Make your own bit and barrel blanks (pretty easily)
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2016 5:36 pm
I've had this idea for a long time. I'm not sure if it's been done or not. But I wanted to make a bit and barrel key but don't have all the tools to make them like the pro's. No lathe or mill like you see a lot of the guys use to make the beautiful keys you see right here on KeyPicking. So I used some very easy to find tools for most locksporters. A vice, screw driver, hammer and some files are only tools you NEED, granted a saw or a dremel would make it go a lot faster. I just wanted to try just to use as few common tools that most of us would have access to. The only thing I didn't have was a piece of copper tube. Which isn't too pricey and is available at most hardware stores.
Here is the almost finished product. I still need to cut it to length and put a bow on it. But aside from some cosmetic features the key is working and I think it would work for a long time. It only takes a little more than a half hour to get to where I am in the pictures. I hope this helps some people bring some of these amazing antique locks back to life.
I also made a "how to" video on my YouTube channel .
https://youtu.be/OLwMrwYJWNI
Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!
Here is the almost finished product. I still need to cut it to length and put a bow on it. But aside from some cosmetic features the key is working and I think it would work for a long time. It only takes a little more than a half hour to get to where I am in the pictures. I hope this helps some people bring some of these amazing antique locks back to life.
I also made a "how to" video on my YouTube channel .
https://youtu.be/OLwMrwYJWNI
Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!