KEYING A LOCKED PADLOCK FROM SCRATCH.

[awol70]

The filing of the key is functional, but your ramps and root of the key could be alittle cleaner.

Get your depth cut down, then run the file right through the cut to get your ramps at even 45degrees, and use the very tip of the file to widen out the root of the cut so it's flat. That gives your pin more area to sit on the key and will adjust for any minor spacing issues.

Also makes it look like a machine cut key. Have a play with it if you've got blanks on hand, you'll love the feeling of being able to cut a machine-look key with a file.

thanks...it's a tricky thing to learn how to do,just figuring it out along the way,so those little tidbits of info really help refine my abilities.