Finding the right blank key?

[DDoyle]

Can anybody give me some advise on finding the correct blank key for a lock with no key.

I have a couple of padlocks and a few rim cylinders mainly yale and union but they have no keys, I can pick these locks with little effort but what I wanted to do is try to cut/file my own keys for these locks, but unsure what keys I will need, obviously you can purchase keys by make i,e Yale but how do you work out what size, shape or style????

Thanks................

[raimundo]

learning to recognize keyways and keyblanks is the first thing a new locksmith learns, perhaps you should take one cylinder to a locksmith and ask him about it. Some locksmiths will help you, others might just be cranky old geezers, there are some london locksmiths on the LP101 who might help you, try pming Toomuchtodrink and see if hes willing.

[Afisch]

Is there an easy way to find out what warded blank your lock takes, as they come in a variety of sizes?

[linty]

bring them to a good locksmith and they should be able to give you the right blanks.

keyway recognition takes a while to get good at, and comes with experience and familiarity with the locks.

[Afisch]

Its one of those large deadbolts on a door, removing it may be more trouble than its worth, I tried measuring the inside of it with some wire but that didn't help much.