HINTS&TIPS • 73
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• If they have ‘scissored’ away slightly
now is the time to refine and adjust
to ensure perfect alignment has
been achieved and then place back
into the vice.
• Once you are happy it is time to pick
up a 4” warding file complete with
handle and begin to cut the first cut
nearest the tip remembering it only
cuts on the forward stroke.
• Start slowly and evenly keeping the
file horizontal and straight as every
cut on this type of key is a rectangle
with the cuts perpendicular and the
base a right angle.
• Complete each cut slowly before you
go onto the next and by keeping to
this habit you will hopefully never
miss out or undercut a previous cut.
• Do not file into the original key
and stop as soon as you scrape
any soot off with the file. It is very
important not to file any deeper as
you will end up altering the original
key and will then end up with the
original key not working.
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL.CO.UK | SEP/OCT 2018
• After filing all the cuts down to their
proper depths and widths remove
the pair from the vice and check
that both the tips are the exact size.
If not, the blank’s tip can now be
filed down to the same size as the
original key.
• Once this is all done the clamp can
be removed and any burrs from the
new key can be removed easily
with the file and any remaining soot
removed from the original.
Now you should have a fully working
copied key.
I do strongly suggest that you practice
this technique on an old lock and key
prior to working on a customer’s key just
to get used to the basics of blackening
and filing and then hopefully you will
gain enough confidence to carry out live
either in a workshop or in the back of
your vans.