FAQ: The Fine Art of Impressioning (in a nutshell)

[Varjeal]

I always impression without cleaning first unless I have time to clean the lock out and let it dry.

Once you've gained skill in knife-edging properly, I find most people stick to that method.

[triman247]

I got myself some keyblanks and a small file set to try to make a key for my cheap kwikset.

THe first think I wanted to do was to make a key using the actual key as a guide to tune my filing skills. So I made a pretty bad key with some cutting errors, but I thought it might work anyway.

It did work and I can lock and un-lock the lock, but the key won't come out. I think I might have left one or more of the edges too sharp or something and it might have gotten stuck inbetween the pins.

So I guess I'm posting this saying that making the key even following the pattern of the original key is hard to do, and needs alot of practice to get just right.


oh yeah, any ideas of how I can get the key out of the lock without damaging it. There isnt any room for a broken key extractor or anything like that. It's a door knob lock, not a deadbolt.


If that works, I think I might try making a few more keys from the pattern, and then try impressioning it. I think I have the jist of it, but somehow I think I'll screw up and ruin the lock.


triman

[Chucklz]

To get your key out, dissassemble the lock as though you were going to rekey it. Dump all the bottom pins from the plug, remove the offending key, and repin.

[triman247]

Alright, thanks.


That'll be my project for tonight.


triman

[Varjeal]

That's pretty much your only option. In the future, be careful about the shape of the "ramps" of the key. If it's too sharply angled (close to 90 degrees with the root of the cut) you'll end up duplicating your current problem.

Hope that helps.

[Locksmoker]

hey thanx for all the info this will be useful when i do the lesson on impressioning a cylinder lock for foley-belsaw. I shall read this thread again when that time comes. Knowledge is power.

[ysr50speed]

Great post. I am most interested in this subject, yet hard to find a lot of info on it. Great post

[cL4y]

Sounds hard.

Looks like ill try it out when i become a better picker.

Great guide anyway.

[Varjeal]

It's another one of those deals where patience and determination (and sometimes a lot of keyblanks) really pays off.

[globallockytoo]

I noticed no-one in here made any reference to the age-old impression gun...

For those who are still learning the fine art of impressioning, the use of an impression gun can make a real difference in learning how much pulling pressure on a keyblank may be required.

Once you've practised sufficiently with the gun, simply trade your gun for vice-grips as varjeal suggested in the first post...

Impressioning key type safe locks or mortice locks is also a very good way to learn how tolerances work. You are better off using steel mortise blanks because usually the levers in safe locks or mortice locks are made from drass and the marks that appear on the blanks are very pronounced and easy to see...even with failing eyes.

Good luck and good impressioning

[globallockytoo]

Oh...yeah...you would be better off using a 4" warding file to impression mortise or safe locks

[Shrub]

Can you elaborate on this gun? please i think thats a new one on me unless my memory fails me,

[globallockytoo]

Can you elaborate on this gun? please i think thats a new one on me unless my memory fails me,

Hmmmm....i'll see if i can find a picture....it is quite an old device....been around for a great many years...

There is also an excellent book written many years ago called, "The Impression System of Key Fittting"....I have a copy somewhere....

Explains how to use the gun and gives many tips for impressioning all kinds of locks from pin tumbler and lever, to wafer etc.

When I find the book (textbook style)...I'll see if i can scan in the pages and make it available here for download....would you like that?

[Shrub]

Well the thing is if its still in copyright no, its not onyl against forum rules but against our ethics but if its over copy right then yes bring it on, i would love a copy of it thanks,

Other than that excerts can be reproduced with the pertinent info on and then full credit given to the author along with the book name and isbn number etc,

Ive seen a tool where when you push the key in it sort of springs the key back slightly thus marking the blank but a gun ive never heard of before im sure so im very interested,

[globallockytoo]

Well the thing is if its still in copyright no, its not onyl against forum rules but against our ethics but if its over copy right then yes bring it on, i would love a copy of it thanks,

Other than that excerts can be reproduced with the pertinent info on and then full credit given to the author along with the book name and isbn number etc,

Ive seen a tool where when you push the key in it sort of springs the key back slightly thus marking the blank but a gun ive never heard of before im sure so im very interested,

The book I was looking for I'm sure is way out of copyright, but i cant find it at the moment. I have however found another one that gives some good information on impressioning with diagrams and one page that shows the impression gun....

Before i scan it in....how long is the copyright good for?...this book is more than 30 years old...