The CLAM!

[MacGyver101]

I have seen a certain vehicle side track key impressioned with that very same clam kit.

I've seen a slightly different impressioning trick done with J-B Weld: also quite effective. (And J-B Weld has the advantage of being significantly harder than the low-temp alloys.)

[raimundo]

somebody out there try this, put a medeco key between two sticks of doublemint gum with the aluminum foil left on it, make sure the aluminum side that does not have the jagged edges, is not toward the key, only the side that is just a single sheet of almuninum foil. then put a couple of wooden popsicle sticks, over the bitting area of the key outside the the two sticks of gum, the sticks will help preserve the straightness and add stiffness to the pack, gently pound the stack with a light tapping from a really light hammer, like a bumpkey hammer, do not try to make the impression with a heavy hit, this will not work well as it will thin some parts too much while not necessarily pressing the gumbacked foil into all the cuts of the teeth, a light but repeated tapping will work better, but stop before you make it too thin.

then, put the JB weld into the impression and replace the stack with the wooden stiffeners, make sure that both halves are still aligned as before, so that both halves of the key are still 'in register' aligned.

put some light rubber bands around the stack to hold it while the material sets for a day or two.

then get back on this thread and tell us how it worked. Remember there may be a learning curve involved, so you will have some experience to share.

[freakparade3]

Some sort of plactic epoxy would probably work better. JB weld is to thick in my opinion to use this way.

[Isepic]

I guess my question is, and you'll excuse me if it is a stupid one, but what is the point of this kit? If you already have the key ready to use to make the impression, why not use that to open the lock? Or is this the case of make an impression and keep it somewhere safe, so you always have access to it?

[vrocco]

I guess my question is, and you'll excuse me if it is a stupid one, but what is the point of this kit? If you already have the key ready to use to make the impression, why not use that to open the lock? Or is this the case of make an impression and keep it somewhere safe, so you always have access to it?

We've all seen this in every James Bond / Spy movie. You only get the key for a second and covertly make the impression before handing the key back. Use your imagination from there.

Beyond covert entry, i don't know of much use for it.

[kg4boj]

There are cases when you need to make a duplicate and say your shop doesn't have a sidetrack cutter... or a medeco angle cutting machine, instead of reffering your customer elsewhere, you could do this and decode it and then have one shipped to them.
Also what if you cant afford to keep every van in the fleet equipped with high security key cutting equipment? the customer broke their last key in a restricted keyway system and you need to order a duplicate by code, but they have to have an employee open up the store for the next few days.... There is a purpose.... many of them that I can think of.

[Eyes_Only]

LOL, thats kind of like the old medieval locksmiths that cut, filed and smelted metal to produce actual keys and locks.

[Johnny P]

The primary legitimate purpose is to get an impression of a key that may be difficult to find because it may fit antique furniture, is a key where the entire blank and cuts will need to be fabricated and so forth but the customer has to have his/her key until a duplicate can be made.

There are some blanks which are available only through the manufacturer and there culd be several days to weeks waiting time to receive it.

I would NOT use it to make a duplicate of a high security restricted key such as Medeco.

[dougfarre]

The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton... Anyone?

[raimundo]

happend to click into crissangel last night, he filed a key and showed a very soft clay impression he claims to have made it from then hes locked in a cell butt naked, but his butt is fuzzed out so some of you guys won't recognize it he has some secrets, a sign accross the hall is covering a mirror that is perfectly positioned, and hes got his key hidden in the cell with a long wire the key has a wrench like handle, he fishes this out into the corridor outside the cell, and gets it into the lock and cranks it around. Of course to show this on tv without boring the audience, they cut the interesting parts to a few seconds, and concentrated on the teasers about whats gonna happen, on a happy note, they ended by nailing him in a coffin and feeding it to a woodchipper.

[ObiWonShinobi]

You could also put a BROKEN key into the mold....
with both pieces CLOSE enough the crack wont show in the clay.
the soft copy could then be re-cut in a machine to a harder metal.

SEE there IS a legitimate use for this after all....

[yoyoboy]

You could also put a BROKEN key into the mold....
with both pieces CLOSE enough the crack wont show in the clay.
the soft copy could then be re-cut in a machine to a harder metal.

SEE there IS a legitimate use for this after all....

if the key broke off at the bow, as it usually does, you can align the tip of your blank with the tip of the old key in your machine.

BAR OF SOAP- The original clam kit.