Free 186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook:  
Get tool plans

User Tag List

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 20

Thread: Tactile key identifier

  1. #1
    Supporting Member mklotz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    LA, CA, USA
    Posts
    3,515
    Thanks
    362
    Thanked 6,546 Times in 2,156 Posts

    mklotz's Tools

    Tactile key identifier

    My front and back door keys are mechanically identical (except for the pin lifters) so they were impossible to tell apart by feel. My solution was to drill a small hole in the body of one key and Loctite in a miniature rivet. Now I can locate the correct key without looking at them.

    The rivet is placed such that, if under the thumb on my dominant hand, the key is properly oriented to enter the lock.


    Obviously, the concept can be extended to multiple identical keys by using multiple rivets or rivets arranged in tactile-detectable patterns.

    186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook
    Last edited by mklotz; Apr 18, 2018 at 08:59 AM.
    ---
    Regards, Marv

    Experience is always far worse than pessimism

  2. The Following 20 Users Say Thank You to mklotz For This Useful Post:

    Andyt (Apr 7, 2022), baja (Nov 26, 2020), Beserkleyboy (Dec 7, 2018), bobs409 (May 2, 2018), Bullet500 (Apr 6, 2022), Charron63 (Nov 30, 2017), DIYer (Jan 26, 2016), extropic (Nov 18, 2017), garage nut (Nov 18, 2017), Jon (Jan 24, 2016), kbalch (Jan 24, 2016), mccwho (Apr 7, 2022), Miloslav (Dec 6, 2018), Paul Jones (Jan 24, 2016), PJs (Jan 26, 2016), Priemsy (Nov 25, 2020), rgsparber (Nov 18, 2017), rlm98253 (Nov 18, 2017), swedishchopper (Aug 9, 2018), verticalmurph (Apr 8, 2022)

  3. #2
    Content Editor
    Supporting Member
    DIYer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    3,055
    Thanks
    791
    Thanked 1,880 Times in 1,677 Posts
    Thanks mklotz! We've added your Tactile Key Identifier to our Miscellaneous category, as well as to your builder page: mklotz's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:


    2,000+ Tool Plans

  4. #3
    earz's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    21
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 89 Times in 12 Posts

    earz's Tools
    Great idea!! I may have to do this for a couple of my keys.

  5. #4
    Supporting Member desbromilow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    798
    Thanks
    526
    Thanked 362 Times in 207 Posts

    desbromilow's Tools
    my key system(8 keys control my property) is that the front security door has notches filed in the perimeter of the "handle", the key to the next door in follows that key. The fence gate key is an odd size, so that starts the sequence at the other end of the layer of keys. - this means that the 8 keys have a sequence based on where you enter the property, and all you need to do is use the notch if you start at the front door, or small key (no notch) if you enter from the perimeter.

  6. #5
    Supporting Member tonyfoale's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Spain
    Posts
    1,595
    Thanks
    713
    Thanked 2,688 Times in 719 Posts

    tonyfoale's Tools
    I file different profiles on them. Here are two examples.

    Tactile key identifier-img_0192.jpg

  7. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to tonyfoale For This Useful Post:

    Andyt (Apr 7, 2022), bobs409 (May 2, 2018), Jon (Nov 19, 2017), mccwho (Apr 7, 2022)

  8. #6
    Supporting Member olderdan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Posts
    793
    Thanks
    1,463
    Thanked 1,583 Times in 470 Posts

    olderdan's Tools
    The tactile approach to keys really works and it seems a lot of us are using it.
    My beat up old Citroen has a key for door entry and a different one for ignition so I drilled a large hole in one of them though the plastic.
    My house key has a hole drilled at 3 o'clock so it hangs at an angle out of the bunch.
    I am probably being paranoid but I wonder if posting photos of your house keys on the web would affect a claim on your insurance, lets hope nobody has to find out.

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to olderdan For This Useful Post:

    Paul Jones (Nov 20, 2017)

  10. #7
    Supporting Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Hinchinbrook QLD
    Posts
    323
    Thanks
    44
    Thanked 138 Times in 84 Posts
    I just get my locks keyed alike....

  11. #8
    Supporting Member mklotz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    LA, CA, USA
    Posts
    3,515
    Thanks
    362
    Thanked 6,546 Times in 2,156 Posts

    mklotz's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by 12bolts View Post
    I just get my locks keyed alike....
    The problem with that is that, should you lose a key, you need to rekey a lot of locks instead of just one. I rekey my front door every time my wife changes housekeepers which makes it less expensive than having it done professionally. Nevertheless, it's a PIA.
    ---
    Regards, Marv

    Experience is always far worse than pessimism

  12. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to mklotz For This Useful Post:

    Andyt (Apr 7, 2022), Paul Jones (Nov 20, 2017)

  13. #9
    Supporting Member tonyfoale's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Spain
    Posts
    1,595
    Thanks
    713
    Thanked 2,688 Times in 719 Posts

    tonyfoale's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by olderdan View Post
    I am probably being paranoid but I wonder if posting photos of your house keys on the web would affect a claim on your insurance, lets hope nobody has to find out.
    Good point Alan. The keys in my post were to garden sheds with nothing of significant value in them.

  14. #10
    Supporting Member ncollar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Posts
    354
    Thanks
    23
    Thanked 181 Times in 126 Posts
    Marv
    Love the bearing set in the key. I have done thing like Tony cutting edges and slots on side but never a ball bearing.
    I like it, way to go.
    Nelson

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •