Impressioning Tools...

[hitech444]

Hi,
Has anyone tried this tool (http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?Page ... ProdID=628)
for impressioning? Any comments?
Also if someone could comment on "The Art of Impressioning" CD-ROM.

Thanks

[UWSDWF]

I've always just used vicegrips for the few times i've done impressioning, as well I have found the free guides (here and on other sites) more then adequit for me to figure out how to impression.... What I will say helps is an iluminated magnifying glass

[Wolfe]

A clipper is a invaluable tool in my eyes. It saves a lot of time n hassle. It has a bit of a learning curve but nothing to complicated. Before ya spend the big bugs get the concept down n try it a couple of times with files. You might not like impressioning at all and would of wasted over a hundred dollars.

(Heres another tip you can make a pair of clippers with a pair of lineman plyers)

[UWSDWF]

(Heres another tip you can make a pair of clippers with a pair of lineman plyers)

make a guide please

[Cybernation]

I have never found the need to purchase a clipper seeing that I don’t do that many impressions ... vice-grips work just fine like stated above

[Eyes_Only]

I've never used any commercially available impressioning tool either, only a vise grip. I dunno if this applies to any tool you use in impressioning but at least with the vise grips in my experience, you have a good chance of easily twisting off the bow of the key if you use too much turning/binding force on the key blank.

[keysman]

I learned with a pair of small vise grips (4in ?)

They work just fine ..

In a pile of stuff from a locksmith ' "estate" there was a pair of impressioning vice grips .. they have flat jaws ,no serrations so the key doesn't get " munged up", and it holds the whole head of the key vs just the "lips" grabbing , so you have a little better hold on the key.

They are my new favorite impressioning pliers.. I would recommend them to anyone who does a lot of impressioning .

[2octops]

Don't waste your money on the clippers. Just buy a Grobet pippin file and it will last for thousands of keys.

Just remember that when you file, it only cuts in one direction (usually pushing away from you). If you rub the file back and forth on a key when using it, it will clog up quickly and need to be cleaned.