Forget lock picking, clone/copy the key and be a spy

How to make a useable copy of a key!

You can use this to copy a cylinder lock key within minutes. Especially great if you have a key that says 'do not copy' on it. You will need:

Access to the key (for a few seconds)
A drinks can or other thin metal
Paper
Scissors
Glue
Printer
Ruler or other hard blunt edge

I have copied a master key for an entire office block doing this and it worked fine.... I have also copied a Yale lock key for a lock which I have been having trouble picking.

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Step 1: Copy the key - quick!

Get a copy of the key using either:

Scanner - easiest
Camera - you must have a scale present in the picture (ruler etc)
Photocopier
Impression in bluetak or clay, then scan it or photocopy it. I personally would try and highlight the impression with tipex or something first to ensure a good print.

Print 2 copies of it in the correct scale so that you have two 1:1 copies of the key

Now roughly cut the copies out. Don't worry about cutting each tooth properly, just leave excess paper around it all.

c3ralki1l3r says: Dec 5, 2012. 9:00 PM

how would i get a picture of a key to my first period class, its freezing out side D:

andiclara says: Oct 21, 2012. 4:24 AM

I don't know, it looks a bit fishy to me.

(Get it? Fish tin, fishy? Oh I am so pathetic)

Anyway, rather clever, might give it a try!

pyro13 says: Nov 20, 2007. 10:17 PM

i just use a clay impression and fill it with solder.

ee0u30eb (author) in reply to pyro13Nov 21, 2007. 12:02 AM

A clay impression would require both sides to be taken wouldn't it? you would then have to create the mold and somehow melt the solder into it. Whilst this may work it seems far more difficult than this method. Does it work well? Do you need a tension wrench for it?

teapotking in reply to ee0u30ebMar 28, 2008. 1:51 PM

"A clay impression would require both sides to be taken wouldn't it? you would then have to create the mold and somehow melt the solder into it. Whilst this may work it seems far more difficult than this method." true, but if you used the kind of clay that hardens in an oven, you could bake it without metal, cut it in half, fill it with solder wire and stick it together and heat it up great instructable!

dll932 in reply to teapotkingJul 17, 2011. 12:19 PM

There are metals (like Wood's metal) that melt merely in hot water, BTW. Great for prototyping, etc.

pyro13 in reply to ee0u30ebNov 21, 2007. 9:42 AM

Yes, you must have and impression of both sides, fill them both with solder, then melt them together bye giving the inside a quick run-over with a solder iron. This does not require a tension wrench as long as it is done correctly. It is a fairly brittle metal though, so don't drop it!

EaglesNestOne says: Mar 1, 2009. 9:57 PM

WHERE'S THE ANYKEY!?!?!?!?!?!?!?11! jks. Nice ible.

dll932 in reply to EaglesNestOneJul 17, 2011. 12:16 PM

Right near the Roman numeral keys.;)

Sorry, couldn't help it. :)

lock picker557 says: Dec 13, 2008. 9:19 AM

it takes you a hour to make a key while it onley takes you a couple of minutes to pick a lock .james bond didnt have the time for this and nobudy else will

dll932 in reply to lock picker557Jul 17, 2011. 12:15 PM

Picking sometimes takes a lot longer, and sometimes won't even work...that's why I carried a cordless drill and a supply of sharp bits (and no I won't tell you where to drill) when I was a locksmith. The CIA has (or had-who knows what they have now) kits to mold keys, BTW.

ee0u30eb (author) in reply to lock picker557Dec 14, 2008. 12:25 PM

LOL, James Bond also has Q. Not everyone can pick locks, I can pick most, but thats not the point in the tutorial. Many people cannot, or have not invested in a good set of picks. Yes I know you can also make a good set of picks, but if someone wants a single copy of a key that they aren't necessarily supposed to have and they can't pick locks then this works great. Once the copy is made it can be used numerous times in seconds.

aesopiankitty in reply to ee0u30ebFeb 2, 2009. 3:57 PM

sean connery could break that door with his teeth. then regurgitate a key from the remains of the lock... just for fun

nave in reply to aesopiankittyFeb 8, 2009. 12:21 AM

dont you mean chuck norris could?

aesopiankitty in reply to naveFeb 11, 2009. 11:34 AM

im not a conformist...

onrust in reply to aesopiankittyFeb 17, 2013. 1:15 PM

No! Chuck Norris would poop it.

