Dimple Lock
Dimple locks look strange at first — the key is a flat blade with pockets — but under the skin they are pin-tumbler cousins with tighter tolerances and weaker feedback.
Anatomy
A dimple lock is a pin-tumbler turned sideways: pins press onto the FLAT FACES of the key from above and below (often both), seating in milled dimple pockets rather than on a toothed edge. Tighter tolerances, weaker feedback, sometimes two rows.
How it works
A pin-tumbler variant. The key is flat, with dimpled pockets milled into its faces; pins press from the side or underneath rather than straight down. Cylinders often have 6-12 pins, tighter tolerances than a residential deadbolt, and sometimes two or three rows of pins acting simultaneously.
Tools you need
- Dedicated dimple picks (flag picks) that enter flat and lift a pin from the side.
- A dimple tension wrench that grips the flats of the keyway.
- Dimple rakes for budget cylinders.
- Bump keys exist for some formats (Mul-T-Lock, ISEO).
Step-by-step technique
- Insert the flag pick and dimple tension wrench and apply light tension.
- Single-pin pick each pin to the shear line as with a pin tumbler, but expect weaker feedback and go slower; solve each row.
- On budget residential dimple cylinders, a dimple rake with light tension and quick passes may open it.
Common mistakes
- Trying to use standard pin-tumbler picks — wrong geometry.
- Too much tension kills the already-weak feedback.
- Skipping clear-cylinder practice to learn what "set" feels like on this format.
Skill level & notes
High-security dimple locks (genuine Mul-T-Lock Interactive, EVVA, ABUS Bravus) add sidebars, telescoping pins, and anti-bump pins that defeat raking and bumping. Budget dimple cylinders are a different story.