Twenty Years Ago
An article featuring LanTurn products introduced readers to a line of plastic covers for padlocks to avoid mariing adjoining surfaces. Locksmith Mike Ferrill suggested carrying rekeyable padlocks in your van for quick sales on the job. Gale Johnson reported on a line of unique Cisa padlocks. Jerry Levine reviewed available products for electronic access control. Writer Jeff Trepanier showed how to quickly fit keys to a Ford F150 truck. Jerry Levine listed all GM vehicles equipped with transponders for the 2000 model year. Car-opening instructions were included for the Cadillac Escalade. Locksmith Ledger visited the newly refurbished Strattec Distribution Warehouse in Milwaukee. Gale Johnson visited the Van Lock Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Charles Curry , Jr. offered suggestions for increasing your sales success. Adam Weinraub, Pro-Lok, dispelled rumors about being killed by a side airbag while opening a locked vehicle. Wade Landrum reviewed a new slamcam accessory for BiLock cam locks. Charles Stephenson continued his series on Combination Lock Servicing. Milt Wolferseder reported on Sentry in-floor Safes.
Ten Years Ago
Gale Johnson reported on the changes by vehicle manufacturers towards remotes and away from metal keys. Jerry Levine reviewed the Bianchi Decryptor programmer. Gale Johnson discovered a new key system on 2008+ Kawasaki Ninjas. Jerry Levine outlined the step for installing a Detex A019 low energy door operator. Jerry Levine reviewed the Arrow Revolution electronic lockset. Tim O'Leary offered advice on choosing the correct power supply for the job. Tim O'Leary also tested the Gemini Bioreader Keypad by Napco. Chris Clark, Ingersoll Rand, showed readers some servicing tips for Schlage lock cylinders. Jerry Levine reviewed the vast line of lock products available from FJM Security. A survey of 2009 national Average Prices was printed.
HPC1200PCH Rehab
We recently purchased a time-worn HPC 1200PCH punch machine on the internet. There are 104 cards available for this machine but most are for long-gone vehicles. HPC decided to hold double-sided keys by the thin part of the key and not at the normal bottom of the vise jaw. Each card then uses special depths making micrometer cards almost useless.
A "T" shaped shim was developed which is designed to firmly retain all double-sided keys against the bottom of the vise jaw and at a right angle to the jaw so original depths can be used. An existing slot in the bottom jaw is used to retain the shim. The shim can easily be removed for cutting single-sided keys. This increases usage of the 1200PC for originating many present RV, furniture, tool box locks and others not covered by the old set of 104 cards.
IN addition, an aluminum plate was made to enclose the triangular bottom of the machine. The compartment is used to hold the micrometer cards, KW1 and SC1 cards for quick access. With the emergence of 3D printers, we have acquired a 3D scanner and printer so the shims may eventually be made in quantity.
