Locksmith Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Locksmith facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. These are the two most typical key stops: → Shoulder and tip
2. True or false: A rubberband can help you open some locks → True
3. What does the term 'key blank' refer to? → An uncut key that has the correct profile but no bitting cuts yet
4. How many trainees can an experienced technician supervise on a given job site? → 3
5. What is a transponder key? → A key with an embedded microchip that communicates with the vehicle's immobilizer system
6. Which of the following materials makes the most glaring marks on a key blank? → Brass
7. What sort of picks are applied to locks with uninteresting-looking keyways? → Warded
8. The lock that General Motors vehicles most frequently have is... → A sidebar wafer lock
9. True or False: VIN is an acronym for vehicle identification number → False
10. When picking locks, the tension wrench: → Holds the tumblers at the shear line
11. Inside the lock, where is the tension wrench located? → Bottom
12. What is the most important factor for long-term success in this field? → Continuous learning, practice, and adapting to changes in the industry
13. On a standard key cutting machine, what component holds the key blank in place during cutting? → The carriage clamp (vise)
14. The 10 cut wafer sidebar locks made by General Motors typically have: → A sum total of cut depths that must equal an even number
15. What kind of locks typically employ rim cylinders? → Deadbolts
16. A key machine's cutter must be inserted into the jaw of the vise. → False
17. Picking guns involves: → Bouncing the top pins above the shear line
18. In a lock, where are the pins located? → Top
19. A key in a knob lock whose default setting is that both knobs are locked and demand the use of a key to unlock it is → An institution lock
20. A "self-closing door," as defined by NFPA 80, is one that: → Is normally open but will close by some activation device in case of fire
21. Why must a locksmith be careful when programming new keys for modern vehicles? → Incorrect programming can disable existing keys or lock out the vehicle's entire system
22. The following factors make it difficult to insert or remove the key blank during impressioning: → Improper lubricating the lock
23. What is the name of an uncombinated key? → A key blank
24. When a security pin is picked, what happens? → The keyway moves slightly forward
25. Many mortise locks employ thru-bolt trim to: → Make the installation look better
26. What is paper trading? → Practicing trading with simulated money to test strategies without financial risk
27. What is the 'shoulder' of a key used for when cutting on a manual key machine? → It is the reference stop point that aligns the key's cuts to the correct position
28. A lockset with hotel function: → Requires a key or card from the outside in order to enter
29. A lockset known as a passage set has → Is not lockable
30. What connects a mortise lock to a mortise cylinder? → Threads on the cylinder and a set screw