Onwards?

June 15, 2010 9:49 PM

Looking for a simple yale key with no writing on it, and can't find one anywhere.

This is embarassingly nerdy, but I'm just going to go for it: I want a replica TARDIS key, of the new variety. It's just a simple silver yale key, but completely unlabled, and I can't find them anywhere. Any suggestions for keywords or the like that I could use to track this down?

posted by you're a kitty! to Shopping (12 answers total)

You could ask your local hardware store.
posted by Term of Art at 10:00 PM on June 15, 2010

I'm guessing the term you are looking for is "key blank". Ebay?

Local hardware is good too; our local Ace cuts keys so they should have all sorts of blanks.
posted by Famous at 10:14 PM on June 15, 2010

Most of the hardware store blanks blanks are going to have some printing on them somewhere. But, it may be printed in teeny-tiny letters along the shank of the key.

Be prepared for a bit of suspicion for buying a blank. They're popular places to start for several types of lockpicking tools. No reason they can't sell you one, but they might ask why you want it.
posted by Netzapper at 10:25 PM on June 15, 2010

A key blank wouldn't have any notches in it. You'd probably be able to get one for free from a hardware store or locksmith, since they do make errors when grinding keys, even on newer automatic machines. That's assuming they don't pitch error keys straight into the trash, though.
posted by zsazsa at 10:27 PM on June 15, 2010

I think it will be hard to find a key without the key manufacturer's name on it. You could possibly buff it off with a Dremel?
posted by desuetude at 10:39 PM on June 15, 2010

I think you guys are missing the point -- every blank I've ever seen from a hardware store has something stamped on it like a brand name or number which is not what the OP wants.

If you really want that completely smooth look you might have to lap/sand it down yourself. With a flat surface and a progression of grits it should be doable by hand in a reasonable amount of time I'd think. The hardest part would be finding a good way to grip it. I suppose you could try holding it in a vice on edge.
posted by Rhomboid at 10:43 PM on June 15, 2010

Does this help?
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:53 PM on June 15, 2010

THis page suggests that he smoothed out the writing himself.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:55 PM on June 15, 2010

The technique that might be useful (if also possibly take forever) is called "lapping". Something like the following, perhaps? http://www.devhardware.com/c/a/PC-Cooling/Heat-Sink-Lapping/

That said, I have no idea how long it would take, so if there's a source for un-stamped key blanks, that would obviously be preferable.
posted by Kyol at 10:59 PM on June 15, 2010

I'm not sure how well I reverse engineered the shape, but I took a shot.
posted by artlung at 11:04 PM on June 15, 2010

If you want to try an lap a key down to remove the writing, you need a piece of glass, some wet/dry sand paper and some spray adhesive. Tape up the edges of the glass (sharp) and then glue a piece of, oh, 400 grit paper to it. Moisten it, and then give both sides of the key a number of passes until the writing just disappears. Then move up through lighter and lighter grads of sandpaper until you get a finish on your key that you like.

I've but edges on blades that you could shave with this way, and finishes on the backs of said blades such that they would be useful as a mirror for said shaving. And then I made sawdust.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 4:57 AM on June 16, 2010

A TARDIS key sounds like a very useful item to have!

Here's a link to the RPF, a replica prop site where they're discussing the key in a fair amount of detail. It sounds like the 10th doctor had several different keys (Yale and ERA), but on most of them, you'll have to grind off the engraving.

Then, if you want to get really into it, you can weather the key, too.

Good luck!
posted by mattybonez at 7:47 AM on June 16, 2010 [1 favorite]