key blank impressioning

by **pickersRus** » 13 Aug 2004 20:38

I am currently taking a course on locksmithing and have pretty well mastered all but key impressioning. I have read , re-read and re-re-read the lesson plus done quite an extensive bit of other reading and research on the subject and I still can not get the hang of it. I have tried blackening the blank , polishing the blank and even cursing the blankity blank blank and still have not got the hang of it. It seems as if I over file the marks every time but I only file if a mark is left.........can someone , anyone please give me some advice on this subject ? :roll:

THANKS

by **S3rratedSp00L** » 13 Aug 2004 20:46

You may be filing too deep on each pass.. Try lightening up on the file/filing less, or using a finer file.. also, the shape of the file may be affecting the way the pins sit in the cuts. I try not to uise round files personally and have had problems with round files and beveled/pointed key pins... the pin will sit on the sides of the cut instead of the middle sometimes.. Now I use a flat file and try to keep it as level as possible.

Most importantly, take your time.

Keep us posted on what worked for you when you get good at it!

by **Chucklz** » 13 Aug 2004 21:06

Take only one small foward stroke on your pippen file, with just enough downward pressure to keep the file from skipping over the blank. Or, "cheat" a bit, and look up the depths for the lock your impressioning and just progress them.

by **mcm757207** » 13 Aug 2004 21:29

If your just starting, I suggest this:

Find a single-sided wafer cam lock, take it apart (remove plug from lock, keep wafers in place). Find the correct key blank. Takke the key blank, and put it in a vice (one that's nailed down to a table) by the bow (head) of the key, so the blade is sticking out. Now take the wafer plug and put it with the key (like putting the key in the lock). Now take a blunt object such as the end of a screwdriver and tap the wafers on the plug. This leaves fairly good marks on the key. Yes, this obviosly isn't how you would go around impressioning a normal lock but this will improve your ability to see the marks and correctly file the key blank. Good luck

by **Buggs41** » 13 Aug 2004 21:31

I am also very inept on impressioning a key. Seeing the marks is very difficult to me. Might be I am still not sure exactly what I am looking for.

F-B passed me on that lesson. I wish they would have sent me another lock instead. ( I destroyed the first one. Picking it was not a problem, so I wanted to examine it closer. Forgot that I had removed the retaining clip, and it slipped out of my hand. When I picked it up off the floor, the plug was half way out of the cylinder, and set. LOL! )

So that is as far as I have gone on impressioning.

Keep this thread alive so I can learn more.

by **CaptHook** » 13 Aug 2004 22:25

How are you preparing your blanks?
Chuck

by **mcm757207** » 13 Aug 2004 23:52

When impressioning pin and tumbler locks, you are looking for small, round, dark circular maks aligned with the center of the key. When you are impressioning wafer locks, look for marks sometimes on the corner/edge of the key blade, and even all the way accross as straight lines. Try using a magnifying glass under direct bright light. Also make sure that you run the file smoothly along the key blank first to prepare it and take off those random marks that key blanks have out of the box.

by **Guitar_J** » 14 Aug 2004 0:02

Buggs41 wrote: When I picked it up off the floor, the plug was half way out of the cylinder, and set.

almost the same thing happened to me... I did something... I forget now.. ohh yes... I was testing out the key, I forgot i had the cam off of the back and when I pulled the key out the plug came too... so what happened was the top pin from the 1st pin stack went into the 2nd hole in the plug and so on with the rest of the top pins... in addition, since there were pins in the plug, the bitting of the lock required the first pin rise to reemove the key.. however this was not possible because the first pin was pushing against the cylinder body... was a big mess... so I had to take the spring retainer off, finally got it tapped back in... I then called FB for more blanks.. they sent another lock too... so I got a lock out of it... heh..

by **CaptHook** » 14 Aug 2004 0:09

One method you can use for prep on pin tumblers is to bevel the edge of the blade on both sides with a flat warding type file before you start. Make a faux knife edge, just dont go so far that you decrease the width of the blade.
Chuck

by **Buggs41** » 14 Aug 2004 7:25

Slightly beveling the sides, in addition to the normal milling of the top.

Great idea, It is time to set the picks aside, and brush up on impressioning. Thanks!

by **HeadHunterCEO** » 14 Aug 2004 11:54

I don't know any master impressoners but a know who a few who are very talented

just somrthing you gotta keep practicing

when i was started out i wass always told to never file unless you are certain of a mark

always make sure that when you do file it is straight across

don't want a 100 little angul marks in the cut you are looking for marks in

by **S3rratedSp00L** » 14 Aug 2004 20:22

If you really want to start at the bottom, try impressioning a warded lock! Similar to a wafer, but the cuts are all the same depth!

Good practice for seeing the marks I guess.. The marks end up on the edges like they might with a wafer lock.. I cheat and use the dremel tool for these though.

I'd say either way to try a warded lock once at some point, just for the hell of it.. but starting with a wafer might be better.. I started with a master no. 1 padlock cuz that's what I had when I tried it for the first time..

...and all the advice above! try it all!

by **pickersRus** » 18 Aug 2004 13:10

what an excellent idea chucklz , CHEATING..hehehehehe , It worked. Now that I have successfully conquered one impressioning I think maybe I am getting the hang of it. Thanks to all who gave advice and wish me continued success.

by **ram211** » 27 Aug 2004 17:04

Hi I too have just been brushing up on my key imprisoning skills
Only for an exam coming up. As the other folks say good light is essential
And a good pair of magnifying glasses or glass, finding the first pin centre next to the shoulder of the blank is the easy one, black key with carbon you will see most of black is removed by all pins after being inserted in to the lock which will give you a good start on first pin, good firm key binding ( rocking key in keyway)should help find the rest, pick the lock if possible and in the unlocked possession look in keyway and try to read the pins ie: shape of cuts and depths not saying you will see all pins but will see deep cuts, I use an otoscope 3x magnification as you progress as you near the desired depth of cut for the pin you will see marks appear more boldly you know the to slow down on filing on that cut. hope this helps

by **Varjeal** » 27 Aug 2004 17:09

Another tip concerning the filing motion or "stroke". Make sure it is straight, light, and never take more than a couple passes at it. Knowing the depth increment comes in very handy because some locks have very little difference between increments while others are huge.

The tip on using a fine cut file is also important for a nice smooth edge too. I generally don't recommend the "knife-edging" technique because it can easily be used improperly, but it is a valid one.

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