help needed fabricating blank key (lever lock)

[awol70]

here is an OLD padlock,given to me with no key,
i have a few querys on this old beauty,one being how would i go about tensioning it,
and what would be a good material from which to fabricate a key?
i figure a mock-up key,with a little plaster scene or putty packed into a depression in the blade of the mock key.
this would give a fairly accurate impression of the warding shape...
i look to those with greater experience for guidance,hoping i am on the right track..
as this will be my first lever lock impressioning/keying..

DSC03729.jpg

[TheSkyer]

That is one tough cookie... judging by the size of your hand vs the keyway you could try using a readily tubular material, such and pens, and fit a strip of another material to it. I'm totally new with that kind of stuff myself but I know people have used that kind of stuff before. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[raimundo]

That is a small version of what is generically called a railroad padlock, there are probably keys for it available on some antique locks and keys forums on the internet. Once apon a time, you could buy keys for this kind of thing at some old lockshops that still had old stock. Then, in the 90's even these places charged ten bucks or more for such a key, but If you can find a source of old keys, perhaps watching for them on E Bay, the chances are really good of finding one that fits the lock and opens it, or a key that can be modified to open it.

These locks have only a few tumblers, but often the tumblers are pressed down by strong springs.

Look for antique locks.com for info I would guess, and follow any links at sites like that for other forums.

If you just want to explore it for information about the tumblers, perhaps you could wrap one end of a brass strip around a bolt or other piece of rod stock that is similiar in size to the center post and then us that to look for the positions of the tumblers, and the boltthrow.

[Engineer]

I saw this post a couple of days ago and it has been nagging at me in the back of my mind that I had a thought, but couldn't bring it to the front of my mind.

Today I got it - That shape might be ideal for a "P" clip as used for holding pipes and cables. You can get them in metal as well. Something like that on the end of a bit of rod, or tubing might allow you to make an ugly, but working key - At least to test it out?

The hole in the end of the "P" clip would be a problem, but there is no real need to use a proper clip anyway. Do you have a strip of metal you could bend round a suitably-sized tube? Even a strip cut from a can of beans or something might do, at least as a test. If nothing else, once you have impressioned a key, you could use that for a locksmith to cut a proper key from if you could ever find a blank, or old key that even though cut, would still have enough metal left on the end to be cut down to your shape?

If all else fails, a key could be made relative easily once you have the shape - If you have access to a few metalworking tools?

[awol70]

thanks,guys..i will begin my search for suitable materials.
i do have a dremel,a bench grinder and a vise,so i should be fine in that area.
i will update with my progress as it occurs =)

[exspook]

do you think a CHUBB CRUISER padlock blank would fit?

I know it is the reverse section but you could cut it off at the stem and re solder it the other way around (if that makes sense)

google images

chubb 1K21 padlock

Dave

[Wizer]

This propably comes too late for You, but if the size is right, You could take the other wing out of this 2-sided blank: silca: 8150, JMA: 1602G, Lotus: 8DA57

[awol70]

i have since found a proper blank, but dressing it took forever...now that it fits the keyhole, i notice there is a slot running up between the barrel and the bit/flag.
this concerns me due to the fact it will weaken the bit,perhaps disallowing impressioning?
also should i dress all sides to a mirror with my swiss-cut pippin?
i was told that impressioning this lock would be a "joy" and "a walk in the park"
somehow i think its going to be a long walk.
thanks for the help.