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Remove the plug from the lock of choice. Pins will be out of course. Place key blank in plug. Use permanent marker or tap a nail ,or any other creative method,and you have the proper spacing. Start filing! Use a plug follower if you want to put the lock back together. It's for beginners guys.

Honestly greatful for that !
I may try and drill to set depth as by "eye" i seem to wander
off centre and end up with a small piece of scrap metal !
Only tried 2 times but that was enough to piss/put me off .

hey I do that also:) for making BK's cheers!

When I'm cutting keys for an uncommon cylinder, I just take all the pins out, insert my blank and grab one pin.

Put it in the first chamber, tap it with a hammer until it leaves a dimple.
Repeat for other chambers.

Scratch down the side of the key with your file to leave a line, and you'll have exact spacing.

i also do this,but i have a few really long stainless steel pins i use just for this ...
the slightest little tap leaves a nice impression on the blank to work with...

I use the same system to mark the spacings ( using a pin ) but i also use a long pin to check my depths as well.
i file a bit, then put the key back into the plug and drop the pin in to see how i'm going, and when the pin is flush with the top of the plug i move to the next one.
The best part is you only need one pin ( per lock of course ) to do the job and it also tells you when your getting off track.