Anyone know of any resources for key making ideas, plans, materials, etc… Thanks
I’m having the same problem. David Daye had written something on replacement keys from brass sheeting that are twisted once in the middle for the pin to go through then twisted back again to lie flat. Every time I tried this the brass cracked if it was too thick and tore if it was too thin.
Check out Mike Nelson’s page. While technically about Northumbrian small pipes, it has a useful discussion of keymaking.
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5701/smallpipes/keys.htm#top
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Thanks Kevin
Did you make sure you were using Best Brass. The other kinds of brass aren’t suitable for keymaking because they can tear when you are flattening them due to the high zinc content. Best brass is a more maleable brass that you heat to red hot the pund away. Hope that helps.
-Mike