Tactile key identifier

[mklotz]

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.

[DIYer]

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:

Tactile Key Identifier by mklotz

tags: adaptation, key

[earz]

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

[desbromilow]

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.

[tonyfoale]

I file different profiles on them. Here are two examples.

[olderdan]

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.

[12bolts]

I just get my locks keyed alike....

[mklotz]

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.

[tonyfoale]

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.

[ncollar]

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