Thin Spline Key

[sign216]

I'm rehabilitating an old Amsec circular safe door, as used in small in-floor safes, common to gas stations, corner stores, etc. Amongst its problems, is that a "dude" replaced the spline key with a piece of steel shim. The lock mechanism doesn't show its maker. The key slot is thin, thinner than the keys I have for S&G 6700 locks.

What's a thin style spline key that might fit, that I can get from MBA?


[image] [/image]

[MartinHewitt]

I don't think anything is there thinner than the standard S&G on mba. The LG are AFAIR a hair thicker. Vault is much thicker. The BR is certainly not thinner. I found in an LG of a customer a much to thin and small spline key causing issues. Never found out what it was for, but in Germany likely not for this kind of floor safe. I do have a hand rolling mill which I also use for making sheet of proper thickness when I have to make an unusual spline key.

[sign216]

MartinH,
The slot here is definitely thinner. I'm happy to shop outside of MBA, or make it myself. But if I can buy a proper key I'd rather do that.

Unfortunately MBA doesn't show key specs, just photos, so it's hard to judge.

Joe

[MartinHewitt]

My tiny, perhaps home made spline key is 1.03mm thick
Standard S&G 1.24mm
Vault S&G 2.03mm
For LG 3390 1.37mm
For LG 3330 and others 1.37mm
Big Red 1.32mm

[sign216]

For this slot a 1mm drill bit won't fit at all. Caliper shows it to be 0.9mm

I can't imagine Amsec using some off-brand lock, but you never know. I might end up using a homemade spline, just like the former owner who fouled the mechanism by spreading a thick grease over everything. Years later (decades later?) the grease is jamming it. Solvent wouldn't cut it at all. I ended up taking the disk pack off and it soaking overnight in Marvel Mystery Oil, and then putting it in boiling water, which took care of it.

[billdeserthills]

For this slot a 1mm drill bit won't fit at all. Caliper shows it to be 0.9mm

I can't imagine Amsec using some off-brand lock, but you never know. I might end up using a homemade spline, just like the former owner who fouled the mechanism by spreading a thick grease over everything. Years later (decades later?) the grease is jamming it. Solvent wouldn't cut it at all. I ended up taking the disk pack off and it soaking overnight in Marvel Mystery Oil, and then putting it in boiling water, which took care of it.

Sounds like lithium grease,
It turns into paste when it gets old

The old Star safe used an unusual spline key, it was basically a small rectangle made out of stainless steel

[sign216]

I ended up sanding thin an S&G key to use, but I also had to cut down the "flag" top.

Thanks MartinH for your help, esp, w. the key measurements. Sure to be useful down the road.

BillDH that is good info, about the steel key on the Star safe. This slot here is so thin, it might be better suited to a steel key.


Joe