I think that Key-Write's heat shrink sleeves for keys [see link] are a wonderful way of identifying keys, however, they only come in red, yellow, blue, and green.

I would love to see them with pictures/patterns/sports team logos.

That way, I could have an american flag key, a tie dyed key, or a Yankees key.

I know that there do exist keys which have various pictures enameled onto them, but I've only seen them compatible with two brands of lock, schlage and kwikset. If you have any other brand of lock, you can't get a decorated key.

If there existed heat shrink decorations, they could be applied any type of key.
-- goldbb, Mar 16 2009

Key Write http://www.key-write.com/
[goldbb, Mar 16 2009]

check this out~ baked as you like! http://www.kaba-ilc...decorated_keys.aspx
[xandram, Mar 17 2009]

a good idea but baked. [see link]
-- xandram, Mar 17 2009


So the guy that breaks into you house and nicks your keys can find out; what country you live in, that you are a democrat, like cats and have an obsessive key fetish?
-- eight_nine_tortoise, Mar 17 2009


xandram, the key blanks you link to are the ones the author rejects in the idea's penultimate paragraph.
-- jutta, Mar 17 2009


I'm sure it should be possible to print a pattern on the heat-shrink plastic. It might even be possible to make the plastic in coloured stripes. You just have to put up with a bit of distortion though, when the sleeve gets shrunk. This is probably okay for a flag (makes it look as if it's flying) but you wouldn't want a picture of your boyfriend on there.

The ink would need to be shrinkable too though. It might be best to print the pattern in dots, to help.
-- VaquitaTim, Mar 18 2009


[jutta] he stated 'heat shrinked sleeves' --the link has keys pressed with decorated metal. There are even Team keys liked he wished for!!!
-- xandram, Mar 18 2009


Yes. Read the idea's second-to-last paragraph.
-- jutta, Mar 18 2009


yes, but the link shows more than those 2 brands. sorry if I'm missing something...
-- xandram, Mar 18 2009


The decorated keys produces by ilco are all of the KW1 blank, the SC1 blank, and the WR5 blank. No other decorated key blanks are available.

These three types of blank cover about 90% of front door locks. What if you are one of the 10% of people whose front door uses a different type of key blank?

Also, those three keyblanks are *only* front door keys. What if you want a decorated car key? Or a decorated padlock key? Or a decorated cabinet or mailbox lock key?

If you've ever been to a locksmith, and looked on the rack full of different keyblanks, you know that there are lots, lots, more types than just 3.

For that matter, what if you've actually *got* a Schlage door lock (which takes an SC1 blank), and you want a New York Yankees key, and all they have left in stock are KW1 Yankee blanks? It would feel as if you were being discriminated against.

On the other hand, if the decorations were heat shrink sleeves, then if they had any Yankees decorations in stock, it wouldn't matter what kind of key you had, you could buy one and put it on your key.
-- goldbb, Mar 18 2009



random, halfbakery