? about bump keys

[cledry]

Even though they are designed to be pushed in all the way I would try moving out one cut. The turning pressure should be almost nothing, you can try putting a light piece of wire through the hole in the head of the key to apply turning pressure, a paper clip for example. Try using different things for a hammer.

Usually too much turning pressure is the problem.

I am in the wrong business if they can sell bump keys for almost $5 a piece. I guess I could reuse the 5 X 5 gallon buckets of keys I have cluttering up the shop and be set for life.

[joecmpt]

So, I have heard that some locks or at least some pins are "bump resistant". What makes them that way?

[GWiens2001]

There are a number of ways to make a lock bump resistant. Some use varying strengths of springs for the pins, making the pins rebound at different speeds. Some use special pins to keep the driver pins to drop into the plug, leaving a gap between the key pin and the driver pin. That way the key pin can not develop enough inertia to move the driver pin above the shear line without a key (or pick) physically moving the key pin and driver pin up together until the shear line is reached.

Gordon

[bjornnrojb]

When I first started with bumpkeys it was a lot of bumps before I got success. Part of the problem was that my boss was kind of a knob and had cut the bumpkey wrong, the depths were too deep. After I researched the issue and cut one myself using a file and information gleaned from these forums, it was not long until I reached success.
The first thing to try is remove a few pins (and corresponding springs!) to make the learning curve more rewarding. Bumping a lock with two or three pins should be child's play. This will teach you proper torque on the key, as well as when to apply it if you are using the method that involves timing the torque right after bumping. I use constant pressure. Despite being a musician my coordination and rhythm just aren't this exacting.
Second issue is do you have the right key for the right lock. Right number of cuts for the right number of pins? Start out with five pins for sure.
Third. Are you setting this up right? Don't sit on a couch. Mount the lock in a doorway and shut the door. Then you have both hands free. You can do this on an interior door to avoid the ire of your neighbors or getting the cops called on you.
Fourth - if you want to speed this up try using a bit of rubber wrapped around the blade of the key in front of the shoulders. You can get more taps in if you don't have to manually pull the key out each time.
All that said, if you do have security pins and springs you should try your luck with a POS lock from Home Depot. I run a charity through my locksmithing company giving locks to the poor and distressed so I am always on the hunt for old locks and there are many to be had at garage/estate sales. They are usually of the ultra cheap kwikset variety available at home depot ten years ago but these are just the types of locks you ought to be learning on because they are definitely the easiest.
Finally, remember that these bumpkeys constitute a tool for breaking and entering so don't have one in your coin pocket, don't go using them on locks that don't belong to you. Not only will you get in LOTS of trouble for a little B&E with tools but they are also slightly destructive to locks, especially in the hands of a beginner. They will mar the face of the plug, they will damage the pins and if there are security pins you may put divots in the security pins causing them to hang up in the lock when using the regular key. Bumpkeys are not as elegant a discipline as picking. May I humbly suggest that you investigate the meditative and rewarding art of lockpicking?

[MacGyver101]

. . . remember that these bumpkeys constitute a tool for breaking and entering . . .

In jurisdictions where bumpkeys are restricted, I wonder if it's a workable defense to have some interior lock in your house keyed to "99999"?

[Sinifar]

As a working smith, I find a lot of these "bump keys" which are being sold have a small problem. Namely, the first steeple is not correctly placed.

They cut the 5 - 6 steps at usually a 9 but forget to add the steeple to the tip of the key. Meaning, you are not using the key right as in you have "ramps" for most of the pins but not the first one. To get the first steeple cut for bumping, you need to make your own on a key generator and advance the carriage one more step - if a 5 pin, move it to the 6th pin position and cut a steeple there. NOW you have enough to move ALL the PINS. With 6 pin you need to either count the turns between cuts, or have a spacing block which will let you advance the carriage to the 7th position and cut the steeple there.

AS far as what to hit it with? I use my belt tool, a Swiss tool and just whack the thing. One or two hits and the thing pops over. One other suggestion use a tension wrench, like you would for picking as your turning tool. This gives you better control over the amount of pressure on the key / lock assembly and will let you know if you are over torquing the thing.

Trust me it works.

Nothing blows the publics mind like waltzing up to a lock, stuffing in a bump key, insert a tension wrench, pull out the Swiss tool, and one hit and their lock pops open.

Sinifar