You do n’t fool around with abode security . The front door locks automatically when you leave . And there ’s no way you ’d be a grown enough sucker to hide a spare key beneath the welcome mat . But what will you do if you lock yourself out ? crush your own windowpane ? Not a chance .
Instead , be after to pop the lock like a pro — with a swelling key . The lodge - down key can launch the lock , but using it right takes some science . Stash a bump key by the front door , and you ’ve covered yourself without creating an open invitation to intruders . Here ’s how to make the unspoiled putz you could use for a DIY B&E.
You Should Do This If:
You run to forget the “ Phone , Keys , Wallet ” mantra before you walk outside .
Moment of Satisfaction:
Having enough finesse to bump open a lock quicker than using the genuine paint .
Biggest Pain in the Ass:
Not smashing your fingers when hammer the key home .
Materials and Tools Required
( 1 ) primal space matched to the model of your lock
( 1 ) anchor vise
( 1 ) round file

( 1 ) triangular file
( 1 ) ok Sharpie
( 1 ) swayer

( 1 ) piece of paper of 300 - grit sandpaper
( 1 ) bump hammer , safe mallet , or screwdriver
Difficulty and Cost
Easier than picking the whorl and tawdry than calling a locksmith .
Building It
chink the original key ’s face to find the alpha - numerical model — the SC1 , WK2 , and KW1 are popular central type in North America . head up to the hardware memory board and beak up a blank ( unmown ) key of the same type .
Line the original key up even with the dummy . Find the lowest valley among the tooth and check off it with the Sharpie . Using the ruler and Sharpie , draw a line from that point , along the length of the blank . This will be the fillet point in time for the file . Then , sketch the original key ’s teeth on the blank as a series of 5mm - tall triangular humps .
Insert the blank into the bench vise and part filing . apply the round and triangular Indian file to make the blank ’s dentition cope with the abstract — compared to the original , the young tooth should have the same height and spacing , with the first tooth sitting at the hint of the cay . Smooth the file ’s burrs along the key ’s edge with a spot of 300 - grit emery paper .

right bumping proficiency takes a little while to get down . But once you do , it becomes second nature . Insert the fundamental rough 3/4 of the style into the whorl — the rearmost tooth should be just peeking out of the tumbler . Apply gentle lateral pressure to the key , as if you were turning it commonly in the lock . Then hit the headstone , using the bump hammer , rubber hammer , or the butt end of a screwdriver .
The encroachment shoves the bump tonality into the lock . Done correctly , the tooth have the case-by-case pin to jump gratis of the shear line and issue the tumbler .
If the bump key does n’t skid smoothly into the curl , do n’t pull it . Use a morsel of dry plumbago lubricant to thin the rubbing and test again . If it still does n’t set , you may need to get back to mould with the files and emery paper . Too much unreasonable force can destroy the lock , requiring it to be drilled out of the room access and completely replaced .

If you give up completely , you’re able to alsoorder a set of swelling keys , but you better be a licensed and bind locksmith if you ’re thinking about doing that .
[ Security.org Important Legal Information – EHow – iSnare – Secret Agent Mag – Wikipedia ]
homemodHow TolocksSecurity

Daily Newsletter
Get the near technical school , science , and civilization newsworthiness in your inbox daily .
News from the future tense , delivered to your present tense .
You May Also Like










![]()
