Impressioning with soot
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 11:41 am
I set myself up last night to try impressioning. A couple of blanks that fit an old Corbin and nothing else to do. I set up the vise and all the gear and couldn't find a magnifyer, so I went 'old school' sooting up the key. I stopped when it look like I had the proper depth for 2 pins. I'm buying a magnifying glass today, and finishing it later.
I don't know how bad a key covered in soot is for a lock, but WOW can you see the marks. The little scratches in the key look like brass colored LED lights against a black velvet background. Unfortunately, its a real PITA.
Soot the key
Slowly insert key
Jiggle key
Inspect Key
Run file over shiny parts
Test key
Resoot key
Repeat until madness sets in or lock opens.
I think the magnifying glass will speed things up.
Theortically, I'm only putting a small amount of soot on the key pins (and then only the point). But the soot is actually greasy and I don't know how damaging it would be. It's a crappy practice lock, just curious if this is worse for the lock than I would think.
I don't know how bad a key covered in soot is for a lock, but WOW can you see the marks. The little scratches in the key look like brass colored LED lights against a black velvet background. Unfortunately, its a real PITA.
Soot the key
Slowly insert key
Jiggle key
Inspect Key
Run file over shiny parts
Test key
Resoot key
Repeat until madness sets in or lock opens.
I think the magnifying glass will speed things up.
Theortically, I'm only putting a small amount of soot on the key pins (and then only the point). But the soot is actually greasy and I don't know how damaging it would be. It's a crappy practice lock, just curious if this is worse for the lock than I would think.