Would it be possible to duplicate picks with this?

[The Lock Artist]

Would it be possible to duplicate lock picks with this key duplicator? There is a video of it in action if you scroll down on the page.
http://www.rotosmithtools.com/index.html
If I put a lock pick on one side and a thin piece of metal on the other side,would I be able to duplicate lock picks like you would a key?

[Anavaree]

Thats actually a really good idea.
My concern would be that keys are made from fairly soft brass and good lockpick material is high tensile steel. The cutter would not cut as easily and a lot more heat would be generated. Interesting thought though. It might be worth a shot.

[alfonzo1955]

I'm sure it would be possible but there are easier ways of making lockpicks.

[The Lock Artist]

I'm sure it would be possible but there are easier ways of making lockpicks.

I'm not so sure about that. And I would think that there are even less easier ways to make an exact duplicate of a pick, say as a back up in case another breaks or is lost. This would be even more useful if it is a pick that was part of a set and may not be sold by itself. Many websites won't even let you buy a pick by itself and have a minimum price per order, not that you would want to pay $15 shipping for a single pick. That is, assuming that the dremel can cut through the pick material effectively as mentioned by Anavaree.

[Solomon]

Thats actually a really good idea.
My concern would be that keys are made from fairly soft brass and good lockpick material is high tensile steel. The cutter would not cut as easily and a lot more heat would be generated. Interesting thought though. It might be worth a shot.

My thoughts exactly. Making an accurate stencil isn't very tasking if you already have the picks you want to duplicate anyway. Personally what I do is:

1. Take some tape and stick it to the material you wanna use.
2. Lay the pick you want to duplicate onto it and cut around it with a scalpel or craft knife.
3. Peel away the surrounding tape. This should leave a piece of tape exactly the same size and shape as the pick right there on the steel.
4. Spray it with some paint that contrasts well with the steel, let it dry then remove the leftover tape. Bam, perfect stencil.

A dremel is considerably cheaper than a key cutting machine. The machine might work for grinding the finer details but you'd still need to grind out a pick blank beforehand to avoid overusing the wheel... and even at that, I'm pretty sure it'd still wear down faster than a good diamond burr. You never know though, it's definitely a very cool idea.

[Solomon]

Sorry for the double post here, but I just had a thought immediately after posting... if you had a pick blank clamped into the machine for copying, you wouldn't be able to quench it as it's being cut. Well you could, but you couldn't secure it in the exact same place when you put it back each time. I guess you could douse it with water like what a CNC machine does, but key cutting machines aren't particularly waterproof.

[The Lock Artist]

A dremel is considerably cheaper than a key cutting machine

The Rotosmith key cutter uses a dremel to cut with, the thing you buy just holds the keys spaced apart, and the dremel does all of the cutting. I will be buying one as I need a key copier anyway. I already have a dremel to use with it. I will see if there is anyway I can duplicate picks with it (I will be buying the machine anyways, so why not try it?). Copying Picks with it is just an idea I had.

[The Lock Artist]

you couldn't secure it in the exact same place when you put it back each time.:

Couldnt you just mark the pick with sharpie, so you know where to put it back after you quench it?

[Solomon]

A dremel is considerably cheaper than a key cutting machine

The Rotosmith key cutter uses a dremel to cut with, the thing you buy just holds the keys spaced apart, and the dremel does all of the cutting. I will be buying one as I need a key copier anyway. I already have a dremel to use with it. I will see if there is anyway I can duplicate picks with it (I will be buying the machine anyways, so why not try it?). Copying Picks with it is just an idea I had.

Sweet. That's what I get for not clicking links lol, seems like a badass idea. Go for it

you couldn't secure it in the exact same place when you put it back each time.:

Couldnt you just mark the pick with sharpie, so you know where to put it back after you quench it?

Now that I think about it... yep.

[Legion303]

Personally what I do is:

[snip what sounds like a very time-consuming process]

My method is to slap the template pick down on top of the blank and trace around it with a micropoint Sharpie. :)

-steve

[cledry]

LOL, that is one funny key machine. Almost makes the Foley Belsaw look quality.

[The Lock Artist]

I have actually used one that a friend of mine had borrowed from somewhere, and thats what got me interested in it. I think it might be different than most machines, but it seemed to make keys rather well (from my limited experience with it and other key machines). It seems like you could make one yourself for alot cheaper that the sell it for though...

[Squelchtone]

I have actually used one that a friend of mine had borrowed from somewhere, and thats what got me interested in it. I think it might be different than most machines, but it seemed to make keys rather well (from my limited experience with it and other key machines). It seems like you could make one yourself for alot cheaper that the sell it for though...

Here's the million dollar question. Are you a hobby picker, a local for hire handy man, or starting a locksmith shop? If just hobby picking, then really no need to own a key duplicator unless you're offering this service to friends and family or out of the back of your car. It's a neeto gadget, but a waste of cash if just getting it for the sake of getting it.

And I'm sure it cuts brass keys just fine, but to cut stainless steel picks with this, that's quite a gamble.

good luck,
Squelchtone

[The Lock Artist]

Right now i just pick for hobby, and to occaisionally help out friends and family, but I am trying to start a locksmith business of my own someday, do you know of any good key duplicators, and how much would be a good price for one?

[Solomon]

Personally what I do is:

[snip what sounds like a very time-consuming process]

My method is to slap the template pick down on top of the blank and trace around it with a micropoint Sharpie.

-steve

Pfft, that doesn't sound like fun at all.