What Did You Impression Today?

[femurat]

Be careful with the blitz, adi_picker. An old and worn lock may still leave marks at the theoretically correct depth. But you already know it...

Cheers

[adi_picker]

Haha! femurat, you were right on. I found that with the first couple I did, even when I had a working key the locks still left marks, and good ones. I figured that the tolerances were sloppy so made the extra cut, only to find the key stopped working. After the first couple though, I got a good system and it really sped the process up. I also found the marks were much easier to identify with the Blitz, but I have also been honing my technique, so hopefully that has something to do with it as well. All good.

adi_picker

[jeffmoss26]

made a key for this wafer lock on Thursday:

[jfw]

Nice work Jeff.

[globallockytoo]

Here is an impressioning job i completed a couple of months ago for an old Godrej money box

[Jacob Morgan]

An old warded Slaymaker.

[adi_picker]

Jacksons JP152A



My first lever lock impression. Much easier than pin tumblers, just have to be careful how much meat you remove from the bolt-thrower. This is a Jacksons lock, made in Tasmania, Australia, made for the Federal Government for use locking ballot boxes. The 'CofA' stands for Commonwealth of Australia.

adi_picker

[GWiens2001]

Congrats on impressioning your first lever lock, adi!

Interesting history for the lock’s use. If you get any more, let me know. I just hope you don’t get in hot water for posting the key to the ballot boxes.

Gordon

[stratmando]

Needed to make a key for a wafer lock for an in-process write up on impressioning. So made a key for the wafer lock in this Yale combination lock.



If anybody has a book that will show the combo, the code on the bottom of the lock is N10198. If you can get the combo, please send it to me via PM. Thanks!

Gordon

With the Shackle open, Use something to hold latch? in, look down shackle hole and dial combo til you see the slots line up, then you have to add the same number of digits to each number. When I was Kid, I found you would have to add 11 to each number, Later Master Combos are different, different number to add, if I remember. Good Luck

[Shackle Jackal]

FIRST IMPRESSION ! wafer lock on a display case, it was actually the first lock that I ever picked, so it was fitting that it was also my first impression. I learned something very important during the impressioning process, I NEED GLASSES.

[GWiens2001]

FIRST IMPRESSION ! wafer lock on a display case, it was actually the first lock that I ever picked, so it was fitting that it was also my first impression. I learned something very important during the impressioning process, I NEED GLASSES.

Congrats on the first impression. Know what you mean by needing glasses.

Gordon

[adi_picker]

Nice to hear of your first impression Shackal! If there is a skill that will test your vision, for me this is it. I have my prescriptions, and then still have to use a jewellers loupe and plenty of light. Make hay while the sun shines I reckon, I doubt this is something you or I will be able to continue into old age!

Squire Laminated Padlock - Commonwealth of Australia



Key is actually a VI84 for a Viro padlock, but the profile is identical. Had to trim a little off the shoulder to clear the outer lamination as well, and even then the marks were oh so faint, I guess that's probably related to the lock being nearly 60 years old! Used the Blitz for speed, but also to keep my depths consistent, and also had to sand the cuts before each wriggling to get a surface more conducive to the marking. Felt like the first time I had impressioned a lock when it opened.

adi_picker

[cledry]

I finally remembered to photograph the impressioning pliers we use at work. We have several pairs and they seem to have been ordered from ViseGrip without any serrations on the jaw. They are plated and don't appear modified. Can't recall where we bought them many years ago but it was probably a major locksmith supplier. Wish they still offered them.

[jwrm22]

I finally remembered to photograph the impressioning pliers we use at work. We have several pairs and they seem to have been ordered from ViseGrip without any serrations on the jaw. They are plated and don't appear modified. Can't recall where we bought them many years ago but it was probably a major locksmith supplier. Wish they still offered them.

Interesting tool. Thanks for sharing.
I don't get the feel with vice grips and made myself some handles.



How many of you are impressioning?
I'm practicing for LockCon at this moment.
We'll see how far I can get.

[femurat]

That's a very nice pair of pliers, cledry!
I have a regular one and works well, but I find the angled handles more annoying than the concave tips. Shaking the pliers off centre is quite annoying. I'd prefer a straight tool.
I tried to make one out of wood, with two trough screws to hold the key. It works very well.







jwrm22, I'm practicing a little for LockCon too. For example yesterday evening I made one key, and it took me one hour. Far more than usual!
For the competition I don't want to bring my cordless drill with me, it's too heavy! That's why I'm practicing with my pliers instead of my wooden handle.

See you there