Where can I buy a comb key for impressioning?

[bobbybeatbilly]

Thanks for your input piotr it was very inciteful.

[abroxis]

A quick google found the most common D&S at

http://www.locksafesystems.com/depth_and_space.htm#American_Lock_Tubular_Space_and_Depth

Dlaco used to have this info but decided to kill it at one point because I think they though it was a security threat. Wayback machine did archive it at one point .
http://web.archive.org/web/20060314181603/http://www.dlaco.com/spacing/spacing.htm

79 euro sounds way to much for Olivers Impressioning book. I hope you shop around before buying it at that price.

If you havent seen it there is this quick sheet on impressioning

http://www.withoutakey.co.uk/pdf/impguide.pdf

HPC a major tools company publish a number of training books one of which is
Theory and Techniques of Impressioning a lot less expenisve than Oliver's book.


I was just sent a link by a friend that you may find interesting.

Impressioning by Simon Barber
http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/2655849/impressioning-by-simon-barber-46k?dn=y

[Don]

Nice find!

[10ringo10]

nice find

[bobbybeatbilly]

Thanks guys for your input. Does anyone use calipers for impressioning and cutting to the next depth and if so which ones would you suggest.

[bobbybeatbilly]

Lighted Mgnifier for impressioning. Right now I'm just using a jewelers magnifier or a head visor with magnification but I was looking at the lighted magnifirs on lockpicks.com and ukbumpkeys. Is there any place where I can get magnifirs like those without spending 100 bucks.

Here is a link to both so you know what I'm talking about.

http://www.ukbumpkeys.com/product_ILLUM ... _index.php

http://www.lockpicks.com/lighted-impres ... r-kit.aspx

[MacGyver101]

If you search for "illuminated loupe" at a jewlers' supply shop, you can probably find something much cheaper that will do the job for $30 or so.

[bobbybeatbilly]

Thanks guys for your input I ended up getting this one here http://www.mbausa.com/item.asp?num=MB16-A and its incredible, I can see every mark clearly on pin tumbler locks and not just wafers. I haven't wasted a blank since using it.

Is anyone familiar with the Reed Codebooks. I was thinking of getting one of the volumes. However, the description isn't that great of what is in each volume. Does anyone know what locks each volume cover. In particular I'm looking for just normal National lock depth and spacing guides and codes.

[piotr]

Thanks guys for your input I ended up getting this one here http://www.mbausa.com/item.asp?num=MB16-A and its incredible, I can see every mark clearly on pin tumbler locks and not just wafers. I haven't wasted a blank since using it.

Is anyone familiar with the Reed Codebooks. I was thinking of getting one of the volumes. However, the description isn't that great of what is in each volume. Does anyone know what locks each volume cover. In particular I'm looking for just normal National lock depth and spacing guides and codes.

I was going to suggest something like this: http://dx.com/p/super-mini-60x-microscope-with-2-led-illumination-money-currency-detecting-uv-light-3-lr1130-51129 if you are on a tight budget but what you bought from MBA is much better. I'm sure the lenses are much better quality.

I have a growing collection of D&S key sets and I buy them whenever I find them (typically about US$10 per set). In addition to being able to use them to cut keys to code using a key duplicator (which I hope to buy soon) I just use a caliper to measure the cuts and then print and laminate a table for each key. For spacing I use cylinder cores. Currently, I insert the key into the core and with a fine point marker I mark a dot in the center of each chamber on the key blank. Then I use a ruler to draw a straight line down the side of the key in line with the dot. I then remove the dot when I prepare the key with a smooth file but the lines stay as a guide. I plan to cut grooves along the length of each chamber of the core so that I can just mark the side of the key directly with a marker but I've yet to think of a precise way to do this with the tools I have. In any event you can prepare the keys in advance with the spacing guides and with the smoothed surface.

[bobbybeatbilly]

I've noticed when impressioning that many times the lock will turn when the key is still not at exactly the correct depth. I clean up the key and the lock turns more cleanly. But it got me wonder ing what is the margin of error so to speak that a depth can be cut and still turn the lock. Obviously it depends on the lock, but how much + or - can the key usually be cut and still work for say a sc1 or NA14