Residential Locksmith Starter 4 - Keys & Pin Kit Basics

In episode 4 of our Residential Locksmith Starter series we are going to take a look at the most common US residential keys, Kwikset Schlage Weiser. We will look at the slight differences in the keys and how they interact with their respective locks and the very basics of the pin kit and it’s charts that will help you learn how to match new pins from the kit to keys when you have to rekey the locks.
As notated this is a very brief look at each one and later in the series when we start rekeying each brands locks we will delve off into the rekeying part further and expand on what some of the other numbers and sections of the charts information (like MACS and such)
Complete Residential Locksmith Starter Series
1: Intro to New Series • Residential Locksmith ...
2: The Legal • Residential Locksmith ...
3: The Tools • Residential Locksmith ...
4: Keys & Pin Kit Basics • Residential Locksmith ...
5: Kwikset Standard Rekey • Residential Locksmith ...
6: Recovering from Exploded Cylinders • Residential Locksmith ...
7: Kwikset Titan • RLS 7 - Kwikset Titan
8: Spinning Plugs • Residential Locksmith ...
9: Kwikset Smartkey • RLS 9 - Kwikset Smartkey
10: The Oddball Kwiksets • RLS 10 - Kwikset Keywa...
11: Kwikset Handlesets • RLS 11 - Kwikset Handl...
12: Schlage F Series Knobs • RLS 12 - Schlage F Series
12.5 Schlage FC Series Passage & Privacy Custom • RLS 12.5 “Schlage FC ~...
13: Schlage Deadbolt History and Screw Cap Removal • RLS 13 - Schlage Deadb...
14: Schlage Deadbolt Rekeying • RLS 14 - Schlage Deadb...
15: Schlage F Series Compressible Cylinder • RLS 15 - Schlage Compr...
16: Schlage SecureKey • RLS 16 - Schlage Secur...
17: Schlage A Series • RLS 17 - Schlage A Series
18: Schlage D Series • RLS 18 - Schlage D Series
19: Schlage EB Series Handleset • RLS 19 - Schlage EB Ha...
20: Schlage Electronic Locks • RLS 20 - Schlage Elect...
21: Baldwin Tubular • RLS 21 - Baldwin Tubul...
22: Baldwin Handleset Thumb Repair • RLS 22 - Baldwin Handl...
23: All About Spindles • RLS 23 - Spindles
24: Images & Estate Passage-Privacy Lock Repairs • RLS 24 - Baldwin Image...
25: Baldwin Mortise Lock • RLS 25 “Baldwin Mortis...
26: Weiser Old Old Old • RLS 26 “Old Old Old We...
27: Weiser Deadbolt Generations • RLS 27 “Weiser Deadbol...
28: Weiser Knobs • RLS 28 “Weiser Knobs”
29: WeiserBolt the Doorknob Deadbolt in One • RLS 29 “WeiserBolt - t...
30: Weiser Fashion Keyed Handlesets • RSL 30 “Weiser Keyed H...
31: Weiser Kwikset Design • RLS 31 “the Weiser clo...
32: Weslock ye Olden • RLS 32 “ye olden Weslock”
33: National Lock • RLS 33 “National Hardw...
34: Dexter Lock • RLS 34 “Dexter Lock” (...
35: Dexter Oval Close Space Pin • RLS 35 “Dexter Close P...
36: Yale Older Residential • RLS 36 “Older Yale Res...
37: Yale Rim and Jimmyproof • RLS 37 “Yale Rim & Jim...

[@SonoftheWars]

Finally. Someone from my country.

[@geraldskinner63]

Happy Father’s Day! When I started out, one of the tricks that helped me identify a keyway quickly was the front of the lock. A kwikset key hole looks like a “2 and a Schlage looks like an S. I also learned how to sight read keys. It comes in handy when you do a good read.

[@bubbadoom1837]

Thank you for these. Giving a fella hope he can change career paths.

[@selock]

Glad they help :) Good luck on your journey

[@bubbadoom1837]

@@selock thanks, brother. I think they will.

[@romuloresendiz]

I'm new to locksmithing also, thank you for this Video.....

[@traveler8696]

I just found this channel and am I glad. not sure how many I will go through tonight. Need to pass a thank you for this series.

[@ImGumbyDangit]

Happy Father's Day Jason. Thanx for the Video. I have never seen an Arrow branded lock before and did not know Kwikset key would fit it. I did know the Kwikset would fit a Wieser.

[@jeffmoss26]

We sell a lot of arrow knobs in arrow and Schlage keyways. As Jason said not very common in residential though

[@starkusmc1981]

Just finding your channel and I appreciate these videos. I'm a Institutional Locksmith, so I don't run across this stuff outside of my own use. This helps me be more rounded outside of my normal functions.

