Kwikset Smart key and newer

[Raymond]

I understand how the Kwikset Smart Key is constructed, with 6 depths. But, since I am way out West on the border, I have never gotten a chance to look at a Weiser Smart Key or the newest Schlage version. Weiser and Schlage normally have 10 depths. On the new quick rekey locks how many depths does each have?

[peterwn]

I understand how the Kwikset Smart Key is constructed, with 6 depths. But, since I am way out West on the border, I have never gotten a chance to look at a Weiser Smart Key or the newest Schlage version. Weiser and Schlage normally have 10 depths. On the new quick rekey locks how many depths does each have?

10 depths seems only as good as 5 depths for Schlage consumer grade cylinders.The bottom of the driver pin may be slightly rounded (so inaccurate key duplication is less of an issue). Then Schlage do not use levels 0, 1 or 2 for machine assembled cylinders. Hence a theoretical 100,000 differs soon drops to 1000 or so effective differs.
Even with commercial grade masterkeyed cylinders, depth difference for 10 depths is too close for comfort so only 5 depths are used (0 2 4 6 8 or 1 3 5 7 9). Some manufacturers have gone away from 10 depths and use 6 depths only and all 6 can be used for masterkeying meaning more differs are available in practice compared with 10 depths.

[billdeserthills]

Locksmith Ledger has an article about this lock, unfortunately he doesn't go into detail about this subject

https://www.locksmithledger.com/locks/c ... evaluation

[Raymond]

Bildeserhills, That is exactly what I noticed. The article completely side stepped the depths question. Looks more complicated also. I have noticed from past reading that Weiser Smart Key is similar to Kwikset but wondered if it also was restricted to depths 1-6.

[billdeserthills]

Bildeserhills, That is exactly what I noticed. The article completely side stepped the depths question. Looks more complicated also. I have noticed from past reading that Weiser Smart Key is similar to Kwikset but wondered if it also was restricted to depths 1-6.

In the article I posted there's a link to buy a reset tool & other tools for this new setup--I ordered mine today

[cledry]

I have had the reset tool for probably 6 months now and have yet to see one of the locks. Nor can I find any of the locks or cylinders to buy. Bought 6 of the tools and so far just waiting and waiting and waiting for a chance to need to use.

[billdeserthills]

..

[stratmando]

Cledry, I find SmartKey locks in Doors being thrown out from a Local Door/Window Company, I take home, Dissemble, align the Grooves, be sure it slides then reassemble, Done Several, easy enough that I have never used a Reset Cradle given to me by Kwikset at a a Security Expo couple years ago.
Good to have under your Belt.
Plus I don't Carry it, as most work I do is Electrical/Electronic, have done at people homes they just purchased, but don't have Keys for All Locks.
A Hook Pick works fine as long as it's not magnetized, a card or thin plastic work well.
Good Luck

[billdeserthills]

I'm sure covid has a lot to do with how long it's taking to get this product to market but I remember also hearing about Kwikset's original smartkey lock at least a year before I ever got the chance to buy one

Gee what with the way Kwikset is hawking this product as being so easy for the homeowner to service, it's almost like Kwikset doesn't give a about the locksmith-- in fact the whole idea behind the first Kwikset lock was that it was 'so easy to install', in a likely attempt to cut out the locksmith

[GWiens2001]

Just ordered one of the SC1 SmartKey replacement cylinders that will fit into a deadbolt lockset late last night. Also ordered the reset/learn tools. The source was actually found accidentally, when Billdeserthills recommended Foley Belsaw's website for certain tools. Will let you know when it arrives. It was the only site I have been able to find that actually had SC1 SmartKey cylinders.

So thanks, billdeserthills for recommending a site I had not thought of looking at, even if it was not what I was looking for.

Gordon

[cledry]

Just ordered one of the SC1 SmartKey replacement cylinders that will fit into a deadbolt lockset late last night. Also ordered the reset/learn tools. The source was actually found accidentally, when Billdeserthills recommended Foley Belsaw's website for certain tools. Will let you know when it arrives. It was the only site I have been able to find that actually had SC1 SmartKey cylinders.

So thanks, billdeserthills for recommending a site I had not thought of looking at, even if it was not what I was looking for.

Gordon

We are an Allegion dealer and can't find the cylinders through distribution channels. Weird Foley-Belsaw has them before everyone else.

[stratmando]

I remember when SmartKey came out, Then Schlage Secure Key, SecureKey was so close to Kwiksets Design,
Think their was A Lawsuit, and they Stopped Producing them. Interesting, but a Good Idea to do in Schlage Keyway, wonder about Internals, tighter tolerances?, tougher or same as a Kwikset?

[GWiens2001]

I remember when SmartKey came out, Then Schlage Secure Key, SecureKey was so close to Kwiksets Design,
Think their was A Lawsuit, and they Stopped Producing them. Interesting, but a Good Idea to do in Schlage Keyway, wonder about Internals, tighter tolerances?, tougher or same as a Kwikset?

The internals are quite different. IMHO, the lawsuit was similar to the one won my Medeco against Emhart in that the judge saw only the superficial similarities and said the patent was infringed upon, even though the actual mechanism functioned with different parts and by different means. In other words, a poor judgement. Again, only my opinion. Guess I could do a teardown of a SecureKey.

Gordon

[stratmando]

They are similar, But different enough to deserve their own.
Could put next sentence in Lock picking in the Movies, You mention Medeco, reminded me of A Good Movie I just saw, "The Crown Affair", With Pierce Brosnan, The Insurance Investigator, momentarily borrowed his key, Guy went to the Van and Copied what looked like a Medeco Key, looked like All straight cuts?

[GWiens2001]

They are similar, But different enough to deserve their own.
Could put next sentence in Lock picking in the Movies, You mention Medeco, reminded me of A Good Movie I just saw, "The Crown Affair", With Pierce Brosnan, The Insurance Investigator, momentarily borrowed his key, Guy went to the Van and Copied what looked like a Medeco Key, looked like All straight cuts?

Three possibilities:

First, it is of course possible to set up the lock to have all center cuts, though it partly defeats the purpose.

Second, I have cut keys for Medeco on a standard duplicator by first making the cuts like a normal key, then use a triangular needle file to adjust the right and left cuts. The straight copy will cut the straight cuts normally, but on right and left rotation cuts, the straight copy will not reach the bottom of the cut due to the overlap of the ends of the angled cuts. Simply hold the triangle file at the angle of rotation and start filing down until the base of the cut reaches the depth of the straight cuts. The file will by necessity adjust the angles of the ramps made by the duplicator to the proper rotation.

Third, like most movies, it is a load of .

Gordon