INSTRUCTUBAL says: Dec 18, 2008. 11:38 AM

i have a better idea. go to home depot and use the key making machines which make your key in a few seconds. and it costs 3 bucks!

Honestinwilkesbarre in reply to INSTRUCTUBALMar 7, 2009. 12:26 PM

Go ahead, just try and get a key stamped "Do Not Copy", copied.

abadfart in reply to HonestinwilkesbarreJul 3, 2011. 12:17 AM

my lock smith dose it for me

INSTRUCTUBAL in reply to HonestinwilkesbarreMar 8, 2009. 9:34 PM

you do it yourself. 0.o

_soapy_ in reply to INSTRUCTUBALApr 10, 2009. 2:27 PM

Oh sure. You know what blank to use as well, eh? Anything marked as "Do not copy" isn't on an A1/YA1E/U5 blank like this key. It'll be on a restricted or patented section, often with moving parts etc and a much tighter keyway. And I doubt anywhere in the USA will let you use the key machine yourself even if you know what you are doing - lose an eye to a bit of aluminium or other swarf and you'd be sueing them for millions. Certainly in the UK they won't even let most of the staff use the key machines in the DIY stores.

sharlston in reply to _soapy_Apr 21, 2009. 12:19 AM

do u live in te uk cos i do uk rocks

_soapy_ in reply to sharlstonApr 26, 2009. 3:24 AM

Yes, I do. However, the UK rocks only a bit. The Midlands rocks most, as we have Kerrang radio.

sharlston in reply to _soapy_Sep 24, 2010. 2:40 PM

we have galaxy radio

geekazoid in reply to _soapy_May 7, 2009. 1:58 PM

and guess wat canada rocks even more :P lol jks

tristan993 in reply to geekazoidOct 18, 2009. 9:30 AM

most def

wizerd 745 in reply to geekazoidJul 24, 2009. 7:42 PM

US rocks the most!

nrepak in reply to wizerd 745Feb 1, 2010. 8:56 AM

USA! USA! USA! lol

wizerd 745 in reply to nrepakFeb 1, 2010. 11:42 AM

lwilton651 in reply to wizerd 745Sep 28, 2010. 5:18 AM

not to reply like 8 months later but...
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE, OUI OUI OUI!!!

finton in reply to lwilton651Apr 11, 2013. 1:43 PM

You are French, no? "Also, Also, Also, Yes, Yes, Yes".

assassin867 in reply to lwilton651Dec 9, 2010. 2:13 PM

But Aussie's don't get any of the fun stuff, like blood in video games, or firecrackers.

sharlston in reply to _soapy_Apr 26, 2009. 7:49 AM

i live in west yorkshire is that the midlands?

_soapy_ in reply to sharlstonApr 26, 2009. 3:29 PM

Do you get Kerrang without a digital radio? ;-p No, the Midlands is more Birmingham way. Yorkshire is definitely the North East. West Yorkshire being more westerly in it's north-east-ness, obviously. I'd say Nottingham was about as north as you can go and be Midlands. Are you anywhere near Hull? You can check for the Kingston branding - if you know what that means, you live near Hull. They tattoo the babies at birth, I hear.

sharlston in reply to _soapy_Apr 27, 2009. 12:12 AM

yes and they dont tatoo babies at birth

_soapy_ in reply to sharlstonApr 28, 2009. 12:38 AM

Just a rumour about Kingston Communications owning everything, including first born sons, in and around Hull then?

sharlston in reply to _soapy_Apr 28, 2009. 7:32 AM

dont kknow about that

INSTRUCTUBAL in reply to _soapy_Apr 12, 2009. 9:56 PM

well me and my brother made one, you just pu in a sheet of metal one end, pushed a button and a key came out the other

_soapy_ in reply to INSTRUCTUBALApr 26, 2009. 3:23 AM

There is a machine that does half of what you are talking about, called the Easy Entrie but even that is a bit more complicated than that, and it doesn't actually cut the key, either. Anyway, if you want to stop this from happening to you, there are some pretty high end locks out there. PM me if you want professional advice.