The Sun claims Madeleine McCann was kidnapped during a botched burglary.

[Alice Purjorick]

That does seem to be a theme among some mccann supporters.

Four options:
1. Make a key from a key you have nicked, using metal you have lying about, melted in a portable furnace and cast in a sand mould you have just cobbled up from kiln sand you just happen to have lying about. Two minor snags. Power source for the furnace and heating the sand mould up to kin hot so you don't blast hot metal every where when pouring into a cold wet mould.
2. Cut a key from a key you have nicked using your own key cutter. 1 snag power source.
3. Have a key cut at "Timsons" from a key you have nicked.
4.My favourite. Nick the key, stick it in the lock and turn it thus avoiding all the other faffing about.

I suppose you could use the greasy chin and baccy tin full of Plasticine trick a la James Fox aka The Jackal right in front of the receptionist otherwise its back to from a key you have nicked

[ShiningInLuz]

Four options:
1. Make a key from a key you have nicked, using metal you have lying about, melted in a portable furnace and cast in a sand mould you have just cobbled up from kiln sand you just happen to have lying about. Two minor snags. Power source for the furnace and heating the sand mould up to kin hot so you don't blast hot metal every where when pouring into a cold wet mould.
2. Cut a key from a key you have nicked using your own key cutter. 1 snag power source.
3. Have a key cut at "Timsons" from a key you have nicked.
4.My favourite. Nick the key, stick it in the lock and turn it thus avoiding all the other faffing about.

I suppose you could use the greasy chin and baccy tin full of Plasticine trick a la James Fox aka The Jackal right in front of the receptionist otherwise its back to from a key you have nicked

Borrow a key, get it copied, return original.

[jassi]

Are we talking a skeleton key that will open numerous doors, or a key for a specific door?

[Alice Purjorick]

Borrow a key, get it copied, return original.

Are you still promoting the inside job routine?

[ShiningInLuz]

Are you still promoting the inside job routine?

Just noting that the key does not need to be stolen to be copied.

The Payne's could have nipped up to the Luz ironmonger to get copies cut rather than sticking it under the mat outside the front door.

Any one of the cleaners could have been making money on the side by passing a copy of a key or two on to petty thieves.

It does not need to be stolen.

[jassi]

Just noting that the key does not need to be stolen to be copied.

The Payne's could have nipped up to the Luz ironmonger to get copies cut rather than sticking it under the mat outside the front door.

Any one of the cleaners could have been making money on the side by passing a copy of a key or two on to petty thieves.

It does not need to be stolen.

Do you have anything to support this allegation, or is just another flight of fancy?

[faithlilly]

Do you have anything to support this allegation, or is just another flight of fancy?

Oh I think we all know the answer to that jassi.

TBH I'm not altogether sure who any of these rather ridiculous, convoluted theories serve.

[ShiningInLuz]

Do you have anything to support this allegation, or is just another flight of fancy?

It is not an allegation.

The difference between 'could' (no allegation) and 'was' (allegation) is pretty simple.

[Alice Purjorick]

Just noting that the key does not need to be stolen to be copied.

The Payne's could have nipped up to the Luz ironmonger to get copies cut rather than sticking it under the mat outside the front door.

Any one of the cleaners could have been making money on the side by passing a copy of a key or two on to petty thieves.

It does not need to be stolen.

Nor did I say it had to be stolen.
Replace "nicked" with "borrowed and returned" in my post and my basic message should remain discernible.

[jassi]

It is not an allegation.

The difference between 'could' (no allegation) and 'was' (allegation) is pretty simple.

So is it something you have made up as a 'possibility'?

[sadie]

Four options:
1. Make a key from a key you have nicked, using metal you have lying about, melted in a portable furnace and cast in a sand mould you have just cobbled up from kiln sand you just happen to have lying about. Two minor snags. Power source for the furnace and heating the sand mould up to kin hot so you don't blast hot metal every where when pouring into a cold wet mould.
2. Cut a key from a key you have nicked using your own key cutter. 1 snag power source.
3. Have a key cut at "Timsons" from a key you have nicked.
4.My favourite. Nick the key, stick it in the lock and turn it thus avoiding all the other faffing about.

