Low-Tech Access Control: Master Keying Explained

By: Brian Rhodes, Published on Jan 09, 2020

Mechanical keys are one of the most fundamental forms of access control. 'Master Keying' can allow individually different credential keys to segment access, but requires no electricity, no network, and uses regular door locks.

*** ****** **** **** is *** ****** **********. In **** ********, ** explain:

  • *** **** ***** ****
  • ******* *** '*****' ** Each ***
  • *** ***** ***** *** So *********
  • *** ****** *** ******* Are *********
  • ****** **** ** * Huge ****
  • ******* ****** *** *****

*******, ***** *******,**** *** * ******** quiz.

Basic **** ********

*** ****** ** '*** tumbler' ***** ***** *** not ******* ***** *** original ******* ***** ** the *****. *** **** are **** ****** **** globally, **** *** **** the **** ***** ********.

*** ******** *** ***** offers * **** *********** on *** *** *** interacts *** ********** ***** a ****:

*** ********* ** ******: the **** ******** ******* (usually ******* * - 7) ******** **** ** different *******. * *** is **** **** ** turn *** **** ** the '****** ***********' ** key **** ******* *** length ** *** ****.

* ***** *** ******** the ****** ** *** the **** ** ***** top "***** *****" ***** between *** **** (*** part **** *****) *** the ******* (*** ******, outside ****) ** *** lock. ** ******* *** may ** **** ** slide **** *** ****, but *** ****** *** cuts ** *** ******** align *** ****, ********** the **** **** *******.

Codes ****** ****

**** *** *******, *** the ********** ****** ** key **** **** **** them, *** ******** ********* in ****.

* ************ *** **** is **** ****** * locksmith ** *** * replacement *** ***** ****** and **** ** ***** work **** * ****. Various ********** ** * code ****** ******* **** models, **** *** ******** depth ** * ***, the ***** ** * cut, ** **** *** width ** * ***, but *** ************ ** a '*** ****' ** fairly **********.

*******, *** ***** ** a *** ***** **** eight ** **** ******** depths, ***** * "*" depth ********* *** *** is *** *** ** all, *** * "*" cut ******* **** *.***" in ********. ***** *** range ** ****** ** not ***********, * **** is ********* ********, *** even *.***" ******** *** be *** ********** ******* a **** ******* *** remaining ******.

**** *** ****** ** five ** *** ****, the **** ** ********* as * ****** ** depths **** **** ******* representing *** *** ****** for * ***** *** position.

*** ******* *** ***** has * **********, **** **** ****-**-*****:

** * ****** ***** system, ***** *** ********* so **** **** **** one ****** *** **** opens ****. ** **** explain *** **** ******* in *** ********* ********.

Master ****** *******

*********** * ****** *** is * ****** *** that *** **** **** locks. * ******* ****** keying ****** ********* *** plan *****.

**** **** ***** ****** of **** ********** ** roles/jobs **** **** ****** credentials ********* *** ******:

******** ** *** ****** and ******* **:

  • ****** ****:***** *** **** ****** to ***** *** **** need ****** ** * single ****; ********'* *** offices, ****** ********, ***. These **** ********* **** only *** ****.
  • ****** (** ***-******) ****:***** *** **** ****** to ********, **** *** able ** **** * range (*** *** ***) doors. *** *******, *** Engineering ******** ** **** to **** *** ********** engineering *******, *** ** on.
  • ***** ****** ****:*** ***** ****** *** opens *** *****, ********** of ***** ***-****** ** patron **** *** **** in ***. *** *******, building *************** **** ***** keys ** **** ****** to *** **********.

** *** **** ** the ***** *****, *** will *** **** **** key ***** - ******, Master, *********** - ** shown **** * ********* bitted ***********, *** **** key ******* ** *** same "****** ****** ******". Master *** *********** **** often ****** **** *** other ***.

Master **** ********* *** *** **** ****

***** *** ****** ** a **** ******** ***, they *** ********* ******* controlled *** ******.

** **** *****, ****** keys *** *** **** be ********** **** ***** actually ******, *** **** destroyed ***** *** ** maintain ***** *******.

Same ******* *** ********* ****

*** ********** ** ******* alone ** *** * Master ****** ****** *****. Locks ** * ****** keyed ****** *** ***** to **** *** ********* key *** ************.

***** **** *** *** differently, **** *** *** the **** **** *******. Locks ** ***** ******* typically ****** ** **** in *** **** ****** Key ******. ** ***** this ******* ** ****** in ****** **** ****** *******: Restricted ************.

