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Locked Out? Tips To Avoid A Lockout

The most frequent call a locksmith receives is from those who have locked themselves out of their house, office, or car. Are you locked out? Don’t worry! It happens to everyone at one time or another. Maybe your morning was unusually hectic, or maybe you want to use your key as usual, but this time it broke off inside the lock. Whatever your reason for being locked out, follow these tips to avoid a lockout.

Locked Out?

Locked Out? Tips To Avoid A Lockout Are you locked out of your home, business, or automobile? You need help, and you need help fast to get you back inside with a working key in your hand. The fastest way to get your door unlocked and a duplicate key made on the spot is by calling a qualified, knowledgeable, and skilled professional locksmith in Lenexa KS who will come to you in a hurry and not damage your locks or doors and won’t overcharge. Of course, if you are locked out because your key broke off inside the lock, you will need a locksmith immediately to come help extract the key and provide you with a duplicate on the spot.

Tips To Avoid A Lockout

Are you locked out? Follow the above tips to avoid a lockout, and you won’t have to worry about it ever again.

Routinely Double-Check

No one likes to be second-guessed, but when it comes to making sure you are never locked out, it’s important to always perform a routine double-check. Make it part of your daily habits to check if you have your keys in hand.

Use Reminders

Attach bright accessories or those that make noise to your key chain so they will be less likely to get lost. If they do show up lost, they will be easier to find. If losing your keys is a problem that happens frequently, attach a key locator device that will alarm when triggered that you are searching for your keys.

Trust a Spare Key to a Friend or Secure Location

If you live in an apartment or rent, you’re in luck since your landlord will probably have a duplicate copy of your key or has a master key system in place. Keep a duplicate key in a safe location. Leave a copy with a nearby neighbor you trust or a friend or family member who will be able to come to you quickly when you need it. Another good way to always have a key on hand and never get locked out is to hide a key in a secure location. Don’t ever stash a key in the obvious locations like under the front door mat, but find a spot out of view and out of the ordinary hiding places where you will be able to access it in time of need. On your vehicle, there are magnetic key storage cases that can be hidden somewhere on the underside of the car.

Find a Local Locksmith Before You Need One

The time to find a locksmith you trust and who is affordable is before you need their assistance. Research nearby locksmith Lenexa, and have the number of ones you trust to call in time of an emergency lockout. They will come to you quickly to open your door without leaving damage.

Go Keyless

If you lose your keys frequently, and it is becoming an ongoing problem, it would be a great idea to go keyless. Keyless entry systems are electronic and operate on a number combination, or even on a thumbprint entry. You will never need a key again so long as you remember the right combination.

If you follow the above tips to avoid a lockout, you will never need again hear someone ask, are you locked out?

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Bump Key

Maybe you’ve heard the term, “bump key” before and wondered what is a bump key, how do you make it, and what makes a lock bump proof?

What is a Bump Key?

Bump Key Bump keys are keys that are specially cut to take advantage of the mechanics of pin tumbler locks. They are often used by first responders and security personnel to gain entry when picking a lock is impractical or not possible. They are also used by criminals to break into offices and homes. Some research indicates that nearly every conventional business or home lock is susceptible to being opened by a bump key attack.

Bump keys work on pin tumbler locks which contain key pins and driver pins located within the core and cylinder of the lock. In the locked position, the key pins and driver pins occupy the same pinhole and are pushed together by a spring that prevents the rotation of the core. When you insert a key that is cut for that specific lock, the grooves on the key push the pins into alignment along the shear line which allows you to rotate the core and retract any bolt work which unlocks the lock and allows you to open your door.  Aligning these pins to allow a separation between the key pin and the driver pin to align with the separation between the core and housing creates a shear line. This shear line allows the core to rotate within the lock cylinder. If you insert the wrong key, the gap between the pins will not line up properly with the core and will not create a shear line which will prevent the core from rotating, and the door will remain locked.

A bump key is key works on the same basic idea as a lock pick gun. The bump key is cut with low peaks and wide valleys in the groves. To open a lock, you partially insert the bump key into the lock and then you bump the key by applying force with a hammer or blunt object. This bump forces the key deeper into the lock and causes the key pins to the jar and the driver pins to move just enough to create a shear line that allows the user to quickly turn the key, turning the core and unlocking the lock.

For how to make a bump key video instructions click here 

How Do You Make a Bump Key?

Theoretically, a bump key can be made at home using a file. However, this can be difficult and tedious. First, a bump key must be made from a key that is similar to the key that fits the lock you are trying to bump. The easiest way to make a bump key is to buy a bump key set from a hardware store or online. If you want to try to make your own, you will need a set of blank keys that fit the specific style of lock you want to open, a depth or spacing guide for your lock manufacturer’s keys, or a digital caliper to measure depth and spacing, and a triangular, taper file, or a key clipper. After making the first cut using the first value, each subsequent cut should be spaced at equal intervals and never go below the indented line on the key. It’s going to require a great deal of filing, effort, a bit of precision and time. Make sure the angle of your cuts are shallow enough to allow for smooth insertion and removal of the key.

What Makes a Lock Bump Proof

For a lock to completely bump proof, it must have no keyhole or a locking mechanism that is designed to specifically bump proof. The safest way to make sure your lock is bump proof is to get a deadbolt without a keyhole. There are locks that open by using a personal code that you enter into a number pad, turn the knob, and the lock unlocks. The best part is that it is completely bumps proof because it doesn’t use a keyhole to open it. There are also locks that have a keyhole but provide you with a bump stop cylinder that uses a special pin inside the lock to prevent the pins from jumping from a bump making the cylinder unable to turn, which in turn makes the lock stay locked and unable to bump.

Our Expert Locksmith Lenexa team has provided us with the above information explains what is a bump key, how do you make it, and what makes a lock bump proof? Like any tool, a bump key can be used for purposes of good intent, for first responders and security to get to you when you need it most, but it can also end up in the hands of those who want to break into a home or business for bad intent. Remember, that in the hands of someone who isn’t accustomed to using this kind of key, it can leave damage to your lock. Make sure your locks are bump proof and secure by contacting a professional locksmith to evaluate and recommend the best locks for your home and business.