[@petewoodfine2100]

Hi Jason. Happy Father's Day. Thanks for explaining the difference between key manufacturers keys. I didn't know which is interchangeable with which until this. So thanks for edumikashionall me.

[@azskyking6542]

Get to the part about firing mortise locks from a graphite delivery system!!!!! YEAH BOI!!!!!! Happy Father's Day Jason.

[@azskyking6542]

Take Kim on a nice vacation. She deserves it for putting up with you...and us.

[@selock]

right? I need to make a mess something fierce

[@billnormand7470]

Great series Jason. Thanks for putting this together!

[@glnooner]

I love your videos. They are very helpful to me as a new locksmith.

[@zach2763]

I learned a couple key tidbits here -- thanks

[@jmr]

Great video.

[@odinslockllc]

Great vid. Thanks for sharing!

[@stephenzies8867]

Happy Father's Day To Jason And The Lockforce Community

[@kevinbacon9660]

Thanks for the great video. I actually like to use the 7 depth for Kwikset (which I believe is the .309 in my .003 kit) because it opens up more key combinations. I just have to be careful of the MAC.

[@selock]

Watch out for those houses that have smart key mixed in though!

[@kevinbacon9660]

@@selock great clarifying point! I can only use the seven cut on the pin in spring cores, not the smart key.

[@Chirael]

Great video Jason, thanks for doing this 🙏 What was the little spoon you use to transfer pins in a pinning kit?

[@selock]

I think Peter Fox sent me those, kitchen measuring spoons!

[@Chirael]

@@selock I ordered a cheap set and hope one fits reasonably well. So annoyed that you’re not supposed to mix metals and most SFIC keys are nickel silver… yet the pinning kit comes with all brass pins including the bottom key pins 😕

[@user-ex3ke9rg3w]

👍

[@joebrass4076]

I have a apartment complex with all Wiser deadbolts where can I get pin kit and name of kit.

[@bengarcia6898]

What size micrometer would I need to read the keys? I see harbor freight has the 6 inch once but not sure if that is what you use?

[@selock]

Yep, it’s fine for “rough” measuring for depths

[@bengarcia6898]

@@selock is that the same one you are using?

[@selock]

@@bengarcia6898 probably, as it’s the shop mic

[@usernamemykel]

He wasn't using a micrometer - he was using a dial caliper. Micrometers are ""C" shaped.

[@ken_9359]

Dang it Wes, he didn't mention the Weslock.

[@selock]

Weslock being obscure more will come later, I have a whole bin full of them to use for that video :)

[@ken_9359]

@@selock Your students will be Weiser for that.

[@gerardwalker8324]

Great video. but you said using a Kwikset key that has cuts for a Kwikset lock will work with a defiant or similar lock type when using the the pin sizes for Kwikset. lthe cuts on a Defiant key are the same spacing as Kwikset true, but the depths are different. a number 2 cut on a Defiant lock key is a number 1 Kwikset pin. a number 3 cut is a number 2 and so forth. the cuts on Defiant keys are 1 size away from kwikset pins. the reason i know is i have had Defiant keys and they are different in size to Kwikset key pins.

[@selock]

Negative. Defiant uses the exact same space & depth as Kwikset for their keys. You may have gotten a mis-stamp/factory screwup or something but I can assure you they are KW depths :)

[@outlawlocksmith]

Kwikset & Schlage Used Some Of The Same Pins. Kwikset & Schlage 2 Pin. Kwikset 4 Pin & Schlage 5 Pin.

[@selock]

yep, several mfg’s “share” pins, one reason why 195, 210, 240, 285 always need refilling! I’ll have to make sure I point that out in the future rekey videos :)

[@LOLO-vu9qi]

Hi brother Thank you so much for this video I have a problem with the key for my car The key not open the car But the problem not in the key The problem in the cylinder inside front door car I need send is this part for you to fix I take this off ready How to connect with you ? I hope to send it to you to fix it where you address please Thank you so much 🙏

[@selock]

I’m going to assume Honda, and that’s one we don’t deal with :)

[@LOLO-vu9qi]

@@selock It's okay no problem Thank you

[@jimmymumper1417]

If you turn a Kwikset key to the side it has a hidden k in the bow.

[@jeffmoss26]

Tumblers!!

[@usernamemykel]

You referred to a dial caliper as a micrometer. A micrometer is "C" shaped.

[@selock]

if you’d like to nitpick over things, this isn’t the channel for ya

[@usernamemykel]

Try to use a micrometer to measure the depth of a key cut - it won't work. Your video is depicting what tools one should use for specific jobs, so that newbies can learn - referring to an elephant as a giraffe is misleading and tends only to add to confusion to a newcomer.

[@selock]

@@usernamemykel nitpicking still. If you go google digital micrometer you will get a pleasant mix of both calipers & micrometers so even a newbie can compare what is in this video to figure out what they want. This video isn’t all about micrometers