A wafer (or wafer tumbler, disc tumbler, plate tumbler) is a type of lock design that uses flat metal locking components to directly block rotation of the plug. Wafer keys position all wafers at the shear line to allow the plug to rotate freely.
Why are wafer locks easier to pick?
You pick the wafers exactly the same way you pick pins — in fact, it is a little bit easier to pick wafer-tumbler locks because the keyhole is wider. A wafer-tumbler cylinder lock works like a pin-and-tumbler lock, but it has wafer-shaped tumblers instead of pins.
Why are wafer locks used?
A wafer tumbler lock is a type of lock that uses a set of flat wafers to prevent the lock from opening unless the correct key is inserted. This type of lock is similar to the pin tumbler lock and works on a similar principle.
How do you read a wafer lock?
To read a wafer lock, place the probe into the keyway. If the lock is equipped with a shutter unit, use a turning tool to keep the shutter open. Use a pick to determine that the number of wafers in the lock agrees with the manufacturer’s information.
Do bump keys work?
When executed correctly, lock bumping is effective in nearly 90 percent of all cylinder-type locks produced today. Perhaps one of the most disconcerting aspects of lock bumping is that it can often go undetected, which means that your home can be broken into without any signs of forced entry.
What is a dimple lock?
Dimple locks are basically pin-cylinders that use the flat side of the key’s blade as the biting area. So rather than cutting into the edge of the key as in a standard pin-cylinder, dimple locks turn the key ninety degrees and cut onto the flat side.
What is a slider lock?
A slider is a wafer-like object used as a locking component in many locks. Sliders are primarily used in additional to traditional pins or wafers as secondary locking systems, such as with sidebars.
What are master wafers?
Some locks are designed to work with two different keys. The change key will open only that specific lock, while the master key will open that lock and several others in a group. In these locks, a few of the pin pairs are separated by a third pin. This third pin is called a master wafer or spacer.
What is a warded key?
A warded lock (also called a ward lock) is a type of lock that uses a set of obstructions, or wards, to prevent the lock from opening unless the correct key is inserted. The correct key has notches or slots corresponding to the obstructions in the lock, allowing it to rotate freely inside the lock.
What is a snowman pick used for?
These locks, which are known as fixed lever locks, are for example often used in office furniture. The rake technique is then used. In principle, the snowman pick can also be used to rake perfectly normal cylinder locks, but the relatively large size of the snowman means this is sometimes somewhat cumbersome.
