Attaining KeyBlanks

[nathan.gen]

Hey, anyone has any idea where I can buy a few key blanks after identifying it on the ILCO catalog? I also wanna try impressioning tubular locks, has anyone done that before with a dremel?

[Romstar]

Hey, anyone has any idea where I can buy a few key blanks after identifying it on the ILCO catalog? I also wanna try impressioning tubular locks, has anyone done that before with a dremel?

Key blanks are available anywhere you can get keys cut. Most people will sell them to you uncut. If yuou get the inevitable idiot, go somewhere else. Also, don't let them rip you off.

When you pay $2.50 for a key, it's the cutting you are paying for. Eveerybody has bills to pay, and those costs are burried in the cost of everything you do. From the rent to the gas in the van.

Anyway, he'll want more than cost for a blank, but it should be the same as a cut key.

As for tubular impressioning, that would be interesting. Especially with a Dremel moto-tool. If you could controll it, a very tiny grinding wheel is your best bet. I'll give you a hint. Notching the tubular key won't make it not work, it just makes a really crappy and weak key.
Impressioning normal locks, and picking tubulars are meant for the same purpose. To get a working opening that can be decoded so a proper key can be cut.

Good luck with that,
Romstar

[Retrovertigo]

You might try ebay for key blanks too. I have seen multiple auctions for mixed key blanks selling by the pound, or count. The shipping can get ya though :( make sure you check the shipping cost before you comit to anything.

Here's an example: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... egory=6755

[nathan.gen]

I like the ebay idea better, just because it is more discreet ;P
except Im looking for specific key blanks... so i guess i have to hit some store, some thing out of town...
seriously, this whole lockpick/impressioning thing is making me feel like a criminal. tho i'm picking my own locks, impressioning my own locks.

[Romstar]

So, I walk into a camera store one day, just got off work, and I am dressed horribly.

Not one single sales person bothered to talk to me. The funny thing was, I had five thousand dollars to spend on some new equipment.

The next day, just to test a theory, I got myself cleaned up, and much better dressed.

Two sales guys came out of the woodwork like hornets. It was funny.

I basically let them give me the song and dance, and told them the camera I was interested in. Things seemed to be going great.

Right up until I told them that I had bought the camera at the other shop where they didn't care what I looked like. I just wanted to let them know the dangers of judging someone. Told them it was a really nice camera too.

They didn't say much as I left.

The moral of this story is that you have nothing to hide, and if someone treats you poorly because of their prejudices, you can always spend your money where you aren't abused.

Romstar

[eleet]

Doesn't wal-mart still [poorly] copy keys for 98c each? The first and last time I visited the keys counter, they had lots of knock-off "cole" blanks on the rack which were cross-referenced to the original types.

[Foogoo]

I tend not to like buying keyblanks in person because for me at least, they tend to give you that funny "you are a criminal" look or just ask questions and tell you you need this and that machine or whatever. eBay is much simpler

[S3rratedSp00L]

A lock, a blank, a file, and some time. All ya need!

Time is the only thing you can't buy at the hardware store, though!
(and sometimes you can't find a good lock in the store either...)

[Mad Mick]

(and sometimes you can't find a good lock in the store either...)

Or even buy a blank for that matter.........My mate at work just bought a 2nd hand lathe..with no key for the tool cupboard. I took out the cylinder and removed the plug. On my lunch hour, I took the plug down to the nearest locksmith store and asked for a couple of blanks to fit this (rather old British) plug.

Her: (didn't even look to see if they stocked the blank anyway)
*Speaks through nose in a practiced monotone*
"We don't sell our blanks over the counter"
Me:
*Speaks in a 'Sod you, I'll get them elsewhere' , but polite tone.*
"OK, thanks anyway"

After looking Island-wide, there are no blanks available for this lock, which incidentally has a Bird-type keyway. I'm tempted to buy a shed load of this style and flood the market with them, then reap the profits by stating that I don't sell my blanks over the counter!!! It's not like I was trying to buy a Medeco blank FFS!!

[Romstar]

Go back to the locksmith shop, grab his lazy ignorant ass by his shirt collar, and tell him he well better check to see if he has a key BLANK for that lock.

You know, I have never, ever had that problem anywhere in this province.

God, I am so sick and tired of these wankers.

In the very near future, you will be able to buy blanks through me. I am getting so tired of these jack-off's and their attitudes.

You would think they had the keys to blooming fort knox.

I reitterate there is NOTHING illegal or sensitive about key blanks, pin kits, or any other lock part. Key control is an illusion that does nothing to assure lock security. Currently almost all "restricted" keys are available to those who know where to get them. This means that there are a lot of people walking around with supposedly "unobtainable" keys that have a false sense of security.

