Modification to Vise-Grip style pliers

[Jacob Morgan]

Was tiered of Vise-Grip style pliers mutilating keys. Have a hand vise that works OK for disc tumblers, but prefer something with more grip for pin tumblers.

Took a 5" curved jaw plier (German BollmanGrip), ground off some of the chrome plating in the curved jaws then built up the curved area with brazing rod then ground and filed it flat (the yellow colored area).


Now instead of on gripping only one part of the key bow it now grips most of the key bow. Need to find a lock to impression--it should leave little scaring on the key blank.

[jimu57]

Going to make some for sale?
Jim

[RumballSolutions]

Going to make some for sale?
Jim

Lockmasters may have something to say about that........

http://web.lockmasters.com/impressioning-pliers-lt1005

I have 2 pairs, pretty handy.

[Squelchtone]

Going to make some for sale?
Jim

Lockmasters may have something to say about that........

http://web.lockmasters.com/impressioning-pliers-lt1005

I have 2 pairs, pretty handy.

I have this one and I like it but it's deceptively much smaller in person than you would imagine a regular size Vice Grips are. I like them though, as long as the key blank has a hole in the bow for the little tooth that the jaws have. When we were at Lockmasters in 2012, they sold us these painted yellow, I think they ran out of black and sold us the class ones, and it was the grips I used to impression my very first lock that weekend, which was a Schlage 5 pin. It was really exciting to turn the key knowing that I had just made it using a file and some vice grips, and in about 10 minutes or so.

Nice job on yours Jacob, they look very good!

Squelchtone

[RumballSolutions]

I picked up both my pair at LSI when I attended in 2013. They have great teachers and excellent facilities. Easily the best educational experience I've had.

[G-lock]

Not really lock related so i dont know if this is the place for it but i made this to remove some steel pins that were pressed into a steel plate. Since then they have come in handy for quite a few jobs.

[GWiens2001]

You should have claimed that is what you use for the 'pull to mark' impressioning technique. See how long you could string people along.

Gordon

[Silverado]

You should have claimed that is what you use for the 'pull to mark' impressioning technique. See how long you could string people along. <BR abp="882"><BR abp="883">Gordon

I thought it was an infamous "BUMP KEY" they keep talking about on the news! You can't fool me!

[Jacob Morgan]

You should have claimed that is what you use for the 'pull to mark' impressioning technique. See how long you could string people along.

Gordon

Be careful, the scammers might take it seriously. Slam a lock 200 times and sure enough the key turns once all those little brass things, whatever they are, come loose. Charge $200 and off to the next call.

Seriously though, someone used to make pliers looking gizmos for pull out impressioning--take it that no one produces those anymore?

[GWiens2001]

You should have claimed that is what you use for the 'pull to mark' impressioning technique. See how long you could string people along.

Gordon

Be careful, the scammers might take it seriously. Slam a lock 200 times and sure enough the key turns once all those little brass things, whatever they are, come loose. Charge $200 and off to the next call.

Seriously though, someone used to make pliers looking gizmos for pull out impressioning--take it that no one produces those anymore?

Yes. They are still made/sold.

Gordon

[Jacob Morgan]

Gordon, can you let us know who is selling them? Keep on seeing them in old books.

[cledry]

I've got an old set of impressioning pliers, ViseGrip brand and they appear to be factory made. I'll shoot a photo at work tomorrow. Wish I could buy more but I guess I could simply weld or braze the jaw.

[Ralph_Goodman]

Love the idea.

Let me know how it works out.

Are you going to add any rubber just for some more protection against the metal on metal and a bit more grip?

From what you said, you have not used it to impression yet. Hope all goes well with that.

[Jacob Morgan]

Gordon, can you let us know who is selling them? Keep on seeing them in old books.

Would it be the Providence Elite tool that retails for $1,295--Ouch! Way out of my league.

Wonder if some external snap ring pliers could be modified to do pull-out impressioning?

[Jacob Morgan]

I've got an old set of impressioning pliers, ViseGrip brand and they appear to be factory made. I'll shoot a photo at work tomorrow. Wish I could buy more but I guess I could simply weld or braze the jaw.

Looks like MBA USA has them for $29.99 http://mbausa.com/impressioning-plier-black/