My home made barrel key collection (& how to)

[Lauren]

"NEW CHAMPION" 6 LEVER PADLOCK. I discovered a decoding technique that appears to work. I'm in the process of decoding this lock now. Results to follow. This lock is way too hard to pick. Don't even try it. The tolerances of the gates are too good.

[billdeserthills]

That's cool Lauren, I like to impression the key, then you are done, but this way you will learn all the dead guy's secrets!

[Lauren]

Impression takes a lot longer. Wires work well for me. A steel key is hard to impression without cutting into the lever tumblers.

[Lauren]

I got another Eagle 6 Lever padlock in the mail this morning (flat key style). I picked it open with my new tool in under 10 minutes . I made a key blank for my "New Champion" 6 lever, also. I decoded it again to validate my previous data. Things are looking good. I will find out just how good tomorrow when I begin cutting the blank.

[billdeserthills]

Impression takes a lot longer. Wires work well for me. A steel key is hard to impression without cutting into the lever tumblers.

You keep that sense of humour Girl,
I like to use a black marker on my blank, it does take longer than 10 minutes though

[Lauren]

How do know I am girl-

WOW!

[Lauren]

This padlock was the apex of my skills. I received this lock months ago, knowing that one day I would make a key for it, using similar techniques that you would in my past writings in THE INDEPENDENT LOCKSMITH JOURNAL magazine. I have made great strides in the past few days with some very clever tools that I invented. I applied this technology to my locked "NEW CHAMPION" padlock. I was able to decode and make a replacement key for this lock without picking it open, and I would like to believe that I am probably the first one to preform this task on this particular lock. This process is completely non-destructive.

[GWiens2001]

Very nice! Making a key for that without picking is downright amazing. Kudos, Lauren. Look forward to reading about the tool in TILJ.

[Lauren]

Sorry, Gordon. You will most likely will never see me write for TILJ again. Call it intuition.

By the way, the bit cuts on that last key was done on my drill press.

[billdeserthills]

I think it's cool that you found a way to decode this lock, I haven't ever even read about such a tool and those old-time locksmiths prolly would have killed (or mebbe just maimed) for such a tool.
Lauren why don't you wanna write for this magazine again? First I ever even heard of them, unfortunately I already have two other lock mags I'm subscribed too. I just read their 2009 free sample edition and there were little tips and tricks I haven't seen elsewhere, so they can't be all bad.
If you wanna make a job out of it the Locksmith Ledger recently lost their technitips editor

[Lauren]

Here's a padlock made by "CORBIN". I really like the weight and feel of this lock and the swirly embossing. I received this lock today without a key and as always, in the closed position. The lock is stamped P90 on the reverse side of the hasp. I machined a key blank a few months ago intended for a "SAMSON" lock. I had to make a couple of alterations to the bit height and width, but the key fits well. This is an 8 lever lock and I decoded it using incremental bit reduction of .005 per side (this lock has close tolerances). The total bit width is .300 inch. Each bit is .075 wide. This lock is very well made; the rivets are well hidden and fitted. The key works only clockwise with a crisp spring action to hasp. This lock appears to resemble an AMES SWORD lock. I like to think this lock is one of the earlier CORBIN locks, its too well made. Like most things, products usually get made cheaper with time.

The seller claimed that this lock was previously owned by a locksmith, but unfortunately had no key. That's a feather in my cap.

This key was completely machined on my drill press using a special jig that I invented.

[GWiens2001]

Stunning.

Gordon

[WesternEnclave]

Seriously? this is all you people do? Man get a life losers! M.A.P.O.T.I

[GWiens2001]

Seriously? You use your first post here to criticize a member because you don't appreciate the time, skill, and effort it requires to make one of these keys? If you don't like it, don't read it! How difficult is that to understand? I may not like every post or thread here (and yes, I do read them all), but that does not mean I will be telling them to go get a life.

There is no call for you to be rude, especially right out of the gate. This is a site for lock enthusiasts. If locks don't interest you, then why are you even here? Please respect the other member's who are interested in the various threads here, and those who, like Lauren, take time to showcase their skills so others can learn.

Gordon

[WesternEnclave]

tl;dr