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Mortise key post gauges ....

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Magic1

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Post Fri Jun 18, 2010 1:58 pm

Mortise key post gauges ....

I have made a pair of over lifter wires for the single mortise lock I have and they work fine. It made sense to make up a set for all the other gauges and then also make 2 in 1 tools for all the gauges. Here I have run into problems because none of the mortise keys I have (qty 4) have post diameters that are anywhere near to AWG or SWG sizes. My question is what gauge system applies to mortise keys ?.

I have on order from EBAY 20 ERA blanks, which are supposed to be 5 and 7 (thin) gauge and another 10 of some gauge or other (thick). I have no idea if they are going to be suitable for what I have in mind, which is basically making each 2 in 1 out of 2 brass keys cut down, some music wire (16 SWG) and some thin brass tube for the tension-er shank of the tool, to make it co-axial.

Thank you .....
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bouncer965

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Post Fri Jun 18, 2010 2:49 pm

Re: Mortise key post gauges ....

I have the 5 and 7 guage curtain picks and the thickness is 4.53mm on one ans 4.84mm on the other s thats the measurements for the shafts of the tensioner that i have. Hope that helps.
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Magic1

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Post Fri Jun 18, 2010 3:09 pm

Re: Mortise key post gauges ....

Thank you for the reply. Your measurements seem to tally with the 4.621mm figure I have for a 5 gauge key. For the lock I have the keys measure , 5.13mm, 5.34mm, 5,34mm, 5.43mm, which to my simple mind would suggest a larger gauge. My problem is I have searched the Net and found only the following gauges, 5 , 5.5, 6 , 6.5, 7 , 8 , 9 ... and nothing seems to tie in with any wire gauge table. Probably a stupid oversight on my part, but I was hoping to find a published table of sizes that agreed with the keys I have.
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bouncer965

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Post Fri Jun 18, 2010 3:27 pm

Re: Mortise key post gauges ....

I believe there is also a 3 guage too. But not 100 percent on it. Ive only just started on the mortice side of things but let me ask a guy who is well up on them and i'll get back to you.
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Magic1

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Post Fri Jun 18, 2010 3:43 pm

Re: Mortise key post gauges ....

Thanks a lot, I have only just started looking at lever locks and have no 'feel' for them yet. From a human interest point of view I have an elderly widow neighbour who has lost the side door key to her garage and it is not a 5 gauge for which I have made an over lifting tool. So at the moment I have no idea where I am at the moment. It is a mortise lock so I have to open it before I can remove it , to make a key for her. No I have not yet looked at impressioning mortise keys .... if that is possible. Real problems produce real solutions .... or so they tell me !
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oldlock

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Post Fri Jun 18, 2010 9:00 pm

Re: Mortise key post gauges ....

It's Imperial Wire Gauge . I have all the sizes somewhere .....
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Magic1

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Post Sat Jun 19, 2010 6:52 am

Re: Mortise key post gauges ....

I got a little confused because I found seven wire gauge system tables, all different, including five Imperial gauge systems.
( http://www.sizes.com/materls/wire.htm )
The following table looks the closest ..

Gauge Imp. AWG

3 0.2520 0.229423
4 0.2320 0.2043
5 0.2120 0.1819
6 0.1920 0.1620
7 0.1760 0.1443
8 0.1600 0.1285
9 0.1440 0.1144

Of the four keys I have, one is 0.2120 which makes it five gauge. The other three 0.2030, which might make them 5 1/2 gauge ?. Two of these are brass Chubb keys. Thanks for your help.
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Magic1

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Post Sat Jun 19, 2010 7:48 am

Re: Mortise key post gauges ....

The 5 gauge over lifting wires I mentioned in the above posting.
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elbowmacaroni

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Post Sat Jun 19, 2010 12:38 pm

Re: Mortise key post gauges ....

Nice work on those over-lifters! You really got a knack for making stuff don't ya?
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Magic1

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Post Sat Jun 19, 2010 2:04 pm

Re: Mortise key post gauges ....

Poverty inspires me Hi!.
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elbowmacaroni

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Post Sun Jun 20, 2010 1:27 pm

Re: Mortise key post gauges ....

I hear ya there... but the workmanship is quite impressive for sure!
"Cave ab homine unius libri" - Beware of anyone who has just one book

(2014.02.09 - 23:26:03) huxleypig: i freaking love cream
(2014.02.09 - 23:27:11) huxleypig: hey, come on, cream is nice
(2014.02.09 - 23:27:37) huxleypig: aww, i suddenly feel very sick

(23:37:46) LocksmithArmy: you should see my school girl outfit
(23:37:50) LocksmithArmy: wait... what

(13:19:50) xeo: that chick will never be satisfied by a real dick
(13:19:54) NNFAK: I would man...

(22:59:49) PhoneMan: how do you let a forum die if users keep using it? kill the servers?

May those who love us, love us; and those who don't love us, may God turn their hearts; and if He doesn't turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles so we'll know them by their limping

If someone had prince albert in a can, does that mean they'd have a killer codpiece?

(00:52:02) WolfSpring: elbow could sell a sandbox to an egyptian

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