Can You Make A Key From An Imprint?
Jim West
You could but if you have the equipment to due it, then making an imprint of
the key would be a waste of time. Not to mention taking a chance on getting
caught. If you tell your sup. your theory you'll probably just look like an
@$$.
I've seen people try making molds with everything from wax to fix-all, but
no one completes the process. Know one guy didn't want to pay $15 for a
Medeco key so he made a mold, then filled it with melted solder. His home
made key disintegrated in the cylinder, so he thought he'd just melt it back
down. Did I mention it was a mortise lock ? Well by the time he paid for
all the repairs, lets just say $15 wasn't anything.......
bedi...@my-dejanews.com wrote in message
<7d1or7$h1v$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
>I was wondering I work for a fairly good sized software company. We have
>some sensitive offices but I was thinking the other day when I borrowed my
>supervisors master key can you make a copy of a key from a simple imprint?
>The reason I ask is there was a kind of film on the key it was proably
>nothing but maybe not. Is it fesable to make a copy of a key using a wax
>imprint and some kind of poored metal. If so can someone give me details on
>where to look for information on the easy of making such a key. You all
>could help me win some real bonus points with the boss if I point out the
>apparent lack of security and can come up with a way to combat it.
>
>-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
>http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
Joseph Kesselman, yclept Keshlam
enough copy it will work. The problem is making that copy. The old
wax-or-clay-impression gag worked a lot better when keys and locks were
less precise.
If you're concerned about it, take it up with your site security folks.
They're the ones who will have to decide how real the threat is and
hence what, if anything, should be done about it. If they need help
deciding, expert advice is available from the yellow pages.
(In my experience with corporate America pointing out _serious_ holes in
security, of the "we should have seen that!" type, does indeed gain you
some credit, but pointing out stuff they don't consider worth dealing
with may mark you as a time-waster or meddler. This one is unlikely to
win you any bonus points, unless you have unusually strong evidence that
someone is actually attempting it. The film on your manager's key is
much, Much, MUCH!!! more likely to be nothing but lubricant or just
plain accumulated crud.)
If you're REALLY concerned about someone illicitly duplicating the key
-- and there are more likely attacks -- the ultimate solution is to go
away from mechanical keys entirely and switch to an electronic, or mixed
electronic and mechanical, system. A challenge-and-response chip is
going to be essentially impossible to duplicate at any reasonable level
of effort; at that point you generally stop worrying about the locks and
start worrying about the strength of the doors and walls.
------------------------------------------------------
Joe Kesselman, http://www.lovesong.com/people/keshlam/
March 13th at Walkabout Clearwater: TOM CHAPIN!
http://www.lovesong.com/walkabout/coffeehouse.html
bedi...@my-dejanews.com
LEEDOBBS
The answere is yes, the question is why go to all the trouble. If you can see
the key you can decode it and cut one.
Everett
Santa Barbara, Calif
http://www.leedobbs.com
JB
>can you make a copy of a key from a simple imprint?
A locksmith can make a duplicate of a key by looking at an imprint or
by measuring the imprint. Better yet, you can put the key on a copy
machine, make a copy, and a locksmith can make a duplicate by using
that. I know of an instance where a man lost his car key while out of
town. His wife made a copy on a copy machine and faxed it to a
locksmith who made a duplicate that worked.
JB
LockSmith
Grow up.
bedi...@my-dejanews.com wrote:
> I was wondering I work for a fairly good sized software company. We have
> some sensitive offices but I was thinking the other day when I borrowed my
> supervisors master key can you make a copy of a key from a simple imprint?
Robinson
time and money? buy the book. Also do a web search with:
"007",
"Bond... Jems Bond",
"Spy",
"Anarchist",
etc and you will find a couple of anarchist sites selling a "Key casting
kit". Give them your money and you will be an instant expert. Not!
The idea is ludicrous except for a blank that "cannot" be bought or made.
So what do you intend to use for a "poored" metal? And the mold? How do you
allow for shrinkage/expansion? the file is mightier than the mold. Also, I
suspect that showing your boss you know how to break into his secure space
will give you more black marks than brownie points. Don't bother.
