Locksmith Key Cutting and Duplication 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a 'bitting list' in locksmithing?
- A list of all keys that have been duplicated illegally
- A manufacturer-provided chart of bitting codes for a key series (Correct answer)
- A checklist for inspecting a lock after installation
- A list of key blanks stocked in a shop
Correct answer: A manufacturer-provided chart of bitting codes for a key series
A bitting list is a manufacturer-provided record of all numerical bitting codes for a key series, allowing locksmiths to cut keys by code without a physical original.
Question 2: What is the maximum number of active cuts typically found on a standard 5-pin residential key?
- 4
- 5 (Correct answer)
- 6
- 7
Correct answer: 5
A standard 5-pin cylinder uses a key with 5 bitting cuts, each corresponding to one pin stack in the lock.
Question 3: Which term describes the difference in height between the deepest and shallowest cuts a manufacturer allows in a key series?
- MACS (Maximum Adjacent Cut Specification) (Correct answer)
- Bitting range
- Key section
- Cut differential
Correct answer: MACS (Maximum Adjacent Cut Specification)
MACS (Maximum Adjacent Cut Specification) defines the maximum allowable difference in depth between any two adjacent cuts to ensure the key can be properly picked up by the driver pins.
Question 4: When cutting a key by code, a locksmith references a 'depth and space' specification. What does 'space' refer to?
- The depth of each cut below the key blade
- The distance from the shoulder (or tip) to each cut position along the blade (Correct answer)
- The clearance between the key and the keyway
- The gap between the plug and the shell
Correct answer: The distance from the shoulder (or tip) to each cut position along the blade
Spacing refers to the horizontal distance from the reference point (shoulder or tip) to each individual cut position along the length of the blade.
Question 5: A locksmith uses a 'code book' or software to look up code 'A1234'. This code is best described as a:
- Direct code (blind code) (Correct answer)
- Indirect code (key code)
- Bitting by impression
- Key series prefix
Correct answer: Direct code (blind code)
A direct code (or blind code) directly translates to specific bitting depths without requiring a look-up conversion table.
Question 6: After cutting a new key by code, the locksmith discovers it will not turn the lock smoothly. The most likely cause is:
- The key blank bow is too wide
- The cuts were made at incorrect depths or spacing (Correct answer)
- The key is made of the wrong metal alloy
- The bow was cut at an angle
Correct answer: The cuts were made at incorrect depths or spacing
If a coded key doesn't operate the lock, the most common cause is incorrect bitting — cuts are too shallow, too deep, or at the wrong spacing positions.
Question 7: What machine function allows a locksmith to cut a key from a code without an original key present?
- Duplication mode
- Code-cutting (code machine) mode (Correct answer)
- Impression mode
- Decoding mode
Correct answer: Code-cutting (code machine) mode
Code-cutting mode on a key machine uses depth and spacing specifications from a code to cut the key directly, with no original key required.
Locksmith Key Cutting and Duplication 2
What is the purpose of a 'bitting list' in locksmithing?