Impressioning Tool

[RossD]

Gearing up to start doing some impressioning practice and was going to build a holding tool, but stumbled upon this at Harbor Freight. I'm impressed how well it seems to work! Thought I would share if anyone was interested.

http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools ... 65007.html

[lock-ed]

I have considered this tool too, but I do not think it will grip sufficiently without modification?

However, I have this one, and it does a great job

http://www.progresstool.com/pd-lowell-s ... d-vise.cfm

You can find them on ebay(or elsewhere) for less than $20, if you look around:
http://bad link

Good luck,
Ed

[calvinism]

Gearing up to start doing some impressioning practice and was going to build a holding tool, but stumbled upon this at Harbor Freight. I'm impressed how well it seems to work! Thought I would share if anyone was interested.

http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools ... 65007.html

Haha it looks like something to make waffels. . . .why dont u rather go to a machinest and make 1 to ur desighn? It would probably work out cheeper and be more fun

[RossD]

Because ultimately, I am very, very lazy. I had a nice peg from an old bicycle that would make a nice one, but hey, 12 bucks!

It is also, as you say, incredibly odd looking, which increases it's attractiveness to me.

On the plus side, very light and great hold on all sorts of keys.

[calvinism]

Lol! Enough said

[nhoj_yelbom]

or get this from harbor freight, windshield removal tool. you use just the handle
http://www.harborfreight.com/windshield ... 99892.html

[femurat]

Have anybody tried a wooden impressioning handle? I'm going to make one and let you know if I like it.
I got two small rods, about one inch in diameter and 5 inches in length... heck I'm using inches instead of cm... I've been reading this forum for too long! 3 cm diameter, 10-15 cm length.
I'm going to cut a groove on one side and use two bolts and nuts to block the blank.

Cheers

[cledry]

What the heck is wrong with Vise Grips? I've been using the same pair since 1982 and they have never failed to hold the key tightly.

[2octops]

Vise Grips

[femurat]

Last time I used vice grips I broke the blank. I know it was my fault, but I guess that if I use a lighter handle I could be more aware of the amount of force I'm applying. So I made this ultra light wooden handle. In a couple of days I'll let you know if I like it or not.

Cheers

[mech]

here ya go, remove the crap from the handle via the screw and replace with a blank key

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-WINDSCREE ... 3a717e5882

1/4 of the price of a framon,

[87ELC2]

As others have said, it's hard to beat Vise Grips. Most locksmiths I know use small Vise Grips for impressioning, but I find the large ones give me a stronger bite on the bow (absolutely critical IMHO), better control and less hand fatigue.

[cledry]

I have a small pair plus a medium pare of Vise Grips, I prefer the medium size. It is true you can get too rough with impressioning. The blank is the least of your worries, sometimes wafers bend or break or even some die-cast or plastic plugs will break. I can't say it has never happened to me even with a lot of care. I don't think a lighter handle would help but I can't see what harm it could do either.

[femurat]

It worked! I hadn't a vice to hold the lock, so I had to push it onto the table to keep it still with one hand while getting marks. A pain for my muscles. Took me one hour on Tuesday and one hour on Thursday. I hadn't a #4 cut file but a coarser one, so I gave one stroke with the file and then wrapped a piece of 1000 grit sandpaper around the file to smooth the surface.
Having to work in these conditions really sucks. I miss my tools and workbench hope to sort them out soon.

The wooden handle looked comfortable to use, but I'll be sure when I try it on a mounted lock.

All in all it was a nice experiment, I proofed everything can be done with a little effort. And now I have a working key for my padlock
By the way, is anybody able to read the key for me? I'd like to have one cut by code from a local tire shop who has a cut by code machine but has no idea what he's doing!

Cheers

[femurat]

So I accurately measured the key and, thanks to one of our friends here on the forum, got it translated into some possible codes. Then I went to the local key duplicating machine and got the keys cut by code. None of them worked
Then the guy suggested to simply copy my key, so the machine could automatically measure and copy my key. I was surprised but this key didn't work.
Once at home I choose the key that looked a bit higher than mine and impressioned the lock again. Now I have two working keys. They both work but are not 100% smooth...

If you're curious here are my measurements in mm of the 2 impressioned keys.
First key: first cut center from shoulder a hair less than 5, heights 6.5, 6.5, 7.4, 5.6, 6.7.
Second key: first cut center from shoulder 5, heights 6.55, 6.6, 7.7, 5.75, 6.8.

Cheers