Odd Shaped Handcuff Key

[somenewguy]

Yep- the thinnest diamond cutoff wheel I could find on short notice was thicker than that. I am keeping an eye out though. Jeweler's saws and other specialty tools are always an option but I was looking for something I already had or could borrow. Also the final cut usually ends up being thicker than the blade used so you'd have to find an even thinner blade than what's shown on the diagram if you really want to come out to the dimensions shown.

[asgardschosen]

I'm almost relieved that you can't find it. Otherwise I'd have to rationalize buying a dremel XD. Honestly though, I don't think the key would be too negatively impacted if the hole was a little wider. For normal handcuffs at least, the hole could be HUGE, so long as there was a solid piece of metal on each end to depress the pawl. For the warded cuffs, the hole can be any size too, in fact a larger hole might even be easier to use on a double ratchetted (triple warded) cuff, since you have to line the hole up with the central ward.

Of all the handcuffs in the presentation, I didn't notice any mention of a cuff where the hole would have to be below a certain size. So while they did recommend using a small cut, it's possible that a larger cut will work in most (or even all) of the cuffs. Ray has done this same presentation a few times, including the time with Deviant Ollam. It seems each presentation is very similar, but it's worthwhile to watch all of them because there are little bits of information in one that you can't get in another.

I don't have a collection of handcuffs to test this hypothesis sadly. I only have a cutaway of a standard cuff, but I can tell you for the cuff I have (I believe it was a S&W cuff) that a hole of almost any size wouldn't negatively affect the function of the key at all.

[somenewguy]

That's the same series of justifications I made to myself as I was cutting the key with a diamond wheel bigger than specified

But really, it does work when I tried it on several regular cuffs as well as 2 and 3 pawl cuffs.

[asgardschosen]

But really, it does work when I tried it on several regular cuffs as well as 2 and 3 pawl cuffs.

Oh awesome. I was hoping someone would have some in their collection in order to try it. Do you know how big you ended up cutting the hole? I know the original plan was for 0.3mm. With the tools currently at my disposal I imagine I could get a hole about 0.8mm to 1mm thick.

Also if anyone has some Asp High Security cuffs, I'd be interested to know if the key works in those.

[somenewguy]

You must have the same cutter I do; the slot I created was about 0.8mm towards the bottom and 1mm at the top. The slit created has a U shaped profile that gets slightly wider as it goes up. I did test it on new ASP cuffs (the one that comes with the slit key) and it did work.

[asgardschosen]

I don't have a cutter at all. I hand filed the key down using the smallest file I could, then tried to saw using some random hand saw I found in a bucket.

I did test it on new ASP cuffs (the one that comes with the slit key) and it did work.

Awesome, glad to hear it.

[asgardschosen]

Here's the key I ended up with:



It's definitely rough and the hole is HUGE, but it works in my cuffs. I think my hole is between 1.0 and 1.3mm wide.

[somenewguy]

I think the only issue would be with 3-pawl cuffs; they don't need the splits but you run the risk of not being able to push one of the pawls up if you cut away too much of the bit. Anyway, these keys are cheap and it's fun to experiment with them. Enjoy!

[asgardschosen]

Okay gents, here are the news keys I got. These were ordered, so their measurements should be accurate. Just to be helpful, I've included them.




Hope you can read the red, but just in case I'll include the measurements here. My micrometer has been fairly reliable, so I expect them to be accurate. They are all in inches.

Shaft Width:
0.144
0.112

Bit Thickness:
0.043
0.043

Bit Length:
0.205
0.160

Hole Length (for S&W high sec key)
0.205 - 0.126 = 0.79

Hole Length (for Yuil split pawl cuff)
0.03

Shaft + Bit Width:
0.212
0.197

[somenewguy]

You should specify the inner diameter of the hole at the tip of the key too (the part that goes over the post in the lock); some cuffs use intentionally thicker posts to keep out standard keys.

[asgardschosen]

That's a good point. Ok, the diameter of the inside post hole for the keys measured by taking the thickness of the housing and subtracting that number from the overall thickness of the body:

S&W: 0.088,post thickness, 0.112 minus housing thickness 0.024
YUIL: 0.121 - 0.131 (the thickness of the housing varied a little), post thickness 0.144 minus housing thickness 0.013 - 0.023