Then there's impressioning, a technique very suitable to create a working key
from a key blank.
In the 1970s, I had to do a fair amount of that.
But, Honda at that time had numbers on the keys. So, if the customer
locked their keys in the car, with good eyes, you could look through the
window and get the key number(s) and then look it up and code cut a key
(Curtis #15)
On Wed, 9 Apr 2025, The Doctor via cctalk wrote:
That's why I brought up the prospect of making some key blanks. If a blank was
made from just
soft enough metal it could be used to impression and file down a key that
matches.
Of course, you can also disassemble the lock and measure pin lengths. To get
the correct
lengths, there's databases. Using a dremel is not the easiest way to do this.
A good pair of calipers would be about all that would be required. Thing is,
unlocking the
mechanism would be the easiest way of going about it. I'd take a go at picking
it for that
purpose, but there might be other methods I don't know about.
But Tony has already removed the lock. Either by picking it to open the
case, or coming in through the back of the case. Locks on computer cases
offer extremely little security. However, 4 pin/tumbler sets would make
it hard to turn on and off the machine without "breaking" into it.
And, the interlock (in/out for a different pin stack prevents anybody
without the key from turning it off. A wise move if there are college
administrators around.
YES. I'm pretty sure that Tony knows to use brass, not steel, for the
blanks that he makes. And, grinding the working edge of the key very thin
makes it easier to get the marks for impressioning.
Besides files, there is now a Lishi hand punch punch that can be used to
nibble the cut down.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred ci...@xenosoft.com
