I dont have access to a key cutting machine (or blanks for that matter) but am able to collect a few old locks & keys. I am in process of making/trying homemade picks, & yesterday managed to use an old key which i filed down to make a bump key & tried it on its original lock. it would now of course not work as normal but did 'bump' it very well, which was an excellent experience of how the process works. filing the key however with a 3 corner saw file is rather difficult and the resultant 'cuts' look to be a 'wrong' profile, although as I say it did work.
I was wondering what sort of file is best to use, and can a template be made to improve the process.