Waferlåser

Waferlåser, or wafer locks, are a type of mechanical cylinder lock that uses a series of flat wafers to secure the plug. The term is used in several languages, including Swedish, to describe this family of locks. In a wafer lock, each wafer sits inside the housing with a slot that interacts with the inner plug.

Construction and operation

A wafer lock contains an array of wafers, one for each shear line position. Each wafer has a notch or cut that matches the key’s bitting. When the correct key is inserted, the ridges push the wafers to the appropriate heights, aligning all notches with the shear line. With the wafers properly aligned, the plug can rotate and the lock opens. Springs typically return the wafers to rest positions when the key is removed.

Variants and applications

Wafer locks are commonly referred to as wafer tumbler locks and are widely used in low-security applications such as cabinet locks, desk drawers, mailboxes, and some inexpensive padlocks. A related form is the disc- or disk-tumbler (disc wafer) lock, which uses circular wafers that slide rather than square wafers.

Security characteristics

Compared with pin-tumbler locks, wafer locks generally offer lower resistance to common bypass techniques such as lock-picking and raking. They can be more compact and inexpensive, which suits low-cost hardware, but their simplicity also makes them more vulnerable to intrusion methods.

History and use

Wafer locks have a long history as a cost-effective solution for low-security needs. While many modern applications have shifted to higher-security designs, wafer locks remain in use where simplicity, size, and cost are priority considerations.