How Lock Bumping Works

Lock Bumping is a method of manipulating an in-line pin tumbler cylinder to open.

An impact is applied to a “bump key” to drive the bottom and top pins up in the pin chamber. When the top pins contact the tip of the pin chamber they create an impact that causes the bottom pins to separate and travel downward. When the gap between the top and bottom pins crosses the shear line, a slight torque applied to the key causes the plug to rotate and the lock to open.