Keys

[alpha_male]

Ok, i was wondering, is it Possible to make a key for a lock?? I was thinking about lockpicking it, not fully rotating the plug (leaving the keyway horizontal) so that the pins are stuck against the shear line, and then taking an "image" of it somehow. All help appreciated.

[Buggs41]

By all means, Go for it!

You might just be the 'Albert Einstein' we have all been looking for.

[hzatorsk]

Ok, i was wondering, is it Possible to make a key for a lock?? I was thinking about lockpicking it, not fully rotating the plug (leaving the keyway horizontal) so that the pins are stuck against the shear line, and then taking an "image" of it somehow. All help appreciated.

There are a couple of techniques... the primary one is known as 'impressioning'. It is possible to use a blank key and cut it to fit an existing lock.

Quickly put: The key blank is blackened in a candle flame and carefully inserted into the lock and attempted to turn and removed. The pins above the shear line leave tiny marks on the key and give you an idea where you need to file the key down. Once each pin reaches the shear line... it no longer leaves marks in the key and you know to quit filing at that position. Repeat process until key is filed to open the lock.

Search around for 'impressioning' and you should find some discussion on the matter.

It is possible to pick the lock, turn the plug partially and then 'feel' each pin height by raising with a pick. Personally... I don't think you'll get a practical measurement that can be used to accurately cut a key with.

hz

[vector40]

alpha, yeah, that can be done. Usually it's either by decoding the heights of the pins (since, with the plug turned, they'll all be at their set height), or by taking a "mold" of it somehow. It's not the most common means of making a key; if you've picked it already, usually it's a simple matter to open the door, disassemble the lock, and decode the pins individually.

[davidgjr]

Alpha,
What I would do is instead of picking it is try to read the pins. Put a small piece of spring steel in the lock in the locked position. Look into the lock and slowly pull out the steel and record the heights as as they drop. What I do sometimes, I have a set of space and depth keys cut to the depth, but no spaces, just a flat blank. When the lock is in the picked position I go from 0,1 to whatever until the blank slides in. Then I know the cut. Using your method , It may be hard for you to see behind a deep pin. Using my method, if you have a few shallow cuts back to back you can decode half of the pins Then impression out the rest. I have had a 4 pin master padlock give me all but one cut. I am not saying at all your method won't work. Give it a try. you may come up with an easier method.