Flywheel's Impressioning FAILURE!

[GWiens2001]

Three things. First, have the keyway facing up in the vice, so you drop the key into the keyway from the top. Second, lighten up the pressure when turning the blank and when rocking it. Third, angle the ramps between your bittings. They are canyoning, which is the term when the angles are too steep for the pins to rise up, catching the key and trapping it in the lock.

Don't give up! I failed at impressioning a Master lock today. It happens to everybody except Oldfast. (Heh heh... let's see his response to that! )

Gordon

[Altashot]

Your spacing still looks good AND you now have 5 pins on it!
Good job backing that shoulder, looks like you did it just right.
As for Vice Grips, I use 4" to 6", no more than that. The 4" I find a bit small
for my big hand but it allows more control. It's normal to shear key blanks
when you first start out but in time you will learn what is too much tension.
You need to break a few in order to know when to stop...

Keep at it, you'll get it.

Like Gordon said, watch the ramps, don't make them too steep.

M.

[flywheel]

Turns out I have a 4-pin lock after all. It's a Master 140. Maybe we'll hear about this next time.

2015-03-06 17.59.37.jpg

Before, I tipped my hat to people who could knock out an impression in a few minutes time. Now, after my two attempts, I see how remarkable it is that some people can impression and file so quickly and with such surety.
As for me, instead of filing I spent an amazing amount of time holding the key under a lamp doubting my underpowered eyes.

Thanks for the input everyone.

[Oldfast]

Don't give up! I failed at impressioning a Master lock today.
It happens to everybody except Oldfast. (Heh heh... let's see his response to that! )

Ha! I cannot recall EVER failing. IF I ever do....

.....clearly the key blanks were defective.

Nah. The road to success IS failure.

I'll raise my hand for:
....failed attempt with a master (fairly recent actually).
....having used a 4-pin blank for a 5-pin lock.
....having used a 5-pin blank for a 4-pin lock.

I do think a proper impressioning file would help a great deal.
I think you can get a pretty decent rat-tail for around $20-$25.