My first impressioning experience: Schlage kik

[femurat]

I bought this two used cylinders, and on a side of both there's SCI written with a marker... is this a schlage SC1 keyway?

Thanks

[FarmerFreak]

Yes

[femurat]

Thanks FarmerFreak, now I can post a BST asking for some blanks...

Cheers

[FarmerFreak]

I may have answered too fast.
Yes they are sc1 keyways, but the sc1 keyblank is only a 5 pin blank. you may want the sc4 key blanks since they are 6 pin blanks. Just depends how many pins those cylinders are keyed to.

[femurat]

They're 6 pins... so I'll modify my BST post.

Thanks again

[WOT]

It's technically called 101-C keyway.

[magician59]

It's technically called 101-C keyway.

Schlage original: 35-100-C = 5 pin, C keyway, nickel alloy
35-101-C = 6 pin, C keyway, nickel alloy

[Squelchtone]

I bought this two used cylinders, and on a side of both there's SCI written with a marker... is this a schlage SC1 keyway?

Thanks

I can't tell, the pic is UPSIDE-DOWN!

We normally see them with the bible facing up.



and yes, feel free to use my last post for standard locks in use reply, also feel free to modify the language.

Buon giorno.
Squelchtone

[femurat]

Buongiorno a te, squelchtone. Sorry for the upside down picture!

Thanks to all for the useful info. I bought some very cheap blanks online. I hope to receive them soon. I'll let you know if they fit.

Cheers

[JACKthePICKER]

im not sure but in my experiance the illing looks like schlage i always remember it by any schlage milling looks evil

[femurat]

Got some blanks: some SC1 and a few SC4. As you can see they perfectly fit.
I already have a lens, so the last thing needed is a good file... it's already on my way, I hope to get it soon.

Cheers

[femurat]

My new swiss file (#2 cut) arrived yesterday, so my first impressioning experience begin.
I choose the 5 pins lock. I picked it to check its bitting: nothing strange.
Put it in the vise, prepared the first blank, the lens and the light. Started to jiggle... nothing, can't see the marks. Jiggle again, nothing. I'm not used to look for marks, I can't recognize them between other signs.
So I tried to use some 600 grit sandpaper wrapped around the file to smooth the surface and then jiggled again. Now I can clearly see the marks!
I don't know if the file I choose is too rough or if I just need some experience to find marks.

After 2 hours I guess I'm halfway but my hands are really tired. I'll continue filing another day.

I shoot some pictures to show you the marks I got (WARNING: BIG IMAGES)


See you soon

[femurat]

My first attempt... Failed

I guess that I gave too many file strokes, so passed the point where I should have stopped. Now that I've found the lower limit of the bittings there are no more marks. Unfortunately it's too late to go back.

I had some thoughts during this first experience, I hope sharing them can help somebody starting out.

I don't need a lens. I can clearly see the marks by eye.
A file #2 is too rough for a newbie. I have to finish the key with sandpaper to see the marks.
I need a better handle for the key, the pliers are not comfortable for a newbie like me that needs a lot of jiggling to see the marks.
A fully pinned lock is too difficult to start with.

Now that I've disassembled the lock I discovered that this lock is master-keyed. I'll put aside the small pins because I fear they'll interfere with my learnig process.


I'll try again with just two pins, let's see if I learn where I must stop filing.

See you soon

[femurat]

The second attempt was quick and easy 2 pins are a lot easier than 5.
Knowing the bittings also helps. Since I removed the small master-key pins this lock has a very flat bittings, except for the last pin.
I was able to open the lock in less than an hour! I was really surprised when the key turned.
After that I added the last three pins and finished my first working key.
The trick was not to file too much: just a stroke to clear the mark(s) and then jiggle again.

It was a rainy day so I decided to go further. I took the other cylinder and started directly with five pins. This was a 6 pins cylinder but was filled just with 5.
I was a little tired from the previous one and the bitting was deeper, so this one took two hours.
When this key started clicking I felt a little emotion. After a few minutes it turned!
I finished the key with some sandpaper till it stop revealing marks: now it turns smooth in both directions.

Here are some picture of the locks with their just made keys.




There's still the other 6 pins cylinder waiting for me... now I'm ready.

Cheers

[LocksmithArmy]

this is one of my favorite stories

you did a good job desribing it to those of us that have never done it and gave us many problems to expect as well as solutions to them

I would love to start impressioning locks, but dont have the means to do so just yet... cant wait to get home and get started.
thanks for all the helpful info