Stamping Medeco/Keymark X4 Keys

[gswimfrk]

Hi LP101 Community:

I have recently installed a brand new keymark X4 system on my home... yes the one with the sidebar. I can post pictures if you guys would like to see it.

As I understand the medeco/keymark keys are made of a hard nickel silver alloy... what do you locksmiths who service medeco/keymark X4 use to mark your keys... In other words, do a certain brand of key stamps make a better impression? Also, on that note what should I use as a stamping plate?

Thanks,

Ivan

[Squelchtone]

Hi LP101 Community:

I have recently installed a brand new keymark X4 system on my home... yes the one with the sidebar. I can post pictures if you guys would like to see it.

ugh.. you should have asked us first.. keymark x4 is great for businesses and for key control places like offices. unless you are worried about your handy man or contractors you have working on the house making spare copies, there were probably better solutions to go with. As far as I know your keymark x4 has a slider in it, but does not use rotating pins and a "real" sidebar with fingers, only a sidebar with a slot to accept the slider, which we all know can be defeated with a paper clip.

I suppose you got these because of that house you own, so maybe you already had sfic hardware and needed decent cores, in which case I suppose these arent bad if you dont want tenants making copies. in that case, job well done.

Anyone have an keymark X4 diagram we can look at?

Squelchtone

[gswimfrk]

Yepp that was my intention. I wanted key control. I had some grade 2 worn down Schlage F series... so I decided to slap in some SFIC Hardware with Keymark X4s which came at $30 (core) a pop for me. I have always been a fan of SFIC systems ... Keymark X4s are pretty difficult to pick and almost impossible to bump unless you have a blank with the proper side bar.

Back to the question... What do people use to stamp Medeco/Keymark keys? Any particular brand/model of stamp, and what should I use as a stamping plate?

Thanks,

Ivan.

[Evan]

Back to the question... What do people use to stamp Medeco/Keymark keys? Any particular brand/model of stamp, and what should I use as a stamping plate?

Thanks,

Ivan.

The same metal stamps you would use to mark cylinders or any other keys...

I prefer using a stamping machine which doesn't deform the key as badly as a more powerful than intended hammer strike on a marking die...

But for your purposes you should be able to hold a stamp and strike it firmly to mark it just fine...

~~ Evan

[gswimfrk]

[quote]The same metal stamps you would use to mark cylinders or any other keys...

I prefer using a stamping machine which doesn't deform the key as badly as a more powerful than intended hammer strike on a marking die...

But for your purposes you should be able to hold a stamp and strike it firmly to mark it just fine...

~~ Evan
/quote]

Thanks Evan!

I used to use some chinese Harbor Freight Tools Crap Stamps ... The keys were harder than the stamp itself... Any particular brands of stamps people use out there that are high quality?

Also if I don't want to buy a stamping machine, can I use a sheet of metal as my stamping plate?

Thanks,

Ivan

[Evan]

The stamps that I used to use personally were from this company:

<< External link to Young Bros Stamp Works Inc. >>

~~ Evan

[cledry]

Ditto what Evan said, Hanson used to be good, not sure if they still are made in USA though. We also have two key stamping machines, both do not work well on these harder keys. As for a stamping block we have a large steel gear attached to a 4X4 post but an anvil or top of a vice works fine.

[gswimfrk]

Thanks for all your help!!! I got the job done with CH Hanson Hand Stamps, they worked very well and were american made!!! I got a 1/8 letter and number set in a case for $35 off amazon! Great Value!!!

Thanks Again,

I.