My very own clam kit

[Engineer]

Your resourcefulness amazes me!

[Dooms_day]

wow this topic has definately been helpful, what i want to try, is take a picture of a lock, and make a copy off that, you've heard its been done by that locksmith and the truck driver's xray, but i havent actually tried it. i want to try printing out an exact size replica of the key, then grinding a blank from that.

[locfoc]

I have cut keys from pictures before, even some high security keys from a digital photo.

[gratefuldeadbolt]

Just read through this thread, lots of good info, thanks everyone.

Now I would like to pass on / highlight a very important part of casting that I have found through many attempts with clay (from craft stores) and Bismuth or WOODS METAL -

Once you have your clay mold - make sure you remember to cut air vents out to the edge of the mold. (even a small channel with a putty knife) This allows the liquid metal to settle into the mold properly.

This was reconfirmed when I purchased the Clam kit from Lockmasters. It mentions this right in the instructions.

Every time I have tried to pour the metal into a mold without the air channels or a GRAVITY MACHINE I ended up with casts that had air bubbles or missed portions as the metal cured before fully settling properly into the mold.

The excess metal that tries to fill the air channel can be easily removed without effecting the cast.

I have also successfully originated a new KEY BLANK from a cut key - and then cut a new key with different cuts. This was VERY TIME CONSUMING and tedious. Amazing what happens when you get an idea in your head and a little free time. Problem was the resulting cast metal is too soft for continuous use as a working key.

[diogenes1]

Hello there! i would like to see the pictures of this project and they seem to be broken or removed! can you please pm me if possible?! Thanks a bunch

[Squelchtone]

Hello there! i would like to see the pictures of this project and they seem to be broken or removed! can you please pm me if possible?! Thanks a bunch

it is a post from 2007, that's a lifetime in Internet terms. PM Emrys and see if he still has them, he last logged in July 2014, if he does I can fix the original post, otherwise, they're gone.

Squelchtone