To accurately measure a Kwikset key, you primarily use a specialized tool known as a key gauge to determine the depth and spacing of its cuts, also known as its bitting.
Understanding Kwikset Key Measurement
Measuring a Kwikset key is crucial for various locksmithing tasks, such as creating duplicate keys, rekeying locks, or understanding a lock's configuration without disassembling it. Since Kwikset pin combinations are not printed on the packaging of either the locks or keys for security reasons, a key gauge becomes indispensable.
The Essential Tool: A Key Gauge
A key gauge is a precision tool designed to measure the specific dimensions of a key's cuts. It works by providing a standardized reference against which the key's unique cut depths can be read.
How to Use a Key Gauge
Using a key gauge to measure your Kwikset key is a straightforward process:
- Prepare the Key: Ensure the key is clean and free of any debris that could interfere with accurate measurement.
- Insert the Key: Slide the key you're measuring into the gap on the key gauge. The key blade should fit snugly into the gauge's slot.
- Read the Cuts:
- The key gauge will have markings, often numerical, that align with each cut on the key blade.
- Carefully read the number indicated by the deepest point of each individual cut. These numbers represent the cut depths.
- Record these numbers in the order they appear from the shoulder (the part of the key where the bow meets the blade) to the tip of the key.
Deciphering Key Cuts (Bitting)
The sequence of numbers you read from the key gauge is known as the bitting code or key combination. Each number corresponds to a specific depth cut on the key and, in turn, to the height of a corresponding pin within the lock cylinder. For example, a Kwikset key's bitting might be a five-digit code like "34521," where each digit represents the depth of a specific cut.
- Depth: The bitting numbers indicate how deep each cut is relative to the key's edge. Deeper cuts correspond to higher bitting numbers on some gauges, while shallower cuts might indicate lower numbers, depending on the manufacturer's system.
- Spacing: While the gauge primarily measures depth, the physical design of the gauge also implicitly ensures that the spacing between cuts is standardized, as this spacing aligns with the pin tumbler positions inside the lock cylinder.
Understanding these measurements allows locksmiths to create new keys that precisely match an existing lock or to reconfigure a lock to work with a new key. You can learn more about how key cuts work in general through resources like this guide on understanding key numbers.
Importance of Accurate Measurement
Accurate key measurement is vital for ensuring the proper function and security of your locks. Incorrect measurements can lead to keys that don't operate smoothly, bind in the lock, or fail to open the lock at all. For tasks requiring high precision, such as originating keys for a master key system or rekeying complex lock sets, professional locksmiths often use advanced gauging equipment and specialized knowledge.
