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Made a couple of keys for Macgng. The locks are Supra Titan, and are made only for fire departments. Won't go into details on the lock, other than to say it is a disc detainer and the keys are a b#### to make. To make it clear - neither the key to my lock nor the ones I made for macgng have the same bitting the lock originally had. Swapped the discs around before making the keys so as to not risk the actual key code for a fire department. None of the locks I made keys for were from either my local area or macgng's local area. They were eBay purchases.
The lock looks like this. (The lock in the pic is mine, not Mac's).
The key looks like this (the key is for my lock so as to not show Mac's bitting)
And the keys I made work (though one is a little fiddly) in Mac's locks (these are his)
Gordon
Just when you finally think you have learned it all, that is when you learn that you don't know anything yet.
As soon as enough money frees up, you can be sure it is on my wish list. Which means not yet. But until then, I drill it with a hand drill. Not easy for tight tolerances, but it can be done. (With a few thrown away pieces of steel and a couple broken drill bits).
Gordon
Just when you finally think you have learned it all, that is when you learn that you don't know anything yet.
Those are nice keys, especially with only a hand drill. A suggestion for making the hole straight(you may already do this), I'd put the stock in the drill, and keep the drill bit stationary.
kwoswalt99- wrote:Those are nice keys, especially with only a hand drill. A suggestion for making the hole straight(you may already do this), I'd put the stock in the drill, and keep the drill bit stationary.
Either way may work, but it seems to me it may be easier to control and have less chance of breaking the drill if I keep the stock still. Will have to try it your way some time and see how it goes.
I also drill a short distance, and put a second drill bit backwards into the hole to verify that I am keeping the hole squared to the face of the stock. It has helped prevent some disasters. Just because I think the drill is straight does not mean it is straight on each axis.
Really need to save up and get a drill press. And a mill. And a metal lathe. And a code machine. And a blue punch. And an Easy Entree. And... hey - where'd all my money go?
Gordon
Just when you finally think you have learned it all, that is when you learn that you don't know anything yet.
GWiens2001 wrote:Really need to save up and get a drill press.
From the photos I was under the assumption it was made on a drill press, or even on a lathe. A small lathe would be the way to go for precisely boring holes in round stock. Impressive work for using only a portable drill.
What diameter is the stock before cutting the key bitting? I'm wondering if there might be some stock tubing or some other things that might already be hollow that could be repurposed.
GWiens2001 wrote: Really need to save up and get a drill press. And a mill. And a metal lathe. And a code machine. And a blue punch. And an Easy Entree. And... hey - where'd all my money go?
Gordon
I feel your pain. This is practically my biography.
kwoswalt99- wrote:Those are nice keys, especially with only a hand drill. A suggestion for making the hole straight(you may already do this), I'd put the stock in the drill, and keep the drill bit stationary.
Either way may work, but it seems to me it may be easier to control and have less chance of breaking the drill if I keep the stock still. Will have to try it your way some time and see how it goes.
I also drill a short distance, and put a second drill bit backwards into the hole to verify that I am keeping the hole squared to the face of the stock. It has helped prevent some disasters. Just because I think the drill is straight does not mean it is straight on each axis.
Really need to save up and get a drill press. And a mill. And a metal lathe. And a code machine. And a blue punch. And an Easy Entree. And... hey - where'd all my money go?
Gordon
I usually do this type of drilling on the lathe and use the tailstock, but holding the drill bit with vise grips works too. Used drill presses can usually be had for very reasonable prices. My local craigslist usually has some good deals.
Gordon Did you freehand it and just make the key Or did you determine spacing and depth(angles) to store as reference Just curious about it should i come across one in the future
C locked wrote:Gordon Did you freehand it and just make the key Or did you determine spacing and depth(angles) to store as reference Just curious about it should i come across one in the future
Had to freehand the overall size and shape of the blank using a lot of trial and error including using a lock that I disassembled (the black one in the picture, to be specific). Once i had a working blank, had to use the disassembled lock to determine the correct depth and bitting. Do have approximate measurements now, but they are only rough ballpark measurements.
Gordon
Just when you finally think you have learned it all, that is when you learn that you don't know anything yet.