How Master-Keyed Wafer Locks Work

[GWiens2001]

And here I am, the poor, dumb guy who never realized that these locks could be mastered. I usually use my own master key if someone can't get into their desk. Of couse, my master key looks more like a diamond rake and tension bar, but who am I to argue semantics?

[vinnie]

that was a very interesting read. definitely learned a lot from this thread. thanks!

[MacGyver101]

I'm glad that people are finding it interesting... I know that I scratched my head the first time I tried to figure out how you'd master-key a standard wafer lock.

[globallockytoo]

Also, another thing worth noting is that, although most wafer locks come master keyed to a common key, some actually are not master keyed.

There are non master key wafers that you can buy. I personally buy these and change master keyed wafer locks into non master keyed locks for security reasons.

You do? Why would you do that?

1. You lose any warranty on the product.
2. many master-keyed wafer tumbler locks are deliberately produced that way to allow access by authorities.
3. if you dont remove the code at the same time, you stuff up the next tech's job.

[MacGyver101]

2. many master-keyed wafer tumbler locks are deliberately produced that way to allow access by authorities.

Your point #2 intrigues me, and I'm not sure if I'm just misinterpreting something colloquial. By "authorities", do you mean "senior managers in the company who purchased the filing cabinets", or do you actually mean "the police"?

If it's the latter, then that's something surprising: I wouldn't have assumed that master-keying would be consistent enough across office furniture that the police (or tax authorities or whomever) would find it practical to even try to keep all of the necessary master keys on hand. (i.e., I would assume that they'd need to have key rings with several dozen keys just to cover even 75% of what they might find in a typical office... but perhaps that's just my local bias, and not the case elsewhere, where one or two lock manufacturers have a bit more of a monopoly on the office furniture market?)

[minifhncc]

You do? Why would you do that?

Because I deal with wafer locks in real estate applications. Mainly letterboxes in apartment complexes. Recently quite a few thieves have figured out there exists a master key for them and that has resulted in stolen mail.

1. You lose any warranty on the product.

Well, they cost under $10 each, so it's not that much of a loss... and besides, I am yet to make a warranty claim.

2. many master-keyed wafer tumbler locks are deliberately produced that way to allow access by authorities.

Well, I doubt authorities would need access to letterboxes. I'd understand it if was a fire control that was locked behind a 003 key or similar, but that's not the case.

3. if you dont remove the code at the same time, you stuff up the next tech's job.

I usually scrape off the direct code printed on the lock.

[24hourlocksmith]

For a couple of extra $ you could buy a higher security lock for you letterbox.

[globallockytoo]

2. many master-keyed wafer tumbler locks are deliberately produced that way to allow access by authorities.

Your point #2 intrigues me, and I'm not sure if I'm just misinterpreting something colloquial. By "authorities", do you mean "senior managers in the company who purchased the filing cabinets", or do you actually mean "the police"?

If it's the latter, then that's something surprising: I wouldn't have assumed that master-keying would be consistent enough across office furniture that the police (or tax authorities or whomever) would find it practical to even try to keep all of the necessary master keys on hand. (i.e., I would assume that they'd need to have key rings with several dozen keys just to cover even 75% of what they might find in a typical office... but perhaps that's just my local bias, and not the case elsewhere, where one or two lock manufacturers have a bit more of a monopoly on the office furniture market?)

management, yes

[MacGyver101]

management, yes

Well, that's far less interesting. (Puts tinfoil hat down...)

[minifhncc]

For a couple of extra $ you could buy a higher security lock for you letterbox.

Why bother when they would cost way more than $10, and non MKing the wafer locks is enough to deter theives with a MK?

[Evan]

2. many master-keyed wafer tumbler locks are deliberately produced that way to allow access by authorities.

Your point #2 intrigues me, and I'm not sure if I'm just misinterpreting something colloquial. By "authorities", do you mean "senior managers in the company who purchased the filing cabinets", or do you actually mean "the police"?

@MacGyver101:

Here in the US, he would be referring to the owner of the furniture, or the company... An employee only has reasonable expectation of privacy insofar as the contents of the desk/drawer they exclusively use is safe from snooping by supervisors, yet at the same time the employer maintains the ability to access the desk/drawers assigned to each employee for emergencies or in the event an employee loses their key as master keyed furniture requires less organizational time and resources to allow for that access than indexing and storing individual copies of keys for each employee...

Much in the way that schools allow students use of a locker to store their personal belongings so does an employer allow its employees use of a desk for the same purposes... Students are more vulnerable to having the police involved than employees of a company are because school employees are mandated reporters when any type of crime and children are involved in the same sentence...

