FAQ: The Fine Art of Impressioning (in a nutshell)

by **Jaakko** » 29 Jul 2007 9:56

kissnatcher1 wrote:SRY Thats chat lingo for sorry.

..and a lingo that is not appreciated on these forums.

by **freakparade3** » 29 Jul 2007 11:27

Kiss and Smurf got punked by Shrub.........HAHA

by **Shrub** » 29 Jul 2007 13:08

Nah Snathy's alright i speak with him via pm,

But yes smurf got pawned lol

All in good fun of course,

by **Wrenchman** » 29 Jul 2007 19:43

I feel like sharing!

So I was impressioning a padlock earlier today, and I was able to see the marks and all that, but then puff no more marks, I hate it when that happens, I then tried something that I have only read about, but never really thought would be worth practicing! (to be honest, I never did understand how it worked, until today)

The pull out method! :shock:

The marks are like huge and you only have to pull out/push in a couple of time and you are ready to file, the lock popped open in like 10-15min.

I have yet to find out if the tapping method is worth knowing, I doubt it!

Wrenchman

by **TigerDragon** » 29 Jul 2007 19:48

Congratulations. I'm still trying to get the hang of impressioning. I think I'll do better with one of the impressioning tools than with my lock grips.

by **poppasmurfenfold** » 30 Jul 2007 16:32

sry = sorry
sorry = sry
it means im sorry im on vacation so im typing on a PSP so the shorter the words the easier

by **Shrub** » 30 Jul 2007 16:36

PSP as in a hand held playstation?

You man your not only surfing the web on it but also looking through 101 AND posting on it from it??

Wow those kind of things have moved on a bit since i was playing donkey kong on a nintendo hand held lol

by **globallockytoo** » 30 Jul 2007 17:03

Wrenchman wrote:I feel like sharing!

So I was impressioning a padlock earlier today, and I was able to see the marks and all that, but then puff no more marks, I hate it when that happens, I then tried something that I have only read about, but never really thought would be worth practicing! (to be honest, I never did understand how it worked, until today)

The pull out method!

The marks are like huge and you only have to pull out/push in a couple of time and you are ready to file, the lock popped open in like 10-15min.

I have yet to find out if the tapping method is worth knowing, I doubt it!

Wrenchman

If you impression Ford trunk or door pin tumbler locks, the tap method works excellently. But...you should employ both tap and pull methods in an impressioning environment.

The tap system is the first system I learnt to use follwed by the pull system. Admittedly I use the tap system primarily to find the marking pins...and then predominantly use the pull method to finish the key.

by **Shrub** » 30 Jul 2007 17:23

Fing?

Or was it a typo?

by **Wrenchman** » 30 Jul 2007 18:17

The tapping method!

Wiggling the key up and down hurts the outside of the lock, imagine what *tapping does, I don't get it, maybe I confuse tapping with hammering!

You say that you "use the tap system primarily to find the marking pins"

Could you put it like this: use the tap system primarily to find "where" the pins mark?

Would that be a good way to start impression, by tapping?

Also, I believe that it is not described anywhere, where do you tap the key, top, bottom or the back of the key* or even in all three places?

Wrenchman

by **questions** » 30 Jul 2007 22:07

Just started impressioning. Working with the wiggle method and now and then the pull out method. Did a handful of master locks as i was told they are easy to see impressions. Did them with no problem. But came up to a american lock with spooled, serrated top and bottom pins, and a spoolerated top pin. Tried to impression it and couldnt get it my first try. I asked another member on this board for the root depths and spacing for american locks, and i got that lock impressionned the next time I tried with that information. With all the measuring, it surely helped out greatly even if it took me a little longer, i still got it done. So if anyone just getting into impressioning i suggest getting a micrometer with the root depths but there's others that say they dont need that cause they can impression on a cold day, with bare hands, and a butterknife as a file.

by **globallockytoo** » 31 Jul 2007 0:52

Shrub, it was a typo. I meant find.

Wrenchman, in a pin tumbler cylinder, after taking the initial plating of the top of a brass blank (one file rub should do), insert the blank completely into the plug. Using a screwdriver or file, insert thru the hole in the head of the blank. With turning pressure applied one way and then the other, tap with another screwdriver handle on the head of the key, both top and bottom. No need to tap too hard...just swiftly 6-8 times each way. Release turning pressure, withdraw blank and look for impressions on blade. Repeat process until you have working key.

This is the theory....the rest is practise.

by **Shrub** » 31 Jul 2007 11:52

I can see it now but couldnt last night, i thoguht it was some phrase i hadnt heard about lol

Ive altered it if you dont mind :wink:

by **globallockytoo** » 31 Jul 2007 12:30

Shrub wrote::roll: I can see it now but couldnt last night, i thoguht it was some phrase i hadnt heard about lol

Ive altered it if you dont mind

Ah!.....the luxury of editting.....gee you really are priviledged! :lol:

by **mhole** » 27 Aug 2007 5:55

I'm curious; is impressioning a technique which is commonly used 'in the field' or is it more of a bench locksmithing technique?

I can see the value of impressioning on site as an NDE tool, but it seems like it would be unecconomical compared to picking and replacing the cylinder, unless there are numerous keyed alike cylinders or the cylinders are particuarly pricey/difficult to replace.

FAQ: The Fine Art of Impressioning (in a nutshell)

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