Pull-Out Impressioning Tool?

[femurat]

I was going to ask you to take a picture of the blank as soon as it gets its marks. Gordon beat me to it. The mark in that picture is impressive.

Cheers

[GWiens2001]

I was going to ask you to take a picture of the blank as soon as it gets its marks. Gordon beat me to it. The mark in that picture is impressive.

Cheers

Which picture has the mark? There is the key blank with 0 cuts.

Gordon

[femurat]

http://www.stirlinglocksmithsupply.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Untitled-1.png

It's under product description around the middle of the page.

Cheers

[Shrub1]

Guys, for a quick alternative but with the same effect just put a thin fibre washer on the blank against the shoulder. Insert key and instead of pulling out slightly you tap it in.

[Jacob Morgan]

Guys, for a quick alternative but with the same effect just put a thin fibre washer on the blank against the shoulder. Insert key and instead of pulling out slightly you tap it in.

That's a clever idea.

Welcome to the forum.

[Shrub1]

Thanks buddy although I'm not new as such, I've just visited to see if I can get my shrub account reactivated.

[Shrub]

OK great, got my account back.

If you use a fibre washer you need to do one or two things, if it's a 5 pin use a 6 pin key and cut to length including the washer thickness or if you only have the correct blank you can file the shoulder.
When you duplicate the key for the customer or fun you leave the washer on and set up using it as the shoulder.

I saw a tool many years ago that was like a regular impressioning handle but I think it had a little button on the front, when that was pushed against the lockface it pushed the key back slightly,
You inserted, turned then pressed. I think it was either made by or for Paul Souber but I don't know how commercial it went.

I made one with an automatic centre punch inside but it was quite fierce and rolled down a drain on a job once never to be seen again.


I've tried fibre washers, model fuel tube, o rings, springs, hose pipe and various other things. The fibre washer worked the best for me closely followed by fuel tube but you may get better mileage in something else. If you get a smaller washer you can file more of a rectangle in the centre to better fit the key.
Try different materials and see what works for you.

I find something metallic but not heavy works better tapping the key but others prefer the wooden handle of a hammer or even a screwdriver handle. I'm assuming a bump hammer may also be a good impressioning hammer.

As a side note I get better marks by tapping up and down on the handle or bow (sometimes a handle impedes my attempts), if I wiggle I tend to snap the key before its finished.
I'm currently brushing up on my impressioning skills and trying some different things so this thread sparked my interest.

[Jacob Morgan]

Shrub,

Thanks for adding to the thread, lots of very interesting ideas. Looking forward to what you have to offer on other topics as well.

[GWiens2001]

Going to have to try those ideas, Shrub.

Gordon

[Shrub]

If you try the rubber/plastic tube items it's often better to have them against the bow rather than the shoulder, on softer materials they soon ride up over the shoulder.

[Jacob Morgan]

Saw an advertisement for a pull-out tool in a Locksmith Ledger publication that was in the mail today. Sold by Dire's Lock & Supply Company in Denver. No price given. No website listed, phone number is 303-294-0176 and email is direlock@msn.com

Thought I would pass it along if anyone is interested.

[Jacob Morgan]

Broke down and got one of those tools, impressioned a Dexter/Schlage lock with it. Compared to using Vise Grips it went faster. The marks are very easy to see. Tried to take a picture of them, but my phone camera was not up to it. Compared to my home-made contraption it works better, for one thing where the key is attached is adjustable so it is easier to work with keys of different lengths between bows and shoulders.



Here is another view of it. Overall it is fairly well made, but the spring is not well secured and when I used it for a second lock it popped loose a couple of times. I need to do something to secure it so it does not fly away for good.


And the opposite side.


An advantage is that it does not leave a mark on the cylinder--in the past I have left marks on cylinders from the shoulder of the key hitting it when rocking the blank up and down, this cylinder did not show any marks.