An employer would seize any contraband which is illegal to possess or could be deemed hazardous to the office, they might refer an employee who had drugs discovered in their desk/drawer to substance abuse counseling pr rehab or could just terminate them without reporting the matter to the police...

~~ Evan

[rphillips52]

2. many master-keyed wafer tumbler locks are deliberately produced that way to allow access by authorities.

Your point #2 intrigues me, and I'm not sure if I'm just misinterpreting something colloquial. By "authorities", do you mean "senior managers in the company who purchased the filing cabinets", or do you actually mean "the police"?

If it's the latter, then that's something surprising: I wouldn't have assumed that master-keying would be consistent enough across office furniture that the police (or tax authorities or whomever) would find it practical to even try to keep all of the necessary master keys on hand. (i.e., I would assume that they'd need to have key rings with several dozen keys just to cover even 75% of what they might find in a typical office... but perhaps that's just my local bias, and not the case elsewhere, where one or two lock manufacturers have a bit more of a monopoly on the office furniture market?)

In Britain, the number of makers of office furniture locks is small, and the few MK series have been in use for decades. Actually, it's most often not even the office manager, but the head caretaker who is the resort when a file cabinet/desk etc. can't be opened. People move, keys are lost, furniture is moved ... . Especially cabinets which push-to-lock, are often locked before moving. And then the key can't be found. Often, the priority is to get the cabinet opened; then a new lock (comes with 2 keys and is cheaper/quicker than sending out for keys by code, and the head caretaker keeps a few spares ready) can be fitted, and the cabinet is back in service.
There are more imported locks now, but a batch of new desks etc. is often supplied mastered, with the head caretaker having a MK.
When I was young, office furniture often had warded or lever locks, all mastered. Post-1960's, and disk tumbler locks took over. And they were mostly mastered, on standard MK's. Many series were supplied mastered as standard, with non-mastered the exception. A convenience for the furniture manager. Few of the office bosses I encountered even knew the locks were mastered. Some kept the 2nd original key, but that was different.
Some businesses do claim the right to inspect employees' desks/lockers.

[SeanGallagher]

Man that looks very complex, good pics!

[minifhncc]

Mail theft from mailboxes with master keyed wafer locks are increasingly becoming a problem. The block of units next to mine have had their mailbox locks changed to non master keyed locks for that reason. The thieves steal letters containing personal information (e.g. bank statements, new credit/debit cards and IDs) and take out a loan in the name of that unfortunate person from whom they've stolen the mail, or establish new credit cards likewise.

See here:

MAILBOX THEFTS

Thieves have been targeting the letterboxes around Breakfast Point once again over recent weeks.

In some cases the thefts have occurred at night by a group who probably has a master key to access letterboxes. As they rifle through the letterboxes looking for letters they throw any 'junk mail' on the footpath. Letters left in letterboxes overnight are their target.

In other cases thieves have obtained access to a new debit and credit cards stealing large sums of money and opening new credit card accounts at other banks in the name of the original card holder.

In addition, the police have warned that thieves will also use stolen electricity and gas accounts to steal your identity and open new accounts in your name.

Avoid such thefts - collect your mail daily or have a neighbour collect it for you when you are away.

It has been reported in the media, Ch 7, that thieves have master keys to the types of letterboxes installed within Breakfast Point. Access to your letterbox by these thieves is simple.

Besides clearing your mail every day before sunset the Police have suggested that Owners (Stratas, Townhouses and Individual Homes) within Breakfast Point should seriously consider changing the type of lock installed on letterboxes so that the stolen master keys do not work.

and here: http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/mai ... alink%253a

and here: http://au.news.yahoo.com/today-tonight/ ... x-bandits/

Globallockytoo, do you realise now why I'm so fastidious about having non MKed wafer locks protect my mail?

[globallockytoo]

it'd be smarter to use a system that cannot be picked easily or the master key determined easily, but cost is the underlying factor.

I sold about 1500 master keyed drawer locks to an oil rig in the mediteranean sea, a couple of years ago. They ordered Meroni from me, because they were in that part of the world and the codes usually arent released from factory to code source programs. If they require a master key made in future, they can contact me or the factory who will usually provide it with ID.

But again, these locks were deliberately masterkeyed in their batch, so probably no 2 batches are the same (but i cannot be sure)

realistically speaking, of course, if you are really concerned about protecting your mail, you arent going to do so using a wafer lock.