Fri Jan 24, 2014 8:25 pm by GWiens2001
Oh, I see, said the blind man to his deaf friend. Yes, that lever keyway does not line up with the keyway on the front. Thought it was at the opposite end of the keyway!
Lever locks are frequently very easy to impression. Look at the Slaymaker thread I posted a few days ago. Ignore the part about making the blank to fit the crooked Slaymaker keyway - you will only need a flat piece of brass or other metal of the correct thickness. (Or a flat key blank). If using a flat piece of metal, cut a knob at the tip of the key blank the same height as the center part of the lever lock keyway. That will help keep it centered correctly in the lock.
Put the blank fully in the lock, and use a fine point pen to mark the height of the face of the lock on the blank. Pull out the blank, and you can estimate the thickness of the metal face of the lock. Cut a slot down to the height of the center plug. (This is called a throat cut) That will allow the key to turn.
Next you can use a candle, marker, or whatever is convenient to mark the leading edge of the key blade. Put the blank into the keyway, and turn it until it stops. Do not wiggle the key... this is not a pin tumbler lock you are impressioning. Just turn it back and forth a couple of times, then remove the blank. File only where you see marks. Re-mark your cut area, and repeat until the lock opens.
Good luck!
Gordon
Just when you think you've learned it all, that is when you find you haven't learned anything yet.