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fgarci03 wrote:IMPRESSION 6

My first pin tumbler impression! (Ok, not a real impression, but a key making )
A while ago, I got this Elzet 751 from ARF-GEF. It had no keys so I wanted to make a key for it. Here's the lock:


So, yesterday night, I disassembled it and looked for a key that fitted, with shallow cuts, so I could work from it:


They key fitted and all it's cuts made the pins stay above the sheerline. Perfect!


So I started filing down, and suddently on of the pins got REALLY under the sheerline. Couldn't understand why.
Then I figured it out... The already cutted key's bitting didn't had the same spacing as this lock. So when I started trimming the sharp edges out of the key, so it fits smoothly on the lock, I was actually filling down where the pins were. So, ditched the key, and today went and grabbed a few blanks.

Start again! Pin by pin this time:


Until I got this key, and this sheerline:


Everything assembled, the key didn't work... Crap, remove the plug again...
After all, all I needed was to file the key just a little bit more on some of the pins, and it now works smoothly! Here's the key:


And the proof of success:


Nothing too great, but good enough for me!

Today I don't have questions (wow!), but a few notes:
1) I need to start being more carefull with the C-Clip, as it bent a little and now drags when the plug rotates. After a million turns it got smoother and isn't a problem, but it's something I'll watch out next time;
2) I was very carefull on my tryings to test if they key COULD BE REMOVED from the lock, by appling hard pressure on the pins and removing the key from the plug, before inserting the plug on the cylinder. I think it's worth a note, as I'm often distracted with other stuff. Had I not tested and trimmed the edges, I would have ruined this lock.

That's all for now

Oldfast wrote:Spacing can be a bitch sometimes. You could draw lines down the key. When doing it
with the plug out and pins in like you've done with this one, I've also found it helpful
to lightly tap the pins in order to get a mark. No need to do that all the way through
the process... but it's helped me get back on track sometimes when I'm slightly off.

oldbiscuit wrote:I should have posted this sooner, but my camera is on the blitz. When I impression keys for my lever padlocks, I start by heating the bit and melting a thin layer of colored birthday candle wax on it. When inserted and turned it leaves a good impression of the levers and gates.At this point I use a sharp scribe and mark the bit at the edges of every lever and gate and clean off the wax. Then I go to the soot. Just the way I do It, dosen't work everytime, but most times for me.