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Key mold impressioning question

Picked all the easy locks and want to step up your game? Further your lock picking techniques, exchange pro tips, videos, lessons, and develop your skills here.

Key mold impressioning question

Postby Hawk2064 » 21 Dec 2003 23:33

Does anyone know where to get a good key impression kit for under 100 bux?
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Re: This question is going kind of the other way......

Postby CitySpider » 21 Dec 2003 23:50

Yeah. A hardware store. You want a file, a couple of key blanks, and a magnifier of some type. That should cover it.
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Postby Hawk2064 » 22 Dec 2003 1:12

Yea that would work if i could get my hands on the key in question. What i need is one of the kits that you make a mold of the key with, but then again i could just use some good ole modleing clay and a soldering iron. Then go to my local hardware store and get that kindly old man to copy my key. And this will be pretty much free, but there is alwasy the chance that the liquid metal will melt the clay or something.........
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Postby Eyes_Only » 22 Dec 2003 1:38

www.thespystore.com carries exactly what you're looking for. but dont feel too bad if it doesnt work too well in the first few trys. It's much more difficult then you can imagine, trust me, ive tried
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Postby Hawk2064 » 22 Dec 2003 2:00

I found the kit here for much cheaper http://www.lockmasters.com/ImpressioningTools.PDF
but I don't not know which one to buy, small, large, or deluxe. I really just need it for one key, but if you say this is not going to be easy, maybe I should get extra metal or something of the sort.
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Postby CitySpider » 22 Dec 2003 7:19

Hawk2064 wrote:Yea that would work if i could get my hands on the key in question.


Actually, it would work if you had access to the LOCK in question. It looks like we have a very different idea of what the term "impressioning" means. Sorry about the confusion.
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Postby Hawk2064 » 22 Dec 2003 9:43

Yea i guess so. I'm really talking about making a key mold, then impressioning the key...........Where's 007 when you need him?
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Postby Eyes_Only » 22 Dec 2003 20:20

Getting the perfect impression of the key is extremely difficult. And even if you do, its even more tricky to get the cast cos air bubbles form inside the mold when pouring in the liquid metal. Mines came out looking more like a ice pick then a key.
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Postby Areomyst » 22 Dec 2003 20:48

Eh...

Where might I find more details on this method? I was under the impression that key impressioning was done by filing a key blank very flat, and trying it on the door, filing the key down where the pins mark it... then when you have the key, you duplicate it, so that you have one that's not all frail, etc. Am I mistaken? I've just finished reading up on duplicating a key without a machine. I'll be off to Wal-Mart before long, to see if they'll sell me a few blanks for my shed padlock. I figure it'd be a good place to start. :)

~Josh
The more that one learns, the more they realize how little they know.
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Postby CitySpider » 22 Dec 2003 23:38

Areomyst wrote:Eh...

Where might I find more details on this method? I was under the impression that key impressioning was done by filing a key blank very flat, and trying it on the door, filing the key down where the pins mark it... then when you have the key, you duplicate it, so that you have one that's not all frail, etc. Am I mistaken? I've just finished reading up on duplicating a key without a machine. I'll be off to Wal-Mart before long, to see if they'll sell me a few blanks for my shed padlock. I figure it'd be a good place to start. :)

~Josh


That's what impressioning is. I'm not sure what the term is for making a duplicate via, uh, melting metal, because I didn't think anyone actually used that.

One slight correction: You don't need to file a key blank down, except to remove the shine from the top, although that's an interesting idea and might make the marks easier to see. Hence you don't need to go make a key copy. Go to an auto auction and you'll see the impression-a-key-for-you-on-the-spot guys. Kind of scary, really.
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Postby Hawk2064 » 23 Dec 2003 1:26

I tried my idea of using modeling clay and melted solder. This actually worked alot better then I thought it would. The think that came out of the mold resembled a key but would never work in a door. It just gave me the basic outline of the key, and with a blank and a file I might be able to make a working key from it. I will post the pic of my first, second, and third tries with my method later on. I still think getting the clam kit will definitely make this alot easier.
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Postby Areomyst » 23 Dec 2003 2:47

CitySpider wrote:That's what impressioning is. I'm not sure what the term is for making a duplicate via, uh, melting metal, because I didn't think anyone actually used that.

One slight correction: You don't need to file a key blank down, except to remove the shine from the top, although that's an interesting idea and might make the marks easier to see. Hence you don't need to go make a key copy. Go to an auto auction and you'll see the impression-a-key-for-you-on-the-spot guys. Kind of scary, really.


Excellent. Thank you for the clarification sir. :) On the auto auction note, next time I"m there I'll ask around. Twould be interestnig to talk to a few of the guys, and judging the nature of the auction, I'm sure they'll have 'em around. I work at the Fredericksburg Auto Auction sometimes when I'm in between jobs. IT industry's making it kinda hard to land something solid these days. :( Ah well.

Locksmithing, like computers, I'm sure will be an interest that will never manage to bore me. With computers, you have so many directions that you can go that one who's savy with the darn things could never get bored, or never learn it all for that matter. I can easily see myself applying the same philosophy to locksmithing. So many areas of interest to pursue! It's really quite amazing. :)

Be well!

~Josh
The more that one learns, the more they realize how little they know.
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Postby Varjeal » 23 Dec 2003 11:26

Allow me to clarify a bit as well. There's really two distinct methods being discussed here.

1. Impressioning a key.
2. Impressioning a lock.

1. This is the clay mold method being discussed. A properly cut key is taken, and a mold is made of that key in order to make a duplicate key.

2. Much more difficult (in some cases) but faster, is impressioning the lock. This is the art of preparing a blank key, manipulating it in the lock, and removing metal where marks show. (Super condensed version of process.) You then repeat until the key turns the lock in question.
For this process you need:

a.) #4 Swiss cut pippin file.
b.) Cleaning card or brush.
c.) A few of the correct key blanks for the lock. (brass)
d.) A fine point sharpie is handy.
e.) A good lightsource.
f.) A pair of good vise grip pliers (not needle-nose)
g.) A ton of patience, and practice.
*insert witty comment here*
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Postby Hawk2064 » 23 Dec 2003 17:23

Here the pic of what I managed to make out of solder and some clay:
Image

Didn't use the best camera but you can still make them out, the one on the top is my first attempt, the middle is second, and last is third.
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Solder

Postby David_Parker » 24 Dec 2003 1:05

Hawk2064, I'm curious as towards how you managed to heat up the solder and pour it in.

What did you use and how?


And, have you ever considered zinc?


-Dave.
Never underestimate the half-diamond.
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