The beginnings of locks mitting and personal and property security are closely linked to the use of keys. These small instruments have been part of this noble and conscientious work for more than two millennia
Although it’s long history from the beginning of the locksmith work until these days has allowed it to be universally known in character, the key is often confused with locks and even with mechanisms for their maintenance. Therefore, when talking about types of keys, reference is made to the instruments that open the locks. For example, the same type of key is used for weed-proof locks and tubular locks, even if they are different locks.
From the hands of the professionals of locksmiths 24h Alicante, the types of keys and how they have been used over the last few years are explained.
Running keys
As the colleagues of locksmiths comment, ordinary keys are those used in more than 90% of Spanish homes. Its design, although not fully approved, consists of a round or oval head from which a stem emerges that has channels and teeth in unique distributions that allow it to be the only ones to open locks and padlocks.
Despite the fact that its design has been the most commercial, its efficiency in terms of safety has dropped significantly from the use of bumping as a criminal method. As of today, and according to security information and the comments of locksmith workers, more than 80% of the locks installed in Spain are vulnerable to this opening system which, it should be noted, leaves no trace.
For this reason, if you have a lock that opens with ordinary keys, and it is not the anti- bumping type, it is recommended to change it as soon as possible.
Magnetic keys
One of the cities with the most tourist influx in Spain is Valencia. For this reason, a locksmith company capitallocksmith24 hours is the most qualified to comment on the use of magnetic keys, the second in terms of use in the security of buildings.
Magnetic keys began to be used in hotel chains at the beginning of the new millennium. After this, they become a security standard in commercial premises. Their operation, despite being called keys, consists of a code printed on a magnetic tape which, in turn, in most cases is superimposed on a plastic card.
This method is one of the safest, since everything is handled by well-conceived computer systems to preserve information. However, the cost of installation makes it less viable for residential settings.
Keys with remote control
Remote-operated lock picking systems have become popular in cars, not so much in the domestic section. Its main advantage is its immediacy and its safety, since to open a door it will be necessary to press the button.
The main disadvantage of these has to do with how easy they are to get lost. Only in the two largest cities in Spain are reported more than one hundred requests to open cars due to loss of keys every week.
Master keys
One of the confusions around locksmith tools has to do with master keys. They are often confused with lock picks, which are the workers’ own tools.
Master keys are actually dependent on custom manufacturing of the locks. That is, a lock can be opened by more than one key, although none of these examples is identical in size, serrated surfaces or lateral channels. Its use has also spread thanks to hotel housekeepers.
Percussion wrenches
Percussion keys, often known by their English name for bumping, are keys that, as the guys at Locksmith explain, use low-vibration sounds to break into traditional locks and manage to open them without even forcing them. For that you need a lot of experience in the work. Due to ethical regulations of locksmiths, only workers in this trade are trained to work with percussion keys and to train new members of the sector in the correct use of these tools.
Percussion keys, unlike previous ones, are not used as a mechanism to open locks, but as locksmith tools to help customers solve problems.