Blanks for KSC (U-Change) and Lockwood cores

[tpark]

Hi,
I'm looking for blanks that might fit or close to fit these keyways. I think the Lockwood one is restricted, and I read in another forum that it may be possible to file a KW1 blank down, but it seems backwards for this one. The U-Change I managed to make a key by filing down an Ilco 1023/CL1 blank, but I'm looking for something that doesn't need filing.


Has anyone here used one of those key milling machines like this thing?
http://www.lockpicks.com/groove-milling ... utter.html

I'm curious if machines like this one or the Keyway King are worthwhile. Is the blank stock for these machines expensive? Are they hard to use? It seems a bit pricey for hobbyist use in any event.

[GWiens2001]

All Lockwood V7 blanks are restricted to the best of my knowledge.

Wish I had a keyway king or the same ilk, but I don’t. But I hear they work well. Have used a Sidewinder duplicator to modify similar key blanks to fit an particular application when the proper key blank can not be determined or is not available. Have also cast a few keys in aluminum when needed.

Am waiting on delivery of a 3D printer with which I hope to make a blank for my Lockwood V7. Have another V7 with a different keyway that I filed a KW1 blank to fit. The post on it is somewhere on the forum. Am hoping that if I can print a blank for the V7 that I can use a Sidewinder key duplicator to more easily duplicate the blank onto brass and use that for a working key.

As for the U-Change - use a feeler gauge for a blank.

Gordon

[tpark]

It would really be nice to have a proper blank since the final key is much better that way. I've filed down blanks to work, but somehow it's not the same. I have feeler gauge and brass stock, but it would be much cooler to have proper key blanks. I made a key that works, but it's pretty darn ugly.

[jeffmoss26]

U-Change is factory restricted. Every so often you will see precut keys on eBay.

[tpark]

U-Change is factory restricted. Every so often you will see precut keys on eBay.

Thanks for the info - I guess there's not enough of these locks for JMA or Ilco to make blanks for it.
I'll keep my eyes open on eBay now - considering the dual problems of being easily picked and easily bypassed I would have expected many of them to be removed from service only to show up on fleabay.

[adi_picker]

Gday tpark,

You are right, the KW1 will not fit the V7 profile you have, the MLV. The best blank I found was a Silca CB34R, but alas, I heavily modified it with a mill and file to fit, it requires quite a bit of work. Unfortunately, although the V7 locks are becoming rare in Aus, In the few years I have been actively searching for them and keys to suit, I have come across a total of 1 key, which I found in an old key collection I had from a kid.

If I ever manage to come across keys to suit, you and the LP101 community will be the first to get one

adi_picker

[GWiens2001]

Gday tpark,

You are right, the KW1 will not fit the V7 profile you have, the MLV. The best blank I found was a Silca CB34R, but alas, I heavily modified it with a mill and file to fit, it requires quite a bit of work. Unfortunately, although the V7 locks are becoming rare in Aus, In the few years I have been actively searching for them and keys to suit, I have come across a total of 1 key, which I found in an old key collection I had from a kid.

If I ever manage to come across keys to suit, you and the LP101 community will be the first to get one

adi_picker

When I get a little time, will try one blank I just found on my boards that might be a fairly easy fit. ILC90 (Kaba Peaks generic). If something else has not been found by the time I have tried it, will post the results here.

Gordon

[GWiens2001]

Took a page from adi_picker’s book and modified a Corbin key blank. Did not have the same blank he had so used a CO51 blank. Started out taking pics of the blank with arrows pointing to where I had to change the bevels on the wards, wards removed, etcetera.

Problem was that ended having to modify pretty much every ward, the spine of the blank, shorten the blade height, thin it, and even use a flat drift punch to bend the top of the blade so it reached the top of right wing of the keyway. So only pics of the modified blank and it working in the lock after being cut.













Key blank that has not been modified on the left, modified on the right.



When I get home will reassemble the padlock with this core that I got from adi_picker. Thanks again, adi!

Gordon

[MacGnG1]

you mean a V7 blank like this:







edit....
you mean a UCHANGE blank like this:

[tpark]

Gordon: Wow - that must of been a lot of work to get that to fit. Congratulations on getting it working!

Mac - Wow - is there a blank that you don't have? It looks like additional milling is needed though. Cool!

Adi_picker - thanks again for the lock! I think I'll need to put in a substantial amount of work to get my corbin blank to fit though.

[GWiens2001]

Thanks, TPark. It took about 90 minutes to get the key to fit in the keyway. All hand filing. Then it was fairly quick to file the key for the pins.

MacGnG - those two blanks look like you had them machined. Both will require fitting - the Lockwood will require extensive fitting. The groove in the top will need to have some sort of wedge pressed into it to give the top parts of the blade the "V" angle needed to fit around the top warding, then all the side milling will be a lot of work. Good luck with that! The U-Change locks only have minimal warding, so it should be fairly easy to fit. Appreciate you sharing the pics of them! Nice to see someone 'coining' blanks.

Gordon

[MacGnG1]

The u-change blank I got from Lauren a long time ago.

The V7 blank I got from a guy in Australia that actually was contracted out by Lockwood to make small batches of blanks when less than 250 keys were needed from Lockwood for the V7 cylinders. I also got an uncombinated V7 padlock from him.... Will post pics if anyone is interested.


On a side note I built up some confidence around all this V7 talk and actually just picked, gutted and rekeyed one of the V7 KIKs I had lying around in my box of V7 stuff! So thanks guys didn't think I could pick it. 1 more KIK and 1 Padlock left.

[GWiens2001]

The u-change blank I got from Lauren a long time ago.

The V7 blank I got from a guy in Australia that actually was contracted out by Lockwood to make small batches of blanks when less than 250 keys were needed from Lockwood for the V7 cylinders. I also got an uncombinated V7 padlock from him.... Will post pics if anyone is interested.


On a side note I built up some confidence around all this V7 talk and actually just picked, gutted and rekeyed one of the V7 KIKs I had lying around in my box of V7 stuff! So thanks guys didn't think I could pick it. 1 more KIK and 1 Padlock left.

Of course we are interested, Mac! We are lockaholics. We like shiny objects.

And congrats on picking the KIK cylinder.

Gordon

[MacGnG1]

Of course we are interested, Mac! We are lockaholics. We like shiny objects.