My Very First Impressioning Attempt

[GWiens2001]

Nice job, Kheops. In some ways, tubular locks can be tricky with a round file, since the pins are flat where they contact the key. The result can be a key that sometimes works and sometimes does not. A flat warding file (narrow file that cuts on the edge) can be used, and so can a dremel with a cutoff wheel.

Gordon

[YouLuckyFox]

Sweet deal, Kheops. To impression a tubular lock you apply turning pressure and bump the blank? Also, has anyone worked with the following tool before? Could anyone explain if it is worth buying?
http://www.clksupplies.com/shop/tubular-impressioning-tool-p-1157.html

[Paleo123]

Sweet deal, Kheops. To impression a tubular lock you apply turning pressure and bump the blank? Also, has anyone worked with the following tool before? Could anyone explain if it is worth buying?
http://www.clksupplies.com/shop/tubular-impressioning-tool-p-1157.html

Well I don't own one of these so probably not the response you want but...buy a pair of vise grips for like 10 bucks much more useful

[Kheops]

Well it's kind of hard to describe the type of force I used. It's sort of like this: You press the key all the way down, then apply rotational tension, then you shake back and forth but complete a quick circle. Like 12 o'clock, 7 o'clock, 1, 8, 2, 9, 3, 10, 4, 11, 5, and back to twelve.

It left pretty nice marks, and the key works really well, but sometimes I have to shake it a little.

[billdeserthills]

Sweet deal, Kheops. To impression a tubular lock you apply turning pressure and bump the blank? Also, has anyone worked with the following tool before? Could anyone explain if it is worth buying?
http://www.clksupplies.com/shop/tubular-impressioning-tool-p-1157.html

I actually have one of these tools, it is for impressioning tubular keys and I never tried it enough to actually make it work. This tool also comes with a flat file and I got mine cause a pilot down the street had lost his keys to his airplane's gas tank locks, which were tubular. My picking skills were not able to unlock his locks either, so I told him I would give impressioning a try. Unfortunately I never heard from him again and I just wound up tossing this tool back in my tool box for later.

[Kheops]

I see the logic of such a tool, however I don't see the need. I just use my plain old Pro Lok impressioning tool and my 6 inch pippin. I think the fact that the file is round and that the keypin is flat helps in making the marks more visible.

I've had more success impressioning locks that had keypins which are a shape that does not resemble the shape of my file. Example: An old defiant lock, with flat key pins that have rounded out over the years can be harder than Kwikset, Schlage, or even a padlock such as Guard. I suspect that the way the key slides in and out will wear out the Defiant pins into something round more easily than pointed keypins would wear out. I think I'll give some Defiants another try but by filing at a steep angle like a tubular key. (I think they are Defiant, marked Faultless, read somewhere Faultless is actually made by Defiant, correct me if I'm mistaken)

[mechanical_nightmare]

Good going man, right now I have trouble getting blanks, so my impressioning exercises have been put on ice for the moment. It's very annoying actually. I am even considering buying commonly used blanks in my country from abroad and bringing them in. Locksmiths here do a pretty good job of restricting the sale of almost any blank.

The law however places no restriction on the ownership, sale and distribution of standard blanks, so sadly for the restrictive locksmiths, I will be importing the blanks. Most lock related security around here seems to rely on "Shht! Hush! Don't talk about that!" rather than design ingenuity, although there are exceptions to that.

[billdeserthills]

I think you will have better success seeing the marks if you try thinning the edge of your blank to a razor's edge. I use a #4 smooth file to reduce the amount of scratching, but a #2 works much faster &
since you will wind up with a "razor blade" type edge the scratches won't much matter. I don't know if you have tried preparing your blank in this way before, but if you impression wafer tumbler locks it is almost necessary, in order to not bend the wafers. I also use a 10 power magnifying glass and I like to insert the prepared blank into the keyhole. Bind the pins by turning the key to the right & press up turn the key to the left and bind, now press down. In this way even if the lock turns only to the left you will get good marks along the entire key. Be careful not to file any one mark too far and if the marks become harder to see that is when I hold the key and begin to tip it from side to side while using the magnifying glass. I'm sure you will be surprised at the good marks you will receive when your key is thinner than the tumbler pressing upon it. My Dad used to give me a hard time anytime I broke a blank, while impressioning. He would say The job requires one blank, and You are turning too hard or don't have your vise-grips in the right place upon the blank.

[YouLuckyFox]

The tool I posted also comes with a special file. The purpose of the tool seems to be to allow you to easily file in the proper spots for a 7-pin tubular key. Also, it comes with a special file. If anyone has any idea what the special file is for, please let me know. It seems to me like the tool, made by Pro-Lok, may be more than is needed to impression a tubular lock. +1 on putting a knife edge on keys for wafer locks, bytheway.

[billdeserthills]

The tool I posted also comes with a special file. The purpose of the tool seems to be to allow you to easily file in the proper spots for a 7-pin tubular key. Also, it comes with a special file. If anyone has any idea what the special file is for, please let me know. It seems to me like the tool, made by Pro-Lok, may be more than is needed to impression a tubular lock. +1 on putting a knife edge on keys for wafer locks, bytheway.

The file is special mainly because it's teeth are located in such a way that you can't inadvertantly file the teeth on the tool, cause the file is smooth on it's sides. You are supposed to use the file while you impression tubular keys with the tool.

[tacit_guardian]

Very good job on impressioning! I have an Abus oval door lock that I was given that I'd love to be able to impression once I've picked it, as it came to me without a key. Then I will have defeated it twice!

There's some good advice as to getting locks and forming relationships as well. I have yet to find a locksmith in my area that I'm ready to approach, but I'm working on it.

Cheers
TG