I suppose you could use the greasy chin and baccy tin full of Plasticine trick a la James Fox aka The Jackal right in front of the receptionist otherwise its back to from a key you have nicked

Buy a cheapo kit from the internet.    £20 or so.

Make your own mold using foundry sand well rammed into a sturdy box.  Two halves.  You will need an inner and an outer for the metal to be poured in and to allow a little overfill.  Also a strap to hold the two halves together

Melt the low temperature metal (tin alloy?) in a pan or crucible on the cooker, until it is runny like water.  Scrape off the film on top and pour into the mold.  Gently tap the mold to get rid of bubbles ... then leave to cool.

When cool enough, tapm the mold again, open the two halves and tip out the key copy.

It will likely be a bit rough around the edges but using a file, or grinding wheel fettle the edge.


Voila a new key

Easy peasy


Thousands of youngsters and older guys have made toy soldiers etc using a very similar method

As a kid during the war, I saw my friend making dozens of soldiers, model planes etc  using this simple method.
I think he used lead, but he was only a school boy and found it very straight forward.


What ever metal is used must have a low melting point and have reasonably good tensile strength for hobby casting of a key.  It was only for using once.

There are a number of instructive videos on the internet.



It is the professional and specialist casting that needs furnaces and really high temperatures.  Now that is a different kettle of fish.  The metal then is spitting white hot flecks of metal as it is poured.  The pourers wear leather spats over their lower legs, eye protectors and thick leather gauntlets

[pegasus]

If a criminal had a key he would not open the shutter and window.
Therefore he did not have a key.

[Alice Purjorick]

Buy a cheapo kit from the internet.    £20 or so.

Make your own mold using foundry sand well rammed into a sturdy box.  Two halves.  You will need an inner and an outer for the metal to be poured in and to allow a little overfill.  Also a strap to hold the two halves together

Melt the low temperature metal (tin alloy?) in a pan or crucible on the cooker, until it is runny like water.  Scrape off the film on top and pour into the mold.  Gently tap the mold to get rid of bubbles ... then leave to cool.

When cool enough, tapm the mold again, open the two halves and tip out the key copy.

It will likely be a bit rough around the edges but using a file, or grinding wheel fettle the edge.


Voila a new key

Easy peasy


Thousands of youngsters and older guys have made toy soldiers etc using a very similar method

As a kid during the war, I saw my friend making dozens of soldiers, model planes etc  using this simple method.
I think he used lead, but he was only a school boy and found it very straight forward.


What ever metal is used must have a low melting point and have reasonably good tensile strength for hobby casting of a key.  It was only for using once.

There are a number of instructive videos on the internet.



It is the professional and specialist casting that needs furnaces and really high temperatures.  Now that is a different kettle of fish.  The metal then is spitting white hot flecks of metal as it is poured.  The pourers wear leather spats over their lower legs, eye protectors and thick leather gauntlets

Tin alloys ? aka solder. What do we know about those?. They are soft and ductile and lacking the shear strength necessary for things like keys.

[Mr Gray]

Tin alloys ? aka solder. What do we know about those?. They are soft and ductile and lacking the shear strength necessary for things like keys.

probably a more realistic idea than yours of popping into Timpsons......seeing as the nearest Timpsons is 1500 miles away

[pegasus]

Buy a cheapo kit from the internet.    £20 or so.

Make your own mold using foundry sand ... (snip)

Surely someone going to all the trouble of casting a counterfeit key from molten metal would not wish to take the lazy short cut of using existing metal. They would wish to mine and refine their own metal ores. Perhaps we should be looking for a small illicit iron-ore or tin-ore mine on the outskirts of PDL?