Ball Bearing Key Pins

[teamstarlet]

I recently picked up and old Corbin padlock without a key, with the intent of impressioning it, however once I took a closer look I discovered that it has ball bearings on the end of every key pin.

Has anyone successfully managed to impression these?

I figured if there was only a single ball bearing then I could potentially impression the other 4 pins and then just try each depth for the final pin, but with all ball bearings I'm not sure that it's even possible...

[femurat]

Why don't you just go ahead and try?
Maybe with the help of a blue sharpie and a magnifying lens (and obviously a good light source).

Cheers

edit: I see you lubricated the lock to pick it... clean it thoroughly before attempting to impression it.
Also, why don't you start with a little advantage? Pick the lock and carefully measure and cut the first position.

[billdeserthills]

As long as you make your blank thin enough on top, it can be impressioned
getting all the lube out of the lock is a pain

[teamstarlet]

Yeah I'm just waiting on some blanks so figured I would ask around and see

That's a good idea about measuring the first pin... I have picked it open and thought about trying to measure all of the pins by somehow using a pick to 'draw' out the height profiles on a piece of paper by attaching a pen to the end of a pick - Does that make any sense at all?

I'll try and few things and report back.

[teamstarlet]

As long as you make your blank thin enough on top, it can be impressioned
getting all the lube out of the lock is a pain

So you're saying I should make it sorta like a knife edge on top?

[Robotnik]

Knife-edging is one way to get marks, yes. Can also file the top to a flat matte surface, or use Sharpie. Comes down to personal preference and how the lock responds.

Regarding the ball bearings, they do indeed mark, though not as bold as normal ball-end key pins.

[femurat]

That's a good idea about measuring the first pin... I have picked it open and thought about trying to measure all of the pins by somehow using a pick to 'draw' out the height profiles on a piece of paper by attaching a pen to the end of a pick - Does that make any sense at all?

It's been discussed a few times. Search for a thread with raimundo and me and some others and you'll find some more ideas about it.

Good luck

[Raymond]

If you have picked it you should have a HUGE headstart toward making the key. As suggested, measure the first pin. Then, use a flashlight or an otoscope if you have one, and look at all the rest of the pins/balls. Make sure the lock is oriented so the pins move up to the shear line by gravity. By looking you can see the relative pattern of most of the full key. Some pins you will see and can compare to the front pin as higher or lower. The pins you cannot see are higher that the pin blocking its view. This will give you a general idea what the final key will look like.

[GWiens2001]

You can also use your hook pick to feel the pin positions that you can not see.

Gordon