---------------------------------------------------
-Robinson- (AB5VH)
San Benito, Texas
a nice little town on the beautiful Lower Rio Grande Valley
By the Border, By the Sea
for radio, maritime, and locks/locksmithing stuff go to
http://www.geocities.com/~robinsonab5vh/
See the Crusoe Quintuplets!!!!
dit diddy dit dit
---------------------------------------------------
bedi...@my-dejanews.com wrote in message
<7d1or7$h1v$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
asnow
> that will make a copy of a key by this "impression" method. I do not know how
> strong this copy of the key is, but the ad claims that it is an exact copy and
> that it will do high security keys such as medeco.
Of course if the lock that your boss keeps this sensitive material behind is
your basic schlage, arrow or similar lock it would be a simple matter to copy
his key. This would of course mean leaving the office with the key and having a
copy made. If you want to score some brownie points you might suggest the use of
a restricted key blank (either medeco patriot, keymark, or site reader) there
are a few options you could choose, I recomend medeco because that is what I
work with, perhaps some other readers could offer some other brands (assa,
abloy, dom...etc).
Terrance F. Martin
an independent assement, they could always send me one.
As I understand it, we are not talking about "impressioning" in the
context that any locksmith would understand it. This is similar to "key
casting", a throw-back to simpler times, but no less effective for
surreptitious key origination.
Short of electronics, there is no way to prevent reproduction of a key,
and the electronics are only a different field of expertise to
reproduce. I "broke" the PATS I system in under thirty minutes, and I
consider that other, more malevolent interests can do the same. It takes
about the same amount of time to rip off the PATS I equipped vehicle, as
it does one without it. Same with VATS.
If it is accepted that there is no secure system, individuals involved
in selling security will not only avoid selling the client short, but
the demand will propel the industry on & up, as it always has.
--
Terry Martin Fraudulent Auto Claim Technical Services (FACTS)
Tel/Fax: 1-604-856-5347 http://mindlink.net/terry_martin/
Mike Hogan
out security lapses, you could tell your boss not give out
the master key to just anyone that asks for it - like you.
Keeping a key in your pocket is very effective against
unauthorized duping.
MHO
Mike
Peter
>
>If it's strictly a mechanical key, then if you can make an accurate
>enough copy it will work. The problem is making that copy. The old
>wax-or-clay-impression gag worked a lot better when keys and locks were
>less precise.
>
It should be possible to take an impression of most modern keys provided a
suitable high grade impressioning material is used. I am thinking of the
stuff dentists use when taking an impression of a dressed tooth stump to have
a crown made. A disadvantage is that the material needs to be mixed up
immediately before hand and the key left in it for several minutes while the
chemicals 'cross link'. Angled cut keys such as Medeco could be difficult to
remove without damaging the impression.
Peter
joe
paul k. crl.
Peter <pmi...@the.net.nz> wrote in message
news:7d6at5$o38$1...@reader1.reader.news.ozemail.net...
Toronto Lock
joe wrote in message <7dhhf2$2fe$1...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net>...
I have made keys from the foil found in cigarette packs. A customer came up
to the counter with a foil and pencil trace of a Weiser. I sighted it and
code cut it. Worked fine. Be careful of who you do if for though.
Robinson
foil key kept bending when I tried to turn it in the lock" posts.
---------------------------------------------------
-Robinson- (AB5VH)
San Benito, Texas
a nice little town on the beautiful Lower Rio Grande Valley
By the Border, By the Sea
for radio, maritime, and locks/locksmithing stuff go to
http://www.geocities.com/~robinsonab5vh/
See the Crusoe Quintuplets!!!!
dit diddy dit dit
---------------------------------------------------
Toronto Lock wrote in message <92281438...@news.remarQ.com>...
>
>joe wrote in message <7dhhf2$2fe$1...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net>...
>
>I have made keys from the foil found in cigarette packs. A customer came
up
>to the counter with a foil and pencil trace of a Weiser. I sighted it and
>code cut it. Worked fine. Be careful of who you do if for though.
>
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