Impressioning idea

[Dr Money]

I have read a lot about impressioning but never tried it. Every guide I have read describes it as very tedious and much harder then picking the lock. My question is, wouldent it be easier to make a key to a lock after you pick it and all the pins are set. It seems that if you could get a devise to measure the pins or make a mold of them after you pick the lock, it would be a much eaiser process.

[skold]

impressioning is not just to make a key...its an entry teqnique

[CaptHook]

Depending on the lock, the pins/wafers can be read (some with or without them being set, again, depending on the lock). The majority of impressioning is done to turn the lock, and have a workable key that can be used to "code" cut a proper key for the customer. Alot of locksmiths are better at impressioning than picking, so often times picking isnt even tried. Also, on vehicles, impressioning is useful for locks that cant be readily picked.
Chuck

[skold]

i find that wafer impressioning is easy, also configuring wafer locks to a key is easy, but that can ruin a lock.

also impressioning locks such as medeco and bilock are faster than picking

[TOWCH]

Impressioning a Medeco sounds like a headache. How does that work with the angled cuts?

[randmguy]

Impressioning seemed tedious to me when I was learning it. After someone told me to try using the same method I used learning to pick locks (single pin then 2..3..etc.) it became much less so. With the addition of a magnifier and ,possibly a code machine, it becomes much less tedious. It can be more time consuming than picking or using an auto opening tool. If I'm opening a vehicle to which the owner has lost the keys, it generally takes me less time to impression the door or trunk lock and then use code softeware to progression an ignition key than it does to pick it open and then search for a code. Its usually faster than calling one of the code brokers to look one up also. It's much faster than finding out the code broker/auto maker has invalid information. Its also a must-have skill when you're having one of those days and you just can't get the $%^& pins to set.

[S3rratedSp00L]

Impressioning is definitely a good skill. Necessary for a locksmith, and helpful for a picker. Sometimes you just can't pick a lock for some reason or another. Having an alternate Non-Destructive means of opening it so you can take it apart, make a key, actually use it to lock something, and/or attempt to pick it again is very helpful. Hobbyists being the main lock reclaimers, may use this skill just as much as a smith might. It all depends on how much you want to pay for practice locks, etc... It's nice to have a key, it helps to prove ownership in some cases and it will let you open a stubborn or dirty lock for servicing so it will pick better. It also helps you learn a lot about locks. You have plenty of time to think while filing and wiggling the key, hehe!

If you want to sell, trade, give away a practice lock or two, it helps to have a working key as well!

The pyramid learning method sounds like a good way to go for impressioning as Randmguy mentioned. Wish I learned it that way. I haven't even attempted to impression a medeco! That might be a good topic for a new thread!

Give it a try!