Retired thief

[Johnny P]

Actually, the modeling clay, as he describes it's use, isn't all that far-fetched.

There is a product available to locksmiths which basically uses the clay impressioning technique he describes. The product is called a "Clam." It's a small container with a slot in one end for the bow of a key to stick out of and special clay inside. You open the container, place the key you want to copy inside with the bow sticking out. You then shut the lid on the container which has the clay in both halves and press the two halves together. This leaves an actual impression of both halves of the key you want to duplicate.

The kit also comes with a soft metal stick and you melt some of this metal down and with the "clam" shut, you pour the liquid metal into the closed "clam". Let it cool thoroughly, then open and you have a key.

Now, since this key was made with soft metal, most locksmiths use the "new" key to duplicate to a regular blank.

Most locksmiths use this tool, kit for making duplicates of hard to find keys or antique keys to fashion a new key. They may even have to make the key, blank and all, from scratch.

Many years ago, on a popular detective or police show, the story line had a group of thieves working at a car wash. One of the guys, after climbing in the car for the purpose of cleaning the insde of the car, would remove the keys from the ignition, since the car was in neutral and being pulled through the wash by chain, remove the car key or house key and place it in just this type of container. Later they took the unit to their place and made a real key from it.

I thought at the time there really wasn't such a thing, but years later found I was wrong. There is.

[kodierer]

Medeco locks have to have each pin rotated to the right spot, and the clay wouldn't work for that unless the pins were already in the right positions.

[mcm757207]

I think putting any kind of clay *into* the lock is a bad idea.

[Mad Mick]

I agree, but what Johnny P was describing doesn't involve putting the clay into the lock...

This 'Clam' should work ok on the Medeco, as the bitting and rotation are actually machined into the key itself...which is what the clam is making an impression of.

[Mad Mick]

If you were so inclined, you could probably easily make your own 'clam'.

Get a cigarette case, or one o' them ladies makeup thingies, and make a notch in both the lid and the lower part on one side. Fill the thing with plasticine on the bottom, and the the top, then spray both surfaces with something like silicone spray (something that will not melt the plasticine) then put a layer of cling-film (Saran-wrap) in between.

When ready, remove the cling-film, insert the key and close the lid. Open the lid and remove the key. Fill the mould with resin and allow to harden. Remove the resin key and cut a working key.

[Hollywood]

Medeco has a pretty good Interactive breakdown of there lock on there web site maybe it will help you out a little more

http://www.medeco.com/

Just go to the bottom of the page to the right Interactive security Soultions "Button"

[Mad Mick]

The clam is duplicating the key...not trying to decode the lock. (presuming you can get the blanks in the first place )

[raimundo]

any mint tin will do. for one key, just the blade, use an altoids breathstrips tin, for multiple keys, use bigger tins, plasticine, fimo, etc are available at art supply stores. look for a plastic material to cast the key, use it only to duplicate. Method is ancient, clay and wax were used. necessary to make multiple impressions of the one key if its something tight like medeco. Useful method for spys, or crime fiction writers.

[bw]

I'm lost. Does the Crisco go on the key or in the hole? Isn't prison for punishing? And how do you know if your participle is dangling?

"Before I went to college, I couldn't even spell engineer. Now I is one."

[rayman452]

How old and dead was this thread? Perhaps we have to think of a whole new way to pick the medeco, something away from conventional means.