If you aren’t familiar with this term, as a lot of people aren’t, let me introduce you to a little thing called a re-key.

Re-keying a lock is pretty much what it sounds like; but let me break it down into even simpler terms. It means to take an existing lock and make the key that works, no longer work by reconfiguration the pins so a new key will work. (Ripping out the insides and replacing them with newer, faster, stronger, better than before… okay maybe not quite… but you get the idea now.)

Why would anyone want to do this? I mean, why not just go out and buy new locks? Replacement hardware as the solution? There are a couple of reasons why you don’t need to go out and buy new hardware. First, its a more expensive choice. Second, if you buy a lock that costs less than it does to re-key your locks, then you are probably buying cheap locks that will fail relatively quickly. Also many locksmith can’t or won’t re-key a cheap lock. They aren’t made to spec; because they aren’t meant to be re-keyed, they’re meant to be thrown away. (Really, I’m not making that up!)

Most locksmiths charge between $10-$20 to re-key a lock (depending on who you call). If a locksmith comes out to you, then you will be charged a service call as well as the re-key charge. (Some locksmith also charge a labor as well as an hourly rate on top of that as well. We don’t.)  When calling any locksmith, ask if they charge a flat rate or if there is going to be a labor or an hourly rate as well. Find out what the service call is and the re-key charge per cylinder. Some locks have two cylinders [such as double sided deadbolts] and you will be charged accordingly. Every where a key goes is a cylinder. So count cylinders, not doors. One door may have a deadbolt and a knob. That’s usually two cylinders.

The decision to re-key or replace is really a matter of how the lock is holding up. Some locks can last a lifetime, only needing a squirt of WD-40 from time to time. Others, especially cheaper locks, will fail faster.

You never know when you might need to re-key your home. So here are a few good practices to keep in mind:

1. When you purchase a new home. Why? Whether your home is a manufactured home or it has been built to your specifications, you don’t know who may have a key to your home. Even if the contractor gave you all the keys; Did the sub-contractors turn them all in? Did they make extra copies to make it easier so they could paint the walls or put in the flooring? Just because your home is new, doesn’t mean that for peace of mind you shouldn’t have your locks re-keyed. Note: This is not saying contractors are bad and they didn’t give you all the keys. Its just a good practice.
2. When you move into a rental; have the landlord re-key the locks prior to your moving in, or ask permission to have the locks re-keyed as soon as you move in. You don’t know how many people the previous tenants may have given keys to.
3. When you purchase a pre-owned home. How many keys did the Realtor have out there? How many friends, neighbors and/or family members did the previous owners give keys to? Peace of mind and personal safety is worth the cost of re-keying your locks. I have had customers tell me that they knew the previous owner and they were sure that they had all the keys. They are probably correct in their assumption, but did they ask the previous owners how many keys they had lost over the years?
4. If you purchase ‘keyed alike’ locks from a big box store. You go to a box store and buy “keyed alike” locks; the packaging will often say ’match this number’ to another box to purchase another keyed alike lock. The problem? Well, everyone else doing the same thing. If you go and find twenty-two (22) locks keyed alike and need only two (2) who is buying the other twenty (20)? Box stores have keyed alike numbers in bulk, so you aren’t the only one getting them. Now who else has a key to your house? Most locksmith do not charge a re-key fee if you purchase the locks from them. So the benefit of buying locks from a locksmith is that the chances of them re-keying your locks to the same as someone else is reduced by literally tens of thousands.
5. Your keys were lost or stolen. Yes, this is an easy one. If you don’t know who has your keys, then you definitely should re-key your locks.

Another really good practice, if you use key tags to separate your keys, never, and I mean never, put your full name, physical address, or phone number on your keys. Mark the tags with something you will remember such as ”summer house”. Use one of those services “if lost drop in the mail”. Or return to a Post office box. (In this case the address without your name.)

I would really like to see your comments, get your feedback, or answer your questions, and hear about your experiences! Feel free to leave your comments.

Recently I’ve had several calls from folks wanting more information about Bump-Keys, and how to defend against them.

It seems Channel 2 News did a segment on these not too long ago.  Knowing that the News must have ratings, I can kind of guess that it was slanted for maximum effect. For those that are interested or concerned about the concept of bump-keys, here’s a short explanation. I’ll offer a few solutions and defenses against bumping later.

Start by a looking at how a common residential lockset is constructed. Inside there are typically five separate “pin stacks”. Each pin stack consist of at least a bottom pin, a top pin, and a spring. With the right key, the pins are lifted to the shear line  allowing the plug to turn, thus unlocking the lock. A bump key is a specially cut key that, by it self, will NOT open the lock, but once inserted and given a tap (bump), will cause the pin stacks to jump. For a just a mili-second, the pins will be in the right position for the cylinder to turn and allow the lock to open.

Without minimizing the threat, there are several things that need to happen for this to work. The correct amount of “bump” needs to be given and at the exact same time a turning action needs to be applied to the lock, and in the right direction. Not every bumping attempt is going to be successful. Pressure, timing, the cut of the bump key, the condition of the lock, the pressure exerted by the springs, and the length of the pins, all have an effect on the outcome.

This isn’t a new concept. It has been one method of many, used by locksmiths for so many years that it’s impossible to even know where it originated. One of the concerns for many, is that the criminally minded can use this concept to break in to their home or business.  For the record, I’ve never heard of a break-in using this method. Usually they will kick in a door jamb or find a door or window unlocked. That doesn’t minimize the possibility and there are things that can be done to prevent it from happening.  I do see an alarming trend, especially on the internet, where more and more people are wanting to sell information and bump keys to make a few dollars, so I suppose this is a threat that could become more feasible in the future.

Solutions

One of the best ways is to install a higher security lock on your home. I’ve always wondered about all the beautiful homes I see that cost hundreds of of thousands of dollars, being protected by the cheapest locks offered by the local hardware store. I think good security, protection of your assets, and family safety deserve a little more than what is on sale. I’ve heard it said that locks only keep honest persons honest, but at 2:00AM when you hear someone messing with your door – aren’t you glad you were only worried about the honest people? What should be done about the not so honest?

One solution is to invest in a lock brand that could be considered “bump proof”. Generally they will need to be purchased from a locksmith. Some of the brands in common use are MEDICO, ASSA, Bi-Lock, and Scorpion. These come with proprietary keys that are usually licensed only to the specific locksmith that sells them. Duplicate keys are more expensive but can’t be made by the local five and dime store and often not even by another locksmith. That means you can be sure no one can get a key to your home that you don’t know about, and that’s a good thing!

The line I carry is the Scorpion. They’re a little less expensive than the others but like the others, these locks can’t be bumped, are virtually pick proof, and have defenses against drill attack. I’m the only one in Utah that can purchase the key blanks for these and I’m required by contract, not to make duplicates without a signature card on file from the owner of the lock.

Short of changing lock sets, there are also techniques that can take with your current locks. By making modifications to the pin stacks, a locksmith can virtually eliminate the chances that a standard bump attack would be successful. These include using longer and shorter pins together and varying the strength and length of the springs used in the locks among other measures.

If you’d like any further information on protection against bump keys, home and office security, or other issues concerning your locks. I encourage responses and feedback to this article.