DIY - how to make a spare key from soda bottle by jeffxie1
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video DIY - how to make a spare key from soda bottle
The tension wrench provided by http://www.avoidlockedout.com. this is my first prototype of plastic spare key, it works. From a soda bottle to the Ultimate product, please go to http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-plastic-spare-key-copy-a-key-in-minu/
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DavidYenor says: Sep 3, 2012. 4:00 PM
Sweet! How long does it last? My dad always looses his keys, this could help him out a great deal. Thanks for posting this.
wario235 says: May 1, 2012. 3:47 PM
Just happened across your instructable, and I find this ridiculously useful. My coworkers are constantly losing the keys to the forklifts at work, making me unable to do my job about half the time.

1 plastic bottle later and I have my own spare key. Illegal? Probably. But increases productivity!
Lowriderpr says: Mar 12, 2012. 4:04 AM
Great Job!
mikeltv1 says: Nov 30, 2011. 8:13 PM
Will this process work with aluminum/sheet metal?
mtg1001 says: Nov 14, 2010. 6:34 PM
your mom goes to collage
kryptofacist says: Dec 14, 2010. 6:28 AM
collage. n.
1.a. An artistic composition of materials and objects pasted over a surface, often with unifying lines and color.
b. A work, such as a literary piece, composed of both borrowed and original material.
2. The art of creating such compositions.
3. An assemblage of diverse elements: a collage of conflicting memories.

How can anybody go there?
thomasthetankengine says: Sep 12, 2011. 4:40 PM
Zing!
CUclimbing says: Aug 12, 2011. 11:14 AM
Haha, nice
paqrat says: Jun 20, 2011. 12:11 AM
Cool instructable. Have you tried it with a different sort of plastic bottle, perhaps a gallon plastic milk or water bottle? The plastic is thicker and less likely to break.
wak166 says: Jan 10, 2010. 7:28 PM
guys, I think this isn't about saving money and not getting a real key, but for instance if you dont have time to take the key and get it cut.... say you borrowed your teachers key and wanted it copied . you probly only have it for a few minutes ....... so taking it to wal-mar or something would be hard.
stuuf says: May 1, 2011. 2:51 PM
either way it seems like a very suboptimal alternative to just getting the right tools...if it's your own key, you should have time to get it duplicated somewhere or cut a copy yourself. if you're (permanently) borrowing someone else's key, you're better off just quickly measuring or even photographing the bitting and cutting a new key on the right blank
KittyF says: Oct 30, 2010. 7:33 PM
I think that's illegal, I imagine it's to have a spare key in case you forget yours or lock yours inside. OR the kids loose it. having a wallet key would be a God send in some cases and that's what I think this is, an emergency back up.
nunzilla555 says: Apr 7, 2011. 9:29 AM
this will be useful so i don't have to climb the fire escape anymore
kakara says: Feb 18, 2011. 5:47 PM
oh...my god...can i make one to start my car?? because i lost both my keys a year ago...oppps.....
juzzy123 says: Oct 25, 2010. 3:43 PM
what is that piece of metal ?
-Leif- says: Oct 25, 2010. 12:55 PM
that's a really nice trick =) tested with my table and works for me but i used a screwdriver instead of tension wrench
robin9hood9 says: Aug 19, 2010. 3:01 PM
Huh, what if you made a bump key doing this.. it'll fit any lock, but you'll also need something stronger than plastic. double layers?
mastermine says: Jun 25, 2010. 1:01 PM
thats fantastic ... congrats =)
schwabie says: Jun 23, 2010. 7:40 PM
its easier to copy the key on a copy machine.
DarcSystems says: Apr 8, 2010. 10:14 AM
Nice tutorial, but a duplicate key is cheaper than a bottle of soda. :))
wrenawild says: May 23, 2010. 3:04 AM
I think this is kind of a recycling thing. Not having to buy a new key and use the materials and energy to create a new one. And if you can't figure out where to get an empty plastic bottle for free, you shouldn't be using this website. Or sharp scissors.
TR Young says: May 20, 2010. 7:09 AM
 fantastic instructable!
ch5 says: May 19, 2010. 11:25 AM
Nice one!
I had made a few similar spare keys for old padlocks out of old phone/credit /student cards, but the litte tension wrench thingie is a really nice addition to this .
Mommy4 says: Mar 20, 2010. 10:41 PM
 WOW!!! I am impressed
Onkei says: Jan 18, 2010. 12:44 AM
Couldn't you just glue more plastic to the first piece to make it stronger? At least doubled would be more strength.
1up says: Jan 16, 2010. 1:52 PM
Instead of the paper step (seconds 30-55) why not just trace the key onto the bottle with a small pen? ;)
deenakay says: Jan 16, 2010. 1:27 PM
LOL total MacGyver. Or MacGruber (SNL). I'd only worry about kids getting out of hand and screwing up my locks. ;-) Couldn't that same thing be done with a more sturdy/harder material than a pop bottle? Maybe a large spice bottle, that type of plastic is a little thicker. I'm eyeballing a bottle of seasoning salt that's almost empty....... and my wonderful kitchen knives and scissors. :-)
CaptainGroovy says: Jan 11, 2010. 2:57 PM