Losing ****** **** **** ****

*** ** *** ******* weaknesses ** * ****** key ****** ** * high-level ***, **** * Master, ***********, ** **** Great *********** *** ***** lost ** ******. ** that *******, **** ***** door ** ** ***** for ** *********** ** risk ** ***** ******, and *** **** '***' is ** ***** ***** door **** - *********** hundreds ** ***** *** many ********* ** ******* in ********* *** *** key ******** *****.

**** **** ****** ********** a ****** *** ****, the ******* *** ***** staggering - **** **** story ***** * ** college ******** **** *** ******* at **** ******* ******** dollars.

**** ********* ***** ******** not ******* ** ******* master **** ** *** despite *** ********* ***** available. ** **** ** one ** *** ******* advantages ** ********** ****** control, ***** ** * credential ** **** ** stolen, ** *** ** immediately ****** *** *** made ** ** ******* - ** ******* ***** or ****** ********.

Shear ***** **** ****** ****** ********

*** ********* ***** ***** how * **** ***** when ** **** *** a ****** '***** ****', or ***** *** ******* that ******* ** ** even ********** ******* **** halves.

*******, ******* ** ***** single **** ** ********* lengths, ****** **** ******* use **** **** ** of ******* ********* ****** (wafer *********). *** ***** below ***** ****, ***** a ****** '***' **** be ******** *********** ** 4 ** * *****, and ***** **** **** one ********* ***** **** is ******** ****** * pin *******:

*** ************ ** ******** shear ***** ** * pin ***** *** *********** of ******* ********* **** opening *** **** ****. In * ****** *** system, *** ***** *** built **** * ****** multiple ***** *****. *******, the **** **** *** them *** ******* **********. Therefore, *** ***** ******* the *** ** * common ***, *** **** common *** ** **** issued ** '****** ***'.

*** ***** ***** ** another **** ** *** concept, ***** ********* ** a ****:

*** *** ***** *****, the *** ******** *** open *** ****. **** key *** * ******* code ********.

*******, * *** ***************** **** **** **** lock, ** ***** * key *********, ** *** ***** subsequent ***** *********** **** matches * ***** **** up ** **** *** lock ****.

** ***** ******** ***** lines, **** **** **** no ******** *********** ** another *** *********** **** the **** ****. ** administratively ********* ******** ***** line ************ **** *** master/grandmaster ****, ****** ****** systems ** ********* ** locks *** ** *****, all *********** ******** **** a ****** ***.

Master ****** *****

*** **** ** ******** a ****** ****** ****** is ******* ******** ** a ***-****** ****** ****** and ***** ********* **** per **** **** ********** access.

** *******, **** *** tumbler ***** *** ** constructed ** ******* **** a ******, *** *** wafer **** *** ****** supply ***** *** **** locksmiths. ******* * **** for *** ** * master *** ****** ******** more ***** *** ** handling **** ****, *** usually ** *** **** more **** * *** dollars **** *** **** lock ** *******.

*** **** ********** ******* of ******** * ****** keying ****** ** ********** each ********** *** **** and **** ******* ****, however, **** **** ************* and **** ******** ************ will ** **** *** no **** **** ****** hardware. ********** *********-***** ******** can ** ********* *** less **** $***, *** even ******** ******** *** be **********, ******** ******* for **** ***** ** locks/keys *** ** *******.

*******, *** ******* **** in * ****** ****** system ** *** ********** management ** ****. ** order *** *** ****** to ****** ******, ***** time * *** ** issued ** ********* ** must ** **********. ***** most ***** ******* ******** shear *****, * ********* should ***** ** ***** to *** *** **** without ***** ******* *** those ***** ***** *** being ****, ** **** they *** ************* *** a ****** ** *********** key *** ****** ***.

****

*******, ***** *******,**** *** * ******** quiz.

Comments (19)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

01/09/20 03:19pm

**** ****** ******** ***** lines **** *** **** easier ** ****?

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 01/09/20 03:31pm

*********** ********.

** ******* ** ***, multiple ***** ***** **** a **** ****** ** pick. ** **** *****, multiple ***** ***** *** easier ** '****' ** well.

*** ******* * ****, even **** ******** ***** lines, ** **** ******* than **** ****** *** TV *******. ** *** take ***** ** **** a * *** ****. :(

** **** *******/******* **** difficult, **** ****** ***** use '******** ****' **** tapered ******** **** **** a ********* ****** '***** positives' **** ******* * lock:

*** *** *** *** is ******** '*****' **** it *** **** ****** and *** **** ***** for *** **** ** be ******** ****** ** the ******'* ********. *** in *******, *** *** is ***** *** ** a ***** **** *** the **** **** **** secure.

