help impressioning

[Rickthepick]

After reading your guide and curious with an hour spare i decided its time to learn impressioning.

Iv been examining and filing for an hour now, making sure each time that the mark is there and then gently taking each bit down.

problem is i now have something that resembles a bump key. Im concerned as to why i kept getting marks smack bang in the middle of each cut? its deffo gone wrong somewhere along the line but im really not sure where?

tried to take pics but hard to focus so close im stumped

any top tips as im sure this is more of an art than a skill

[pjzstones]

heres a video that helped me out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD08YUyqf0g

[globallockytoo]

The best advice for impressioning is to load a cylinder with one pin and impression that. Then 2 pins, 3,4,5 etc.

This teaches you what to look for.

The reason you got all deep cuts is because when the depth you have filed is correct, it will usually continue to mark and this is where it becomes confusing.

[Rickthepick]

prob doesnt help that im impressioning a lock with 5 mushrooms. its the only one i had a blank for.

less pins seems like a good idea though

[pjzstones]

mushrooms
yeah definently not a good lock at all to start impressioning with.
if you got enough blanks you might get lucky though.
keep it simple and build your way up.

[FarmerFreak]

Impressioning a lock with mushrooms can make things easier. Unless the key pins are mushroom/spooled.

But since the driver pins are normally the only mushroom/spooled pins in the lock. This won't affect the impressioning process. However if you do manage to get it to turn on the mushroom(s), just pay attention to which pin is still marking. Because that cut is too deep!!

[Wizer]

How do you do it?
Do you impression the lock to false set first, then move on?
I can see how this could be done if you know wich pins are securitypins.

[LocksmithArmy]

Assuming that only your driver pins are security pins than a false set would mean you went too far. you driver pins should never get the chance to go into the plug itself. they should stay above the shear line, so If you reach a false set you have gone too far.

but chances are you got a few of them correct, so you ca use the false set key for referance

[pjzstones]

Assuming that only your driver pins are security pins than a false set would mean you went too far. you driver pins should never get the chance to go into the plug itself. they should stay above the shear line, so If you reach a false set you have gone too far.

but chances are you got a few of them correct, so you ca use the false set key for referance

good point i didn't even think of that

[pjzstones]

another thing that should help is to pick the lock and feel the pins while its in the picked position. see which ones are higher and lower and get a mental image of what the key should end up looking like.
what kind of lock is it and what kind of file/s are you using?

[Rickthepick]

it was a fancy cisa, hard to pick but i like you say the mushrooms shouldnt affect it unless theyre over filed.

filing; im just highlighting the mark with one stroke of a sharp file, then filing til its gone with a round file.

il have to find some car locks to have a go at id imagine wafers being so beefy will leave a definite mark

[pjzstones]

if you're using a round file then you're gonna need to use some technique that straightens off the egdes of you filings so they're not a bunch of U's if you're not already.

if you plan on doing a wafer lock then heres another great video. its by the same person.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOsQPinMmOE

[locknpawn]

also as you are impressing locks try to pull you key out with a little force this helps to make the mark..also with your mouth blow hot air on the key this will also show the mark better. never try to turn key to hard or to soft it take me like 2min to imp. most any lock but i have 26yrs of exp.

[femurat]

Hi Rickthepick,

I'm playing with files too. If you haven't seen it here is my story.
This was a rainy weekend, so I'll post some more pictures soon...

I don't think you need a wafer lock. I suggest you to try again with your lock, but with just two pins. When you have a working key add the last three and continue your experience.

Cheers

[Rickthepick]

iv actually accomplished it today with a relatively tame 5 pin Bird cylinder. I almost fell off my chair when the key finally turned haha 40 mins later and a sore hand...

really chuffed.

it seems a bit rough and only seems to turn one way.

im assuming you take a little more out of each groove now to smooth it out and then copy onto a new key?