What is a Hand Punch/Key Clipper

[bpc293]

i guess its ok but if plan on geting a real hand punch someday just wait.
i no buying those templates add up. but they realy cut the keys right from what i heard. i dont have one. i dont plan on getting a power punch or the blue what ever. i figured if i was at that point i would have a key machine in my van. i want to be good at impressioning i no it will take me alot of practice so i got these things to save my hands from the file.

[bpc293]

ok hers another one of my double posts but it been a day or two.
before i left for i guess work. i grabed my house key matched up the shoulder to a blank and clipped it becuase i was holding it by hand it took me two min. to do. first try it didnt work. i put it back in turned it. i got 3 impresions filed it a little bit and i had a copy. if i wasnt so lazy i would of want down to my truck and got visegrips to hold the keys. i'm really feeling this thing was worth the money.

[raimundo]

I suspected that there were brand specific jaws, depths, and spacing settings, shrub made some of that clear, but about punching a divot out of a keyblank with an uneven keyway, like a yale 999, don't you have to have a jaw that gives support under the keyblade to keep it from flattening against the die.
These clippers have been around for a long time, and sometimes used for regular deadbolt locks, but very common use is automotive locks. one of our forum members mentioned a lockout, where he could see the key on the seat, and copied it by clipper and with visual reference through the window to the key. Yup, I wish I had one of these, if a lock impressioned a key at a certain point, I could just set the cut for the next depth and skip all the working my way down with a file. Why don't some of you guys quote the prices on one of these, and by the way raccoon, aluminum key blanks may be soft, but they are not kind to cutting edges, aluminum oxide is a material that is very abrasive, and thats what aluminum is on its surface, oxide. don't think that files or other cutting tools love aluminum. they don't, but they do love brass, brass is made for cutting, they even include a little bit of lead just to lube the cutter.

[bpc293]

the page with the price is right here its $85.95 and then the 10% off.


http://lockpicks.com/index.asp?PageActi ... D=628&HS=1

[jmac875]

I tried picking up one of these clippers from lockpicks.com and it is no longer available. Do you guys know if there is another site out there selling these?

[d_goldsmith]

That seems awesome. Great find.

[brmse]

I guess this would be a good bump key maker, if you dont already have a key cutter?

[zeke79]

If you can somehow reliably adjust for space and depth with the above linked tool then yes you could cut bump keys with it. Right off the shelf however you will require a set of calipers and some patience to cut a working bump key with those clippers.

[maxxed]

It would be interesting to see how practical such a unit would be. I think it would be handy when working on small wafer locks, file cabinets and such. because they ttend to have sloppy tolerances. Like any tool practice may be required to be proficient.

[d_goldsmith]

I was thinking you could use it for making a key while impressioning. Do you think that it wouldn't be finite enough?

[Raccoon]

I tried picking up one of these clippers from lockpicks.com and it is no longer available. Do you guys know if there is another site out there selling these?

According to their website, they are still available. As posted above yours,
http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?Page ... D=628&HS=1

If they aren't available, I'd give them a call and ask when they expect more in.

[maxxed]

I was thinking you could use it for making a key while impressioning. Do you think that it wouldn't be finite enough?

The accuracy of such a clipper may be nothing moer than a persons ability to use the tool. Both of the clippers I have require cams and carriagess for each different type of key and cut at each proper space and depth. This clipper will take some practice, because it uses a visual guide, but I'm imterested enough to buy one for myself.
I usually find that it is easier to see marks on a filed surface than a machine cut surface, so if useing the clipper you should rough up the surface with a file after trimming. When I impression locks I will file the entire key by hand then cut a proper key by machine for the customer. Hand filed keys do not always duplicate properly

[jmac875]

Racoon,
I just went back and was able to pick one up. I guess they just didn't have any in that day.

Ok,
So I am going to post this question in the thread that contains the pin depth information for a number of different locks. But could anyone explain to me how to read and judge the depths for 999 depth keys from this information? I know I will need a digital caliper.

http://www.geocities.com/jmac875/Depth-and-Spacing-Guide.pdf

Thanks for any help,

[maxxed]

The posted depths will be measured from the bottom of the blank to the flat of the cut, what seems to be missing on these charts is the manufacture or key series that the info is for. If you need info on a specific manufacturer let me know and I'll send it to you.

[jmac875]

Thanks Maxxed, I am waiting for my clipper and caliper to come in. I did a little searching and found that the "root" depth is the measurement that I am looking for.

What do you mean there is no manufacturer information? In the PDF it shows the manufacturer above every list of specs in blue. Or do I need more information. For example, Yale standard is listed, but I know there are different keyways for Yale. Does this mean that the Y1 key root depth would be the same as the Y2 root depth? Or do I need keyway specific information to be able to cut to code for every keyway type made by an individual manufacturer.