impressioning

[coolman]

frist how do you impression and make a key

[maldotcom2]

With a hell of a lot of time, practice and skill. Some searching will get you on the road.

[MrB]

Uh oh...I see the heavy hand of Varjeal coming...

[pickersRus]

The basic process for impressioning is to put the key blankinto a lock and twist it forcefully back and forth. Because of this twisting motion the pins in the lock will leave a faint rubbing mark or IMPRESSION on the key blank. You file these marks until eventually no mark is left when you insert and twist. There are several differnt types of locks which can be impressioned (lever tumbler , warded , pin tumbler) but basically the process is the same. a quick run down of these three types of locks follows:
LEVER TUMBLER: first step is to make the ward or throat cut. To do this insert the key until the tip is seated in the rear of the lock. Make a mark on both sides of the key where the key meets the locks outer cover. Make a thin cut with your file working from the lines toward the tip of the key. Just make small cuts and try the key until it passes this ward and will turn in the lock. Once the key will turnblacken the keyblank completely and then reinsert it into the lock and turn the key. When the key is turned it will rub against the internal levers and will leave shiny spots where contact is made. File these shiny areas and keep repeating the process until the key moves the tumblers.
WARDED: First blacken the key blanks end. Insert the blank against the cover ward and wiggle it slightly back and forth. This motion will cause a IMPRESSION to define the cut depth and location on the blank. File this area off of the blank. now the blank should enter the lock. When the blank can be inserted re blacken the key blank and insert it all the way into the lock. Turn the key forcefully making marks on the blank showing where the internal wards are located. Remove the key and file these areas where the blackening has been removed. Repeat as needed until the key passes the wards and unlocks the lock.
PIN TUMBLER:Put a C-clamp or vice grip on the bow of the key. Insert the key into the plug and forcefully move the key up and down while twisting both clockwise and counter clockwise. Use enough force when twisting to actually bind the lower pins and leave a mark on the blade of the key. The marks left will more than likely be very hard to see but look at the blank under a good light and at various angles and you will see the marks. when marks are located put the key in a vise and file at each mark but be careful so that you do not file to deeply , usually one or two passes with the file is good. Reinsert the key in the plug and once again twist and wiggle the key making new marks. Repeat the process of filing and twisting until the key raises the pins to the shearline and turns the plug.
I know this all sounds complicated and it is but really it is just slow and steady work , nothing really hard. The best advice I can give you is to just take your time and do not over file the marks. GOOD LUCK and happy filing

[Romstar]

Does anybody ever READ the stuff I type up?

There is like a three page guide to impressioning on here if you just search for it.

Romstar

[Exodus5000]

Does anybody ever READ the stuff I type up?

There is like a three page guide to impressioning on here if you just search for it.

Romstar

We do, you just never hear questions asked on the topics you've written about by the people who've read them. Or something like that.

[Jarod]

the SMART ones read romstars posts, the noobs say thats too long to read and skip over it missing all the info! read romstars posts everyone!!!!!
and of course always the the following link for ANYTHING you need to know about lock picking
Knowlege inside

[PickPick]

I'd like you to know that a lot of us read and appreciate your posts, Romstar. Without them, we'd lose so many opportunities for flaming people who didn't search before posting.

Just as an example (please don't take it personally coolman, but you're running around in front of the muzzle):

To impression and make a key in this case, you put a nail into a concrete wall, hang your key from it and hit it with your forehead as hard as you can. This gives you the impression. And when you now fill molten steel into this impression, you've got yourself a key. It needs a bit of filing but it's a good start.
For everything else, either use the freaking search engine or hand over the molten steel AND RUN!

[coolman]

thanks i for got to search but thanks

[Romstar]

Sorry, I was in a mood earlier tonight.

I just keep seeing questions about impressioning. It is a bit of a skill to learn, and it does take some time.

Outside of the technical details that have been outlined, there is one thing that has to be done.

Practice. This one word is annoying and also possibly the more important aspect of anything to do with locks.

Just keep at it, and you WILL get better at this skill.

Romstar

[Varjeal]

You mean, not too mention there's an actual sticky in the FAQ section on this very topic....