C2 Keys

[Patrick S.]

At a recent chapter judging event, the judge asked to look at my keys and said that the numbers in the knock-out (which is still in the key) should have black paint in them. Has anyone ever heard of this before? Thank you ahead of time for your answers (Pete - if you are out there I'm sure you will have the answer!).

[Jimmy G.]

Re: C2 Keys

The judge was incorrect. Some key restorers paint them to enhance the numbers so they are easy to read.

[Peter L.]

Re: C2 Keys

Pat - Jimmy's reply is "on the money." I'm always curious as to where some of these "new" judging items come from. Anyway, I hope he gave you full credit and he learned something about KEY NUMBERs stamped in the KNOCK OUTs. NO PAINT

Pete

[Wayne M.]

Re: C2 Keys

..... Some key restorers paint them to enhance the numbers so they are easy to read.

Jimmy -- I checked two originals from a '66 I owned for about 5 months back in 1969. They sure looked painted (ie. uniformly black in the stamping), but I got out some soap and a toothbrush and they came up clean . [Pic of pre-brushing below]

Had never heard of the painting thing.

[Peter L.]

Re: C2 Keys

Wayne (Mr. Key Clean) Midkiff - Thanks for checking out your old keys and cleaning them because it certainly is the case with the stampings on keys that have been used that the stamped numbers stand out and as suspected it's good old dirt in the stampings. You're going to have everyone out there cleaning their stamped keys.

This is a great hobby. Pete