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

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 1Copy 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.

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150 comments

1-40 of 150

Nov 20, 2007. 10:17 PMpyro13 says:

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

Nov 21, 2007. 12:02 AMee0u30eb (author) says:

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?

Mar 28, 2008. 1:51 PMteapotking says:

"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!

Jul 17, 2011. 12:19 PMdll932 says:

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

Nov 21, 2007. 9:42 AMpyro13 says:

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!

Mar 1, 2009. 9:57 PMEaglesNestOne says:

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

Jul 17, 2011. 12:16 PMdll932 says:

Right near the Roman numeral keys.;)

Sorry, couldn't help it. :)

Dec 13, 2008. 9:19 AMlock picker557 says:

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

Jul 17, 2011. 12:15 PMdll932 says:

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.

Dec 14, 2008. 12:25 PMee0u30eb (author) says:

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.

Feb 2, 2009. 3:57 PMaesopiankitty says:

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

Feb 8, 2009. 12:21 AMnave says:

dont you mean chuck norris could?

Feb 11, 2009. 11:34 AMaesopiankitty says:

im not a conformist...

Dec 18, 2008. 11:38 AMINSTRUCTUBAL says:

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!

Mar 7, 2009. 12:26 PMHonestinwilkesbarre says:

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

Jul 3, 2011. 12:17 AMabadfart says:

my lock smith dose it for me

Mar 8, 2009. 9:34 PMINSTRUCTUBAL says:

you do it yourself. 0.o

Apr 10, 2009. 2:27 PM_soapy_ says:

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.

Apr 21, 2009. 12:19 AMsharlston says:

do u live in te uk cos i do uk rocks

Apr 26, 2009. 3:24 AM_soapy_ says:

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

Sep 24, 2010. 2:40 PMsharlston says:

we have galaxy radio

May 7, 2009. 1:58 PMgeekazoid says:

and guess wat canada rocks even more :P lol jks

Oct 18, 2009. 9:30 AMtristan993 says:

most def

Jul 24, 2009. 7:42 PMwizerd 745 says:

US rocks the most!

Feb 1, 2010. 8:56 AMnrepak says:

USA! USA! USA! lol

Feb 1, 2010. 11:42 AMwizerd 745 says:

Sep 28, 2010. 5:18 AMlwilton651 says:

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

Dec 9, 2010. 2:13 PMassassin867 says:

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

Apr 26, 2009. 7:49 AMsharlston says:

i live in west yorkshire is that the midlands?

Apr 26, 2009. 3:29 PM_soapy_ says:

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.

Apr 27, 2009. 12:12 AMsharlston says:

yes and they dont tatoo babies at birth

Apr 28, 2009. 12:38 AM_soapy_ says:

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

Apr 28, 2009. 7:32 AMsharlston says:

dont kknow about that

Apr 12, 2009. 9:56 PMINSTRUCTUBAL says:

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

Apr 26, 2009. 3:23 AM_soapy_ says:

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.