keys, keyed alike means they all open with the same key. People order keyed alike locks if they're locking up a bunch of different stuff around a site and don't wanna be fiddling around with different keys for each one unnecessarily.

Keyed alike padlocks are only sold as a batch, of course if you buy a set of keyed alike padlocks and someone gets hold of one of those keys, they can open all of them... but no, a lock company won't supply 2 locks with the same bitting to seperate customers. And even if they did, the chances of someone else having a key that opens your lock are practically zero.

It's possible for someone elses key to open your lock if the bitting on their key is exactly the same (or almost exact + your lock is worn), which is a problem as many manufacturers use the same key profiles... but the chances again are extremely slim. And if your lock has a patented/restricted keyway, then it just plain can't happen unless someone actually gets hold of your key and manages to duplicate it.

[raimundo]

Locksmiths buy the KA padlocks by the case/batch whatever, and when someone wants two locks KA they sell them two from that batch, and sell the others to other customers, so any key that is of a KA set has a likelyhood of fitting other KA locks owned by someone else, Small blocks of KA locks can be bought in the big box stores in the package of three or four, and these may be different from the next package on the peg, but you should look at the keys if possible to be sure. If the keys are not visible, look at the codes that may be on the bottom of the lock.
Usually these padlocks are master#3 or #1 so really common and not very picks resistant.
A more expensive brand like american lock may be better set up
You use KA locks for convenience not security, so they are not for perimeter use, just internal use,
You can have deadbolt locks set by a locksmith to be keyed alike for perimeter use such as your house doors.
Many uses such as dumpster locks are very large systems where you could go to a locksmith and tell him you need a dumpster lock for a certain trash collection company and he will sell you one that is keyed alike to many other dumpsters. These are for securing trash from people who might be looking for aluminum cans or personal information. The trash man dosen't have time for using a huge ring of keys and the company dosen't want to replace a lot of original keys if some guy they fired throws the keys into the trash and dosen't tell them. Any large ring of different keys is a problem to replace.

[Evan]

Keyed different means the padlocks each have individual keys, keyed alike means they all open with the same key. People order keyed alike locks if they're locking up a bunch of different stuff around a site and don't wanna be fiddling around with different keys for each one unnecessarily.

Keyed alike padlocks are only sold as a batch, of course if you buy a set of keyed alike padlocks and someone gets hold of one of those keys, they can open all of them... but no, a lock company won't supply 2 locks with the same bitting to seperate customers. And even if they did, the chances of someone else having a key that opens your lock are practically zero.

It's possible for someone elses key to open your lock if the bitting on their key is exactly the same (or almost exact + your lock is worn), which is a problem as many manufacturers use the same key profiles... but the chances again are extremely slim. And if your lock has a patented/restricted keyway, then it just plain can't happen unless someone actually gets hold of your key and manages to duplicate it.

Fantasy... Especially the part about the keyed alike padlocks being sold as a batch only and the key codes never repeating...

Lock companies will sell keyed alike locks to any customer asking for any code that is not a restricted or registered (and therefore reserved) bitting, code or keyway... Which is the reason for establishing and offering a set of keyways and bitting codes with are registered to offer that level of security...

So if you order some master padlocks keyed to code #2001 and I buy some keyed to that same code we will both have locks which will open with the exact same keys...

Keyed Differently locks are still keyed up to a set of standard codes by the lock manufacturer -- so if someone can discover what that bitting code is they can order a lock keyed to that code and receive it and the pair of keys included unless it is a high security restricted lock...

This is why you should not purchase any new old stock someone has laying around, as any locks missing from the KA case pack are other local customers who have identically keyed locks to the ones you are going to be buying... Never buy KA padlocks from the big box home centers as they usually restock with the same exact product down to the same KA key code...

If you want KA padlocks it is recommended to order them far enough in advance so you can obtain a non-default keyway and also an uncommon KA code number...

~~ Evan

[LocksmithArmy]

the city i grew up in orders ka padlocks for ther bags they hang over the meters when they are closing a street or whatever... they also order keys in bulk from the same code... whenever they need more keys thay simply ask for that specific code and same goes when they need more locks... if i ordered a lock with that code (which i do know) i would have a key that openes all the bags on the meters

but if you did not know the code the chances of ordering a lock with that key are slim to none