Schlage Primus explained

[mavor]

I made a thread earlier about getting into high security lock without paying huge premium.
https://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=65144 And here what I found after some research.

The goal is to pay the minimum amount of money and be able to have high security installations for my own customers.

Generally Schlage Primus is not freely available because Allegion wants locksmiths to buy-in. There are several buy-in levels with different amount, which I personally found very confusing. https://kc.allegion.com/kb/article/what-do-the-different-primus-levels-mean/ The minimum amount varies from $2k for basic stuff to $6k or more for specialized. The differences mostly about the uniqueness of side biting and maybe even special keyway. I couldn't figure out how much one needs to pay to get those special keyways. That is already way too much which I thought it is worth, considering the patents on Primus are already expired.

The cheapest and least secure way C and E keyway with 62266 biting from level 1 stock.
build.com sells pre-built cylinders ($80) and key blanks ($5). Those come with with 62266 side biting precut and you need to rekey cylinder and originate own key

- Schlage Pin kit + tools to open cylinder - ~$100
- key originating - one of below
- PAK-A-PUNCH - $500
- BluePunch - $1000
- depth key set ($60) + simple copy machine ($300)

But .. I want to have my own unique biting .. no problem!
With the help of 3d printing and some fine tuning of software model, one can print key template for *any* side biting.

- MonoPrice 3D printer - $200
- Wenxing Q30 Sidewinder duplicator - $700 with Primus adapter $60
- SC4 Primus key blank - $1.7
- Schlage Primus Finger Kit - $326

This is still limited to C/E keyways but it is better than keep milking that Primus cow.

This duplicated key works well in Primus key cylinder I bought from build.com with 2 finger pins (3 and 4) switched.

[jeffmoss26]

that is pretty cool.

[MacGnG1]

HA! NICE! very cool dude.

[Sinifar]

I suppose that a plastic key might look good, but it won't hold up in heavy service.

The better deal is just go with the open level 1 and be done with it.

If you have a side winder key machine to make auto keys you could use jet SC-4 CP / CE blanks and mill your own side bar on them. That works well. Been doing that for ages and it saves a lot of cash over buying the original blanks. AS for what side bar to mill ... i won't answer that question. Know we are milling ours only, as we have been in the Primus biz for over 25 years. Just looking for a way to contain costs, and still provide an excellent piece of security.

The Sinifar

[Squelchtone]

I suppose that a plastic key might look good, but it won't hold up in heavy service.

The better deal is just go with the open level 1 and be done with it.

If you have a side winder key machine to make auto keys you could use jet SC-4 CP / CE blanks and mill your own side bar on them. That works well. Been doing that for ages and it saves a lot of cash over buying the original blanks. AS for what side bar to mill ... i won't answer that question. Know we are milling ours only, as we have been in the Primus biz for over 25 years. Just looking for a way to contain costs, and still provide an excellent piece of security.

The Sinifar

I might be wrong but I believe he 3D prints the plastic key to print out the needed sidebar code, then he copies that on a key machine onto a real blank. So I dont think the blue key is ever meant to be stuck in a lock to operate it.

OP: grest job on that key by the way, that's pretty slick!

Squelchtone

[mavor]

I might be wrong but I believe he 3D prints the plastic key to print out the needed sidebar code, then he copies that on a key machine onto a real blank. So I dont think the blue key is ever meant to be stuck in a lock to operate it.

OP: grest job on that key by the way, that's pretty slick!

Thank you. It took me a little time to fine tune dimensions, and a few mediocrely cut blanks.

That is correct. The 3d print is meant to be used as a template for a sidewinder machine to make accurate sidecuts. The depth keys aren't that useful since some horizontal variance is also needed for the each sidecut.

Initially, I thought that maybe I could print the actual keys and use them to open locks. Cheap home printers print plastic, websites like https://i.materialise.com can print metal, but accuracy isn't there. The keyway has fine curves and requires more precision than current printers can provide even set aside the cost. I can design a model which has all the curves but it's of no use if I cannot print it.

At the same time, the plastic model can be worked out with fine file to make it fit into the keyhole, and since it has all necessary cuts, it will certainly open the lock once or twice, we are not talking about regular use here, the plastic would eventually break.

If we talk about the security, well, considering all of the above, Primus is not that secure as it used to be. IMHO, Allegion is overcharging for that product, providing false sense of security. If it took me few weeks of my spare time to build that, imagine what would financially interested, legally non-constrained people would do.

[Sinifar]

Before you get too het up about the side bar cuts, remember this is a different blank entirely. Just cutting the side bar cuts into a 35-101C or SC 4 is not going to work. Trust me.

TheSinifar

[mavor]

Before you get too het up about the side bar cuts, remember this is a different blank entirely. Just cutting the side bar cuts into a 35-101C or SC 4 is not going to work. Trust me.

You are correct SC4 blank will not work, but SC4-PR-C-NS will. Jet makes blanks for C/E keyways and H (fits both). They are more expensive $1.7 vs $.25 but still work flawlessly. http://www.jetkeys.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=1_101

The metal key on that picture on top operates Primus cylinder with different finger pin combination.

That technique essentially frees one from Level 1 combinations. https://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=54785#p397851

Still no solution for different keyways though.