Easy Way to Copy a Key.

Intro: Easy Way to Copy a Key.

If you are like me and have a bunch of unused old keys somewhere in your home this trick could come in handy.

Today i was going to copy a key with my dremel like tool  so i put 2 keys in the vice.
It was a real pain in the vice ;) to get them to align properly, and I trimmed to much of the copied key down.

So i aligned the keys(the original on the a bit larger similar type of a key) on the table,  took a spray paint , and sprayed from the 90° angle on them.

So you need:

1.A blank key or a bit larger but similar key with the same profile type.
2.Spray paint. (You will remove it from the original while it`s still fresh.)
3.Any  fine grinding tool and a vice/vise.

STEP 1: Painting

Paint over the aligned keys (original key up) at an 90°angle.
Clean the original key, and put the copy in the vice.There`s no need for waiting on the paint to dry off.

STEP 2: Grinding

Grind the colored part down.

STEP 3: Try the Finished Key!

Comments

[JeffC104]

Just use a tin can, easier to file down take that to a locksmith and bam done

[dpina]

Where do you get the blanks?

[aristide202]

I got a big bunch of keys too. As i changed locks for some reason I kept all keys on a project of melting up the whole stuff but the idea that keys may be nickel plated (aren't they ?) kept me from puttting them all in the crucible .

[Tkdwn]

I don`t ! But thay would work to :)

[rgershey]

Hey everybody. What you're using to hold the key is a VISE. You all know what VICES are - but this is not the place to discuss those ;-)

[aristide202]

why not ? What about using a vice-vise, does anyone have one in the garage?

[meat bingo]

depends if your a 'merikan

[Tkdwn]

Well I blame the Google for translating to the non American version :P

[Hippymike96]

You know you could go to home depot and make a key in less than 3 min and for $1

[MicioGatta]

Great idea, thanks!

[slumdweller2]

if you're going to go through all that effort, why not just make a bump key ?

[Applejackson]

First thing I thought too. Now that we know who the criminals are.... haha ;)

[chamunks]

See reference Defcon13 game: Spot the fed

[curvy77]

seems easier to just cast a copy

[jack8559]

If you have a machinist's tool called a scribe, you can also scratch a line on the larger key instead of painting it making the overspray a thing of the past - no imperfections as long as you hold the scribe at the correct angle all the time. The closer that you keep the keys together the better, hence the vise like you used!

[Tim Temple]

Some used chewing gum would help keep them aligned as you put them in the vice...

[Tkdwn]

Tnx, but i`m puting only the copy in the vice from now on :)

[AbnerStinqort]

I'm not the Spelling Police, but the word you should be using is "vise." "Vice" is violation of accepted morals (to some people!)

[Beenay25]

The spelling depends if you're American or not... :P

[AbnerStinqort]

Ohhhh... like "wrench" and "spanner?" ;-)