Lock Bumping is on the increase. It is a method of tapping (bumping) a key into a cylinder while putting side tension on the key. The result is to bounce the pins inside the cylinder and hopefully line them up so the key will turn. Obviously it is not as simple as it sounds. The key used must be engineered using the correct blank needed for the cylinder, and practice is needed to perfect the technique.
The media and the internet has covered this subject to the full with videos of young children bumping locks with ease. When a cheap lock is continually used it wears so it becomes far too easy to bump.
In this diagram the correct key lines the red key pins along
the shear
line. The blue sprung loaded driver pins hold
these pins in place. The key will then turn
and the lock will open.
However, when the wrong key is inserted into the lock, the pins no
longer line up. There is no way the key will turn as there is no
alignment with the shearline.This is the principal used in almost all
cylinder locks.
If a key is re-cut to make a bumping key then tapping the key into the lock will hopefully bounce the pins along the shear line. If you are really lucky and bounce all the pins at the right time whilst putting turning pressure on the key, the key will turn and open the lock.
High quality locks with finer tolerances used within manufacture, are smoother in operation and hence easier to bounce the pins. However, the introduction of mushroom or spool pins for example combat this. Most manufacturers of high quality and security cylinders are aware of this and have designed anti bumping measures into their locks.
At AFC Lock & Safe we advise our customers quality in security is the only option.
