Where and what to buy for key impressioning files

[Antique key maker]

I want to impression flat steel keys and cylinder keys. I may remove the cylinder and hand file the key while getting pins even, rather then look for impression marks.


I was wondering where can I buy impressioning files from? Anyone know any good links with what to buy?

What should I use for flat steel safe deposit key filing? Any particular file size?

Do I need expensive swiss files for filing my keys?

Thanks

[something_clever]

I'll save you some trouble and let you know that you're probably not going to get much information by asking that question here. But there is an impressioning guide here for pin tumbler locks, you can start there. There's links to places to buy the files if you look around... You could even click shop at the top of the page and probably find some.

But... And this is the big question... Why do you want to impression cylinder keys and safety deposit box keys?

And another... How many of these types of locks do you personally own that are not in use? The rules of this forum involve not picking/impressioning/bypassing/etc. locks that do not belong to you without express permission from their owner.

There could possibly be some reasonable, legal, moral and ethical purpose for you asking these questions but how would anyone know that? In fact I believe you need to be a member in the advanced forums for some of those questions to be answered.

[something_clever]

Ok, I was trying to save the guys that normally answer these some time since they do it all the time... I may have been slightly hasty. Is this for the antiques you were talking about in your other post?

What about the cylinders? I haven't seen anything about impressioning anything other than pin tumblers (non-saftey deposit) here so I assume it would be an advanced topic still though and your other questions are solved by searching.

Just in case I was completely wrong though I'll answer one...

http://www.lockpicks.com/impressioningtools.aspx

And no they're not all expensive.

[sfi72]

I want to impression flat steel keys and cylinder keys. I may remove the cylinder and hand file the key while getting pins even, rather then look for impression marks.


I was wondering where can I buy impressioning files from? Anyone know any good links with what to buy?

What should I use for flat steel safe deposit key filing? Any particular file size?

Do I need expensive swiss files for filing my keys?

Thanks

To start off, you should probably just get some cheap files, no reason to spend a lot on expensive "swiss" files unless you are going to be doing this a lot. For pin-tumbler keys you should check out chainsaw sharpening files at your local hardware store, they are round and cheap, so its a good starting file. The usual file is a pippin file, which has a tear drop shape, but these are rather expensive (commonly > $50). As for the safe deposit file, a warding/rectangular file and you want one with a width that is a little bit less than the levers in the lock.

Good luck.

I'll save you some trouble and let you know that you're probably not going to get much information by asking that question here. But there is an impressioning guide here for pin tumbler locks, you can start there. There's links to places to buy the files if you look around... You could even click shop at the top of the page and probably find some.

But... And this is the big question... Why do you want to impression cylinder keys and safety deposit box keys?

And another... How many of these types of locks do you personally own that are not in use? The rules of this forum involve not picking/impressioning/bypassing/etc. locks that do not belong to you without express permission from their owner.

There could possibly be some reasonable, legal, moral and ethical purpose for you asking these questions but how would anyone know that? In fact I believe you need to be a member in the advanced forums for some of those questions to be answered.

He wants to impression cylinder keys and safety deposit box keys because he recently got an old safety deposit box lock, and wants to make some keys for it. Impressioning is used by criminals even less than picking is. Do you realize how hard it would be to impression someone elses safe deposit box? Run into the bank vault, stick a key in, wiggle it around, run out file and repeat....I think someone would have an issue with that, not to mention he would most likely need to file 2 separate keys. He was asking about where to buy files to file down some pieces of metal, he said nothing at all about wanting to know more about how to impression, just where he could get the files to do so, and what kind of files he should get.

[something_clever]

Hence my second post... I guess I've read too many responses to people who start asking questions about random stuff that could be taken the wrong way and saw "safe deposit" and automatically assumed. Once I saw his other post I figured I was probably wrong. I didn't figure impressioning would be the first choice for wrong-doing, but it wouldn't surprise me if someone still asked about it.

Sorry Antique key maker, as well as anyone else my posts here may have annoyed.

[cppdungeon]

What these guys have posted here is quite correct; however I must say that if you have the money, and you are really sure you want to do this...Go for the swiss cut pippin file. It will give you an amazing finish. I'm learning impresssioning and it works much better than my other needle and chainsaw files.

--Cpp

[raimundo]

for flat steel keys you need a warding file, this is a file that is thin and often used to cut on edge to make the slots in flat steel keys that align lever tumblers.

Impressioning flat steel keys is not for a pippin file, those work best on impressioning pin tumbler locks.

the old method was smoking the blank, which was holding the blank over a candle or a wooden match until there is a black layer of soot, (or carbonblack) covering all the parts of the key that you intend to read impressions from.
the soot coating is delicate, and false marks are easily made inserting and withdrawing the blank'
a black marking pen will put on a more durable layer but this requires a bit more work in the marking process,
there are other variations such as heating the blank over a lighter then using a crayon to deposit a thin layer of wax crayon that can be read if it is carefully inserted and withdrawn from the lock.

[CptedIV]

I have a needle file set and just copied my first key, was real rough at first, the key I made wouldn't go in, then when I got it in, it wouldnt come out . As for impressioning, I was trying to use a few different things: A zippo, a permanent marker, and a dry erase marker. I could see the marks best with the dry erase marker, but I still haven't been able to impression a working key. I'm looking for a crayon now, what else leaves good marks for a beginner?

Ed

[CptedIV]

Also, what cut for the pippin file do you guys use? I've read mostly #2 I believe. Thanks.

[NanoDuke]

I'd imagine a crayon would leave your lock very gunky inside.

I don't think there's many other options.

[magician59]

I bought a fairly large assortment of warding files, from 4" to 11", from bastard to fine cuts (both American and Swiss cut patterns); 15 files in all, from a Large Dallas-based industrial supply company. I paid about $110 for the lot. Shipping was free, during an advertised special. They're not all used for key making, but all very handy. The cut pattern on your pippin or rat-tail file will generally be a matter of personal preference, but most of us keep it moderate (not too rough; not too smooth).

You're better off just practicing the skill without the aid of anything that can be rubbed off the key blank. Once you're good enough at impressioning to make keys for paying customers, they'll thank you for not fouling their locks with soot or waxy deposits. You'll find that brass levers make amazingly nice marks on steel blanks.