Heavy spring/Impressioning

[Eyes_Only]

I recently posted a thread about heavy modified springs I procured from car parts and using them in a schlage mortise lock to make them more bump proof. I've kind of lost interest in that and now I want to take the springs out so I can use the lock in a masterkeying project. The only problem is I didnt really pin the lock to work with a existing key and I cant shim it because the heavy spring pressure would only crush the shim inside the lock can make the situation worse.

Does anyone think it's possible to maybe impression this lock to fit a working key so I can dismantle this lock and put some normal springs back in? The heavy spring pressure I think would help in marking the pin position better but not really 100% on this. And I dont want to order key blanks and end up wasting my money if its not possible. Any thoughts?

[Wolfe]

I can't see a problem in what your doing your binding the pins anyway. If anything like you said it will help not hurt.

[Eyes_Only]

Gotcha, thanks for the input.

[Wolfe]

NP man glad i could help

[Shrub]

I am guessing that impressioning would be a lot easier with a strongly sprung lock,

You could try useing two shims on top of each other but to be honest the small area of contact should let a normal shim be used if useing commercial ones unless of course its so bad that you cant lift the pins up with a pick lol

[Eyes_Only]

The spring is so heavy that it has already started to wear out a key I've been running it in and out of, so I just dont want to risk losing all my shims as I dont have that many.

[Shrub]

Ok then,

I take it you cant pick it?

The other thing to do is to put it in the oven and heat it up then quench it in cold water, it will destroy the springyness of the springs to an extent where they wont work,

I cant promise the lock wont get some cosmetic marks from the heat but they should come off with some wire wool afterwards,

I also add that this is quite a severe suggestion and only have a go if your in a corner and stuck with nothing else to do, its your last last last resort (other than drilling the pin caps out of course)

[Eyes_Only]

LOL, yeah if I'm not able to impression it properly I think I might give my oven a try. Thanks.

[Knows-Picker]

have you tried swearing at it and possibly thowing against the wall? sometimes that helps. (not with opening the lock, just with how you feel when you can't open the lock....lol)