Romstar

[Luke]

Hehe, fairly large local locksmith, 7 vans, 7 and a half employees..... When the 7 REAL locksmiths are out there working, the half is in the shop watching TV, reading, looking at porn and rekeying, cutting keys, selling locks (Including Abloys) This , will open a lock for me for free, give me locks BUT WONT SELL ME KEY BLANKS. Now lets wind the clock back 6 months.
Me "Hey I was wondering if I could get a couple of old locks so i could practice picking and repinning"
HALF "No im am sorry, that is a security violation"

Now
"Hey more locks thanks"
*hands a bagfull*
"Oh yeah thanks for that say hi to Dave for me, oh yeah he hand picked a 7 spool pin lock for me without master pins..."

"Pick guns the way of the future"

"Be a real man and learn to hand pick"

*laugh*

"Cya mate"

"Cya little lockie"

Hehee.
Oh yes and lets not make me start on the local jackasses who very reluctantly sold me a bi-lock...

Oh and the other locksmith who wont give me locks, key blanks or even talk to me....

[Eyes_Only]

I like the ebay idea better, just because it is more discreet ;P
except Im looking for specific key blanks...

www.mysecuritypro.com and www.mrlock.com carries a large variety of key blanks. Im pretty sure you can find the right blank for your specific need from them.

[pickersRus]

Hello , I get most of my key blanks from a place called H L FLAKE Company. The web address is www.hlflake.com and they have an excellent variety to choose from , anything from plain jane key blanks to the more elaborate key blanks with designs. Hope this info helps

[randmguy]

Yes HL Flake is great just because they'll sell you blanks in small lots(like 1if that's what you want shipped)...I ordered Blanks for a '73 TR-6 from Flake's not too long ago. You just have to make sure to search for the blanks by the ilco number. If you have an Ilco number they'll have the key and won't stick you with 8 more you'll never use.

[S3rratedSp00L]

Mad mick, That is really unfortunate that a locksmith would not sell you a blank when you brought in the darn plug!? I don't think that would happen around here, or many other places for that matter!? It makes no sense that they would not make some legitmate money for a legitimate purpose! Sometimes with locksmiths, it's all in the presentation, I guess!? Maybe he/she thought that you were up to something, but so what if you were? Not selling you a blank wouldn't stop you from picking and since you had the plug in your hand, you got the thing open somehow already, right?

If someone came to me with plug in hand wanting a blank I would sell it to them no matter what! (Even if I were a locksmith.) What trouble could a locksmith possibly get into for selling a keyblank? He/she would be providing a blank for a plug that you had right there with no knowledge of your intentions!? (Other than keying that particular plug!) Maybe he/she was greedy and wanted to charge you to cut it too!? Why should you be guilty until proven innocent!? I hope you mentioned that you didn't appreciate being treated like a criminal, and how proper customer relations would bring in more business!

It would be funny if you showed up again, with an armload of keyblanks (and a receipt in pocket just in case) that you bought elsewhere and ask him if he has a better deal than you got? (give him a slightly inflated price, hehe) If you showed up with a couple hundred dollars in blanks and mentioned that you got a discount because you told the other locksmith that his competitor would not sell you blanks. Then refuse to tell him where you got them. Offer to sell him some at an inflated price, or at a really good price and then refuse if he wants to buy any. You don't sell them over the counter, either! hehe!

This will at least be slightly irritating, and you must need/want a lot of blanks, or it wouldn't be worthwhile... You could even do this over the phone for free... Have several people call up over the course of a month and ask how much the keyblanks cost. When the smith says that they do not sell them over the counter then tell him that he is the only one who doesn't and that the other people quoted prices at like 20 cents U.S. per blank... This oughtta get him/her wondering at least.. He/she may think that other people are making a killing selling blanks and want some more profit themselves... Ask for some lock prices and then complain that they are too high as well... You could give some fake name of the locksmith selling to you and the lockie that wouldn't sell you blanks might think there is a rogue and unlicensed competitor.. Make him/her wonder...

.....then come in again and see if he/she will sell you a blank for some plug that you bring in. If the locksmith says yes and gives a price, walk out mumbling about how much cheaper it is elsewhere! Have fun with it!

If you really wanted to be an @ss, and the smith offers to sell you some blanks, look at them and complain that they are scratched! That should give you an interesting response.. The smith might grab a few more blanks and inspect them and hand them to you, and you can complain that they are scratched again, even if they are the shiniest and most unscathed blanks that you have ever seen in your entire life!

hehe you get the idea! Maybe so will smith who wouldn't sell you a lousy blank... I hate that BS...