Quick and Easy Barrel Key

[GWiens2001]

Wanted to make keys for a couple recent additions to my lock collection.



But I didn't have any blanks that were even close.

Blanks? We ain't got no blanks. We don't need no blanks. I don't have to show you any stinkin' blanks.

Think pictures will tell how this is done sufficiently without too much writing.

























That'll have to do for now until I can get some blanks.

Mark for your throat cut.





Make the throat cut









Hey, ready to impression.



You can see where the marks are.



From this point on, the key bitting will be pixelated (thanks to Squelchtone). Am uneasy about posting pics of post office locks, even if this one is not restricted like the Arrow lock is.







And the second lock, too.







Gordon

[MBI]

Nice pics, as always Gordon!

[Devhad]

Good thinking. I bet a similar process could be used for handcuffs.

[QuantumEntangled]

To the OP: that was really cool to see step by step. I think it turned out great and from the looks of your final pictures I see that it worked flawlessly. What an interesting postal lock that is too. Looks like it has some miles on it. I would have loved to see how the bitting turned out but totally understand why it was blurred. Great job though! I like DIY projects like this.

To the gentleman just above this post: Handcuffs are generally all the same as far as keying except the pesky double or triple pawl ones with corresponding 1 or 2 cuts on the key's flag. I think trying an impressioning on a 2 pawl ASP "security" cuff or an S&W Model 104 with its weird key and lock warding would be fun exercises. Standard handcuffs that use the ubiquitous "handcuff key" would be no fun since not too much is going on inside the keyway. I wonder what could work as a barrel blank...

[billdeserthills]

Nice,
I have the blank, just not the inclination

[RumballSolutions]

Nice work, beats silver soldering flags on tubing any day!

[femurat]

Well done Gordon, that's pure ingenuity!
By its color I think it's a copper tube. Dunno if soldering the inner sides of the flag could make it a more durable key. If anybody want to try, it should be done before impressioning the key.

Cheers

[sheerluck]

Nice! I have a couple of lever locks which need barrel keys... Now I just need to find some pipe...

[Jacob Morgan]

Well done Gordon, that's pure ingenuity!
By its color I think it's a copper tube. Dunno if soldering the inner sides of the flag could make it a more durable key. If anybody want to try, it should be done before impressioning the key.

Cheers

Copper (and brass) are both work hardened, the more it is squished and formed the harder it becomes. Copper and brass can be annealed to soften it (even heating it up real hot then quenching will anneal it) but heat treating to harden is not something a person could likely do at home--if the exact alloy would respond at all. People who reload rifle cartridges are familiar with case mouth cracking from work hardening, and some of them anneal case mouths to prolong the life of the rifle brass. Soldering or brazing will anneal the copper. On balance I don't know if a soldered but annealed key would be stronger than an unsoldered but work hardened key--soldering might help more than it hurts but it would merit some tests before trying on a key that someone is going to spend time Impressioning.