A cylinder key is a standard mechanical key designed to operate a cylinder lock, such as a pin tumbler or wafer lock, by aligning the internal pins or wafers at the shear line so the plug can rotate. Cylinder keys are the most common type of key in everyday use, found on residential doors, commercial...
Impressioning is a non-destructive locksmith technique used to create a working key for a lock without disassembling the lock or having an original key to copy. The method works by inserting a blank key into the lock and using rotational pressure to cause the lock's pins to leave faint marks on the blank, which the...
A hook pick is a lockpicking tool with a single curved tip, shaped to catch and lift one pin at a time inside a pin tumbler lock. It's one of the most fundamental and widely used pick styles, forming the foundation of single pin picking (SPP) — the technique of setting each pin individually rather...
A practice lock is a training lock designed specifically for learning and improving lockpicking skills, rather than for securing a door or property. Practice locks for picking typically use standard pin tumbler mechanisms but are built with transparent housings, adjustable difficulty settings, or simplified internals so beginners can see — or gradually build toward —...
A lockpick is a specialized tool used to manipulate the internal components of a lock — most commonly a pin tumbler lock — in order to open it without using the original key. A lockpick works by applying targeted pressure to individual pins inside the lock cylinder, allowing a skilled user to align them at...
An Autopropad key programmer is a professional automotive key programming device manufactured by Autel, used to program transponder keys, remote fobs, and smart keys across a wide range of vehicle makes and models. Autopropad key programming combines OBD-based programming, all-keys-lost recovery, and immobilizer functions in a single handheld device, making it a core tool for...
A key programmer is an electronic device used to write or update the security data on a transponder key, remote, or smart key so a vehicle's immobilizer system recognizes it as authorized. Unlike a key cloning machine, which simply copies existing chip data, a key programmer tool communicates directly with the vehicle's onboard computer —...
An IC core (Interchangeable Core) is a self-contained lock cylinder that can be removed and replaced by hand using a control key, without disassembling the lock body or the surrounding door hardware. IC cores are designed to drop into a standardized housing — called a core housing or "IC housing" — used across many commercial...
A bump key is a specially cut key used to open pin tumbler locks through a technique known as lock bumping, without using the lock's original key. It is cut to the maximum depth on every position (known as an "all-9 cut"), which allows it to fit into the keyway of a compatible lock while...
A DND stamp stands for "Do Not Duplicate" stamp — text physically engraved or stamped onto a key's bow to indicate that the key should not be copied without proper authorization. DND stamps are a deterrent measure rather than a technical security feature, intended to discourage unauthorized duplication at retail key-cutting kiosks, hardware stores, and...
A key gauge is a flat, precision-marked measuring tool used by locksmiths to identify the cut depths and spacing on a key, or to measure pin heights during lock rekeying. Rather than guessing or relying solely on a key machine's built-in code chart, a key gauge lets a locksmith physically measure and confirm cut depths,...
A lock bypass tool is a device used to open a lock by manipulating its internal mechanism directly, without picking the pins or using the original key. Rather than working through the lock's keyway like a pick or tension wrench, bypass tools typically access the locking mechanism through a gap, latch, or structural weakness in...
Space and depth keys are a reference set of pre-cut keys used by locksmiths to cut a new key from a bitting code, without needing a code machine. Each key in the set represents one specific depth value, cut across every space on the blade. By working through these reference keys from the shallowest depth...
A deadbolt lock is a door locking mechanism that secures a door using a solid metal bolt that extends directly into the door frame, without the spring-loaded action found in standard latch locks. Because the bolt doesn't retract under pressure the way a spring latch does, deadbolts offer significantly stronger resistance to forced entry, making...
A mag lock, short for magnetic lock, is an electronic locking device that uses an electromagnet and a metal armature plate to hold a door closed, rather than a mechanical bolt or latch. When power is applied to the electromagnet, it creates a strong magnetic bond with the armature plate mounted on the door, keeping...
A smart lock is an electronic locking device that allows a door to be locked and unlocked using methods beyond a traditional mechanical key, such as a smartphone app, keypad code, fingerprint, or key fob. Most smart locks connect to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or a home automation hub, giving homeowners the ability to control access remotely,...
A car key fob is a small electronic device used to remotely lock, unlock, and sometimes start a vehicle without physically turning a key in the ignition. Key fobs communicate wirelessly with a vehicle's receiver using radio frequency signals, and many modern versions also include a proximity sensor that allows keyless entry and push-button start...
A rim cylinder is a lock cylinder designed to mount on the surface of a door, most commonly used with rim locks and surface-mounted deadbolts such as vertical night latches. Unlike a mortise cylinder, which threads into a recessed pocket cut into the door, a rim cylinder attaches through a single round hole drilled through...
A transponder key blank is an uncut automotive key that contains an embedded electronic chip inside its plastic head, used to communicate with a vehicle's immobilizer system. Unlike a standard mechanical key blank, which only needs to be cut correctly to operate a lock, a transponder key blank must also be electronically programmed so the...
A key cloning machine is a device used to duplicate transponder and remote automotive keys by copying the electronic data stored inside the original key's chip onto a compatible cloning chip or blank. Unlike a mechanical key cutting machine, which only reproduces the physical cut pattern, a key cloning machine focuses on replicating the invisible...
A mortise cylinder is a removable lock cylinder that threads directly into a mortise lock body, allowing the cylinder to be installed, replaced, or rekeyed without removing the entire lock. Unlike a rim cylinder, which mounts on the surface of a door, a mortise cylinder screws into a threaded housing recessed into the door itself,...
A pin tumbler lock is one of the most widely used lock mechanisms in the world, found on residential doors, commercial buildings, padlocks, and cabinet locks. It secures a door or object by using a series of spring-loaded pins inside a cylinder that must be aligned at a specific point, called the shear line, before...
A wafer lock is a type of lock cylinder that uses flat, disc-shaped wafers instead of round pins to control access. Each wafer sits inside a spring-loaded slot in the plug and must be aligned precisely at the shear line before the plug can rotate and the lock can open. Wafer locks are compact, affordable,...
A try-out key is a specially cut locksmith key used to open pin tumbler locks without the original key, by testing a series of pre-cut key blanks until one aligns the pins at the shear line. Try-out keys are typically sold in graduated sets, with each key in the set cut to a slightly different...
