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

[poppasmurfenfold]

is it because you wont be able to control the depth and width of the cut with a dremmel and would it leave a blemished surface that would preventyou being able to see the marks for the next step of filing

[Shrub]

is it because you wont be able to control the depth and width of the cut with a dremmel and would it leave a blemished surface that would preventyou being able to see the marks for the next step of filing

Spot on mate

You see impressioning is about control and being careful but methodical in what you are doing,

You need to remove the smallest amount (unless you know the depths and used to how the lock impressions) and after removeing the smallest amount then leave a finish that will easily show up the marks of the impressioning,

Now i dont use a dremel daily like others on here do so theres members better than i at useing them but i suspect even those people can not take a slight amount off a key blank and still leave a surface ready for impressioning, you would still need to clan the key up with a file, brush or emry paper in order to impression again and doing that will of course make your cut eeper than intended,

When its one maybe two stokes of a file then impression again its not a time saver but a time waster,


You impress me that you went and looked it up and came up with the answer and then posted back, you are what we need more of on here, well done and good luck if having a go,


As a side note i will just add that the only way ive found to cheat is to know the lock and simply cut the key to code with depth keys, if you see a mark cut to the next depth on the key machine but again the finsih of the cut makes it very hard to see any marks,

[poppasmurfenfold]

Thanks guy. But, like you said about cheating, in theory you could duplicate pin tumbler keys with a dremmel. Right? In case you haven't figured it out i bought a dremmel and i just have to find something to do with it.

[Shrub]

Yes but this thread isnt about cutting keys its about making a key fit a lock,

Sorry i misunderstood the reason you posted as the subject is impressioning,

You can cut a key with a dremel but not a professional one you can sell,

[kissnatcher1]

Great info but the main tool you will need is patience.and very good eyesite,but the other tools that the op have said will make it a whole lot better.Thanks for all the details that people have added maybe it will help as when i did my 1st shadowing it was a horrid exp,but i have gotten better then again i havent done one in a few years as i am not in the buisness as repinning and key makeing i have more fun just openeing locks"maybe it because i dont have the steady hand it use to take me twice the time it would for others to repin the same.Makes me thank the pro's..james

[Shrub]

I think you miss the most useful part of impressioning if on a job and thats to open the lock in the first place then give the customer a working key,

If its a vehicle, by impressioning you end up with a working key that not only will save you all the time of stripping a lock and determineing the cuts but also allow you to remove the locks in the vehicle that require the working key to be in them at the time,

Picking locks is fine until you have to have a workign key at the end of it then the variou methods to do that have to be used with impressioning being the oldest of them all and still used daily by lockies al over the world,

I wish i was a lot better at it then i can use it daily

Most lever locks impression and some with ease especially a few locks that even practiced lockies take a deep breath at (110 for example),

[poppasmurfenfold]

i am working on starting a locksmith business and the reason i posted is because i wanted to learn how to impression keys because i dont have a key cutter machine and i dont have nor can i find a file small enough to impression with but i do have dremmel heads small enough and i was wondering if they would that would work sorry for starting such a hassle if its that big of a deal just delete my posts

[kissnatcher1]

No i wouldnt use a dremel as it take too big of a bite at least that is what i have found,You could order off of one of the sponsors for a file/set Also you might try on ebay or a site like that...james

[Shrub]

Smurfy, dont take that the wrong way, you asked an excellent question and i answered it best i could,

Your second question was about making a working key for a lock with a dremel which is differant to impressioning and to that i replied that you cant do one good enough to sell, i think perhaps either you posted bad wording or i mis-understood your second question,

I/we werent having a go at all, not even argueing, im sorry if i came across wrongly as i say i thought your first question was a good one,

My lengthy reply starting with 'I think you miss the ....' wasnt to you so dont get upset by that,


Just to be clear,

You could make a working key for a lock with a dremel if practiced with the tool but it will not be accurite enough to sell to a customer,
There is no substitute for some kind of key machine if you plan to sell the keys afterwards or even pass them on to someone else for that matter regardless of money,

You will not be able to use a dremel while impressioning as far as im aware, the bits i see and use all leave a finish that is not suitable to impression with, the sanding drums are the best and could leave a reasonable finish good enough to see the marks but it will very possably take too much off and also a slight slip will scrap the key or cause a lot of polishing before the next attempt,

Please dont take things the wrong way you will be very sure when youve upset, annoyed or caused arguments with me/us and this certainly wasnt one of those times, you had a great question and i think snatcher got in the midle of the posts just as happens on forums,

No hard feelings, have fun,

[poppasmurfenfold]

ok im sry
thanks shrub & snatcher for all yalls help

[Shrub]

ok im sry
thanks shrub & snatcher for all yalls help

Whats sry mean?

[Jaakko]

ok im sry
thanks shrub & snatcher for all yalls help

Whats sry mean?

The sex switch or testis-determining factor in human beings located on the Y chromosome. (Sry in mice.)

I <3 Google

[Shrub]

So smurfy can decide if your male or female when your mums eggs start splitting?? wow thats some feat,

Nice one smurfy

Cheers Jaakko

[kissnatcher1]

SRY Thats chat lingo for sorry.

[Shrub]

SRY Thats chat lingo for sorry.

Really?