******* ******* ** **** mostly ** **** *** not *****, **** ** an ********* *********.

Michael Miller

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 01/09/20 04:50pm

* ****** ** * lock *** *** *** how ** **** **** years ***. ***** **** in *** **** ****** "if *** ***'* **** the **** ** * mins **** *** **** in"

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Michael Miller | 01/09/20 05:28pm

* ****, **'* ****.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Michael Miller | 01/09/20 05:48pm

*'* *** * *** reader, *********** ******:

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 01/09/20 04:58pm

*** ******* * ****, even **** ******** ***** lines, ** **** ******* than **** ****** *** TV *******. ** *** take ***** ** **** a * *** ****.

**, * ***'* ****** with ****** *** **. I **** ***** **** Picking ******. *** *******:

** ******, *** ** slightly ****** ** **** picking **** **** ******.

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 01/09/20 05:35pm

** ******** ** **** picking, *** ***** ****** to **** * **** installed ** * **** is ****** ********* **** uninstalled ** * ***** vise.

*** ****** ** ****** he *** ***** ** much ******* ** ******* level **** *** **** over *** **** **** if *** **** *** installed ** * **** with * ****** *** or **** ****** ******* tension ** *** *********.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 01/10/20 06:49pm

** **** *******/******* **** difficult, **** ****** ***** use '******** ****' **** tapered ******** **** **** a ********* ****** '***** positives' **** ******* * lock:

****'* *********! **'** ******** to ** *** **** guys, *****?

Avatar

Christopher Freeman

01/09/20 10:34am

***** *** *****

Lee Brown

01/09/20 05:46pm

***** ******* *****.

* ***** ******* **** key "*************" *** *********** are **** ****** ********** for ************ **** *** tumbler *****.

Undisclosed #2

01/09/20 07:17pm

"**** **** ****** ********** a ***** *** ****, the ******* *** ***** staggering - **** **** story ***** * ** college ******** **** *** ******* at **** ******* ******** dollars."

**** ** **** ** with *** *** ******** cylinders?

****** **** ******** ***** pick ** * ********** key ****** ** *** cheap.

**** ***** ***** ** the ****** ****** *** there, **** *** ***** people **** ***** ******* and ****** ****.

*** **** ***** *** thrown **** ***** *** locks *******.

*** ****: **** * LEVEL ****** *** ******, 10 ***** ***, **** 5000+ ***** ****, **** an *****!

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 01/09/20 07:23pm

** **** *****, *** lock ***** *** ******** but *** ****** ****. The **** **** *** tossed, *** **** ****'* good *** **** ** that *****.

*** ***** ** ****** labor ** ******** *** system, ********* *****, ******* new *** ******, *** distributing *** *** ****.

Undisclosed #2

01/09/20 11:34pm

**** *** ****.

*** **********: *** ****** "commonly *** ******** ****" may ** ********* ***** it's "******** *** ******** ****" :)

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 01/09/20 11:42pm

******. * ****** **** one/ ******** ** ** avoid *** ***********.

Undisclosed #2

01/10/20 03:05pm

** *** ** ****** locksmith **** * ****** key **** ** ******* at **, ******* ****** the ****?

** *****'* ***** **** it. ** *******, ******* the ******** "** *** DUPLICATE" *******, ***** ******* a ********* **** *********** duping * ******?

****, *'* ******** **** if * ** *** presented **** *** ****, a ****** *** * patron ***, ** ******'* tell *** ** *** master ** *** *****, or **** **** **** even *******.

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 01/10/20 06:31pm

* ***'* **** ** say '** ** **********', but ** ** ******** even ** ****** ********* could ** * ****** just ** ******* * single ***. ******** ****, maybe, *** *** **** one.

**** **** ****, * would *** ** ********* if ***** *** * savant ********* *** ***** calculate *** *********** ** a ****** ******'* ***** lines **** ** ****** a ****** ***.

****'* ***** ***** *****, but *'* ******* **** mathematical ********** *****.

Avatar

Marco Sanchez

01/10/20 05:19pm

**** *********** *** ** I *** ** **** a *** **** ****** Do *** *********? ****** for * ****** *** is ****** ** ***** our *** $*** ******* for * **** **** key...

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Marco Sanchez | 01/10/20 05:31pm

*** *** *** * key-copying ***** **** ********* or *** ** *** that.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Marco Sanchez | 01/10/20 06:47pm

****** ******* - ********** Keys *****

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