However, making one yourself isn’t advisable as the price of a bump key set is not very high. Even for someone who has a modest knowledge in being a locksmith, making this kind of key is simple by using any blank and using simple locksmith tools. A full set requires bump keys from all the major lock manufacturers.Ĭheck out some of our videos to see how lock bumping can be applied to many types of locks, allowing you to learn how to open them with your key set in seconds.īump keys are specifically designed so that the cuts are all at maximum depth. It has to have the correct number of cylinders, and the key should fit the groove of the lock for it to work. A Kwikset lock needs an exact bump key made specifically for a Kwikset lock. Bump keys are mostly manufacturer-specific.

The most important thing to consider is the kind of bump keys you’ll be using for a lock. With a few bumps, keys will align the cylinders and turn your lock. However, “bumping” has proven to be very reliable for locksmiths, repossessors, and landlords to open these kinds of locks. Of course, not all first attempts are successful. Surprisingly, bump keys are very effective at opening pin-tumbler locks. Thus, the cuts on your key should have the correct depths for the grooves to turn the lock. Pin-tumbler locks work on the principle that all driver pins should be aligned correctly (not too high nor too low) with the key pins on the shear line for the lock to turn. The process of opening a lock using bump keys is called “lock bumping,” and it has proven to be very effective. Normally, you would need a bump key set to be able to pick a wide variety of locks. With the right bump key set and tools, a beginner can start bumping open locks that previously would have been hard or even impossible to crack.Ī bump key ( sometimes known as a bumper key, bumping keys, etc.) is a specially-designed tool that allows you to pick pin-tumbler locks - the world’s most popular kind of locks. Lock bumping has become a worldwide phenomenon in home security, though not the desired one by some people.

What is a bump key and how does it work