How To Decode A Key

[@roysammons2445]

Great info that I haven't seen anyone else cover like this.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for the kind words !

[@s34nvideos]

Hi, which part do you measure on a double sided key? Where do you measure from and to? Let's assume it's reversible for simplicity. Thanks

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

I've never done it, usually eye ball them

[@CHZMN1]

Keep up the good work! :) Fyi, I think your videos were the first to really get me into locksport in general. Thank you for that!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for the kind words and I am glad you find them helpful 👍

[@bobsmith674]

Just the info I was looking for. Seems everyone else can only talk about using gauges. Thanks dude!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

These are really good. I also recommend getting a difference version for measuring key pins. It is a time saver and accurate

[@AlbertLebel]

Brilliant work. This is very helpful. I would like to work more with my Lishi key cutter and work out the two different key cut depth gauges on it so I can cut a key using those.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks for checking it out Al :-)

[@toonverberg1313]

Very informative. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@phpicker1552]

Great information that is very useful! I agree 100% on getting a better caliper. There not that much more money wise. Thanks for sharing. Cheers

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for checking it out! I am much happier with these calipers 😀

[@wiseone6251]

hi i watch your videos and they have helped me a lot thank you. I just purchased master lock 410lockout to practice with when its unlocked the key will not come out I know some locks work like that but I thought the master lock lockout key came out. thanks keep up the good work !!!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

The Master Lock 410 LOTO is one key for one lock for safety and when it is unlocked it is key retaining so you don't lose it and no one else with have access to it while a job is being performed.

[@Kane-5263]

Really educative, thank you for taking your time to explain all of this so clearly!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for the kind words and I am glad it helps 😊

[@chriscapune7873]

Great information!!!! Stay safe my friend 🐈‍⬛🐾🐈🐾😷

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks Chris!

[@fishpicks4531]

Very helpful - thanks HLP 🙌

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for the kind words and for your support :-)

[@mikehooper3392]

Thanks some good and useful information cheers!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@j.gabriel8573]

awesome info and informative video.. keep up the good work, be safe and stay well.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

thank you for the kind words and I am glad it helps 😊 also, I will check out your email in a little while

[@Pyrolock]

Well done video -- next show using a key gauge; BUT if you are like me I still like to use an accurate caliper to occasionally check making sure my Code Machine is cutting correct depths.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

I like to double-check my machines are cutting right too. I may do a key gauge video

[@PaulSri]

we have am emtek lock and i think we rekeyed it when we moved in. i see our key only has 5 bit codes -- which bitting code sheet should we be using? i see "SC1" on our keys. but not sure if we should use an EMTEK or other manufacturer bitting sheet. sorry for the noob question.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

If your key has SC1 on it likely it would follow the Schlage chart. I would try that first

[@jamkpa]

Well explained and helpful too!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@Robnord1]

I recently had some KW1 keys cut to code by a local locksmith. 3 cuts were .005" over spec, 1 was .006" over, and 1 was .007" over. Those taller cuts on this key make key pins scrape a little when the core is rotated. Does this just mean their cutter is a little out of calibration, and will they think I'm some kind of perfectionist if requesting a re-cut?

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

It is possible theirs is out of spec or if it is a manual machine it could be operator error. Did they cut the spacing right? Kwikset has wide spacing

[@Pyrolock]

Their Code Machine should do much better than that -- it needs to be re calibrated -- That's why I check a lot with accurate calipers so I know I'm not making bad keys

[@danareed1656]

thank you! vary interesting!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@williamsalmon8939]

Very interesting

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@busdriver9007]

do you have the sheet speck for Kwikset.???

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Yes

[@parapicktog7734]

Nice to know I can look up the bitting codes. But who uses plastic calipers??? Those are garbage crap and real ones only cost $2 more. Mine look identical to your plastic ones, but made of high grade steel and read pretty accurate. I even checked them against a micrometer. Just make sure to use either decimal imperial or metric scales...the fraction of inch scale is only to the closest 64th. (edit): BTW if the area you want to measure is too hard to keep the caliper edge on (like a pointy pin you want to measure or a pointy key cut) and you have a "good" set of calipers, you can use the flat caliper jaws instead of the edge tip. Might be off by a thou, but you only need to be accurate to 10 thou for keys and pins.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks for sharing

[@Funny_facts_usefull]

Nice Video but how do I Decode a lock?

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Lishi tool

[@Funny_facts_usefull]

@@HelpfulLockPicker thx but is it for every lock?

[@cerrajeriaaperturaexpress279]

👍🔒🔓

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

👍

[@sealand000]

Hmm... there's gotta be an app for that

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks for sharing

[@saschaschneider6355]

"How do we know if it's a 5 or a 6 cut?" You switch to mm and get either 5.6mm or 5.2mm? The problem you pointed out was only an issue when you insist on using imperial measurements ;) Fortunately my cheap calipers have none of the problems yours had. It was around 12€ and can measure to three decimal points and is made of metal. Lidl ftw ;) It doesn't look as sleak as your nice calipers, though Otherwise, great video! One method I was wondering about while watching your video. Adam Savage has made a video about blue machinist fluid some time ago (kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGbPknqfaKyCba8). I wonder if that wouldn't be something you could use to make a quick copy. Paint the blank with the fluid, clamp the blank and the original key together and then use a scribe to scratch the bitting into the fluid. Take away the original key and you then can file down the blank to the thin line you've created in the previous step.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

People have done similar things with different materials. It is always interesting the different ways people come up with things. I will have to check my caliper but I dont believe mine measures more precisely in mm.

[@saschaschneider6355]

@@HelpfulLockPicker the thing is that in mm one digit after the decimal point is enough and even the cheapest calipers can do that. Even my 5€ banggood one. The problem is that one inch is fairly large and working with fractions of that yields a lot of digits after the decimal point. 1 inch is 25mm, that makes it easier to show smaller numbers on a small display

[@saschaschneider6355]

@@HelpfulLockPicker have you tried?

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

why even mention the 0 in the numer if its irrelevant

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you