A plastic key even made from a soda bottle will open a lock as long as you have a strong enough TENSION WRENCH or LOCK TURNER.  The 'teeth" of a key only have to move PINS or TUMBLERS in line so that the lock cylnider can then be turned.  If your plastic is stiff enough it can act as a turner and 'emergency' Wallet Key are avalibile at most locksmith shops.  Note that if you go to to the website that is mentioned for a TENSION WRENCH it sells plastic keys and describes how to cut them with a hobby knife  http://www.avoidlockedout.com.
The author just did a demonstration of the information avalibile at the web site.
A TENSION WRENCH can be made with a L shaped allen wrench and a file or a piece of thin flat spring steel

potatoluver5 says: Dec 31, 2009. 4:13 PM
thats just gunna get stuck in the lock, its a lot easier to just pay 10 cents for a spare at walmart
sharkilepsy says: Jan 3, 2010. 11:50 AM
 i'd really like to see a receipt for this alleged $.10 key copy. they are at least a dollar most places these days, usually more.
Zetheros says: Jan 10, 2010. 2:11 AM
Yes, I was also wondering how a key copy could ever cost $.10. Even a nickel doesn't have as much metal than in a key copy, in addition to the energy used to manufacture a copy.
Macka says: Jan 3, 2010. 6:02 PM
Yeah, in Aus, a (bad) blank key for $1 is a good price, then expect to pay ~$10 for the actual cutting, if not more.
drumstyx says: Jan 4, 2010. 8:36 AM
 Wow, that's insanely expensive, it's maybe 3-4 bucks including cutting in Canada.
cyrax037 says: Nov 3, 2012. 12:30 PM
WOW, here in the USA, last time I went to go make copies of the bathroom keys at my work, I got 3 keys made, and it was only like, $2.50.
Macka says: Jan 4, 2010. 4:04 PM
most things are.

Video games that sell in the US for $40 sell for $110 in Aus.

Programmable chips (MCUs) sell for $2.60 - $4 in the US and $15 in Aus.
uk_060 says: Jan 5, 2010. 12:34 PM
 I K.S.A i pay $1.3 a key cutting any key except those need programing.
And I purchase XBOX 360 Games for $4.05 anyone including recent releases
Zetheros says: Jan 10, 2010. 2:05 AM
Hmmm. The plastic seems really flimsy, I have my doubts.
Nice video though, I can clearly see what 's going on.
overlordspeedy says: Jan 5, 2010. 2:13 PM
So let me see if I got this straight...

PRICE OF KEY DUPLICATING ACROSS THE GLOBE:

Australia:  $10
Canada:   $4
Walmart:  $0.10
K.S.A.:       $1.30
fortunare's hometown:  $0.79

What I learned from all this: Get your real keys made at Walmart or fortunare's. Don't buy keys in Australia. Zaphod Beeblebrox likes pudding (or just likes saying the word "pudding"). Xacto knives are like 5 bucks for a set of 3 (blades included). And when reading the comments section for any site, no matter what the post is on, you'll always, ALWAYS find somebody who has a problem with it.
I like the satisfaction of acquiring know-how, even if it's for something impractical or just for fun. At the very least, somebody could incorporate this into a cool spy movie!!

Sabata says: Jan 9, 2010. 12:04 PM
"And when reading the comments section for any site, no matter what the post is on, you'll always, ALWAYS find somebody who has a problem with it."

Ain't that the truth!

Back to the topic at hand, you might need to anneal street sweeper bristles before bending then into a tension wrench or they may break. Hold the bristle with pliers and heat the section to be bent with a flame (only takes a second or two with a propane torch), let it cool then do your bending. If the bristles are used they will be really cruddy, so clean/scrape/scrub/sand them thoroughly before sticking 'em into any lock you care about.
jeffxie1 (author) says: Jan 6, 2010. 8:57 AM
in Canada, it costs $1.5 for the knife((3blades included) which is similar with the Xacto knife in dollar store.
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