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(Topic ID: 82615)

Where do you keep all your pinball keys?

By Buckman

10 years ago

Topic Heartbeat

Topic Stats

74 posts
59 Pinsiders participating
Latest reply 10 years ago by Mojosan
Topic is favorited by 1 Pinsider

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There are 74 posts in this topic. You are on page 1 of 2.

#1 10 years ago

SLB

Buckman

Pinside+ Frequent

Vancouver, BC

11y 77,400 1,074 9 7

Just recently picked up a new machine and hammered up two more nails for the keys to it and wondered what other Pinsiders do with their keys. For me I've got them all lined up and the keys on the right are for the backboxes and the left are for the coin doors, makes it nice and easy if I ever need a key. Also put all my keys on the plastic key fobs.

Are you as anal as me with how you keep track of your keys? Do you just throw them all in a bowl, just leave them in the machine, put them on the plastic fobs, have a cool thing you've built to hold all your keys or do you have one giant key ring that's the ring to rule them all?

IMG_3358.JPG

#2 10 years ago

DAN

z28dan

Pinside member

Akron, OH

11y 45,800 406 29

I use these.

image.jpg

#3 10 years ago

WTM

PennSkier

Inactive member

Easton, PA

11y 43,400 386 12

I just leave them stuck in the coin door in the locked position - every one of them has a larger key ring attached (game-specific, where available).

When I visited the now-defunct National Pinball Museum in Baltimore in October 2012, I picked up a few souvenir keyrings and those are in use for the games that have no game-specific fobs available.

#4 10 years ago

???

Shoot_Again

Pinside member

Vancouver, WA

12y 83,400 8,453 2

Not in plane site but I have trust issues. In case of a break in I want them to get plenty of camera time while Fing with the locks. Unless of course they make the mistake of stealing from me when I am home.

#5 10 years ago

DEH

pingod

Pinside+ Frequent

Calgary, AB

12y 114K 3,584 7 14

Hanging from the lock

#6 10 years ago

PBP

PopBumperPete

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 103K 4,039 8

All coindoor locks are keyed to the one key

Same key opens all my games
Never have to hunt for the right key

#7 10 years ago

PMK

ek77

Frozen

10y 56k 2,012

in the door

#8 10 years ago

DER

dmklunk

Pinside+ Frequent

New Oxford, PA

11y 48,650 1,198

I have all my keys on one keyring. Yes, I often look just like that service guy at the arcade fiddling through all the keys to find the right one

#9 10 years ago

RIK

Rick432

Pinside member

Joliet, IL

11y 61,800 1,554 16

Not my idea, but read it here on the forums.

I use the 3M Command strips that have the small hooks attached. I mount them behind the right front leg. Not visible. Easily accessible. Reversible.

Totally awesome system. Very happy with it.

Link:
http://www.command.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/NACommand/Command/Products/Catalog/~/Command-Small-Wire-Hooks?N=5924736+3294772789+3294529207&rt=rud

_{Post edited by moderator: added link}

#10 10 years ago

DAN

egyptrus

Pinside+ Frequent

Muskego, WI

11y 75,150 1,637 15

I used to keep them in the locks and then we had some friends over and their young children wanted to play some pinball so I turned the games on. My son was in the mancave with them and turned all the games off when they left. The next morning, I went down there and realized that all of my keys were gone. They were no longer in the locks.

I panicked and then realized that they had taken them all out and put them in the pin-gulps that are attached to the legs. Now, if they had put them in the one that went with the game that would have been great but they didn't do that. Took me a few minutes to match them back up.

Now they hang in a lockable keyring box.

Many of my games have the same lock/key for the coin door but not all. That's probably the way to go that way you only need one key.

Dave

#11 10 years ago

DUG

trilogybeer

Pinside+ Frequent

Elkhorn, WI

11y 150K 8,895 14 2

I have all my games keyed with the same lock , so not a big deal if I lose one key . But I have one with a beer opener key chain that stays on the bar .

#12 10 years ago

CBM

spfxted

Pinside member

Saddle River, NJ

12y 147K 24,661 4 9

Quoted from PennSkier:
I just leave them stuck in the coin door in the locked position

This.

#13 10 years ago

JMD

1967Firebird

Pinside+ Frequent

Blue Springs, MO

11y 75,300 784 5

I keep them on top of the backbox they belong to.

#14 10 years ago

AAA

pintechev

Inactive member

11y 91,300 4,437

Mine are in a drawer near the machines. My toddler loves to open them up...

I used to put them on top of the back box, but they fall off during game play.

#15 10 years ago

DJR

devils4ever

Pinside member

10y 34,150 125 1

On top of the backbox.

#16 10 years ago

ZOE

85vett

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 110K 6,380 3

Quoted from PopBumperPete:
All coindoor locks are keyed to the one key
Same key opens all my games
Never have to hunt for the right key

I know this will sounds stupid but how did you do that? Can you change the tumbler settings or do you have to have a locksmith make you all new tumblers?

#17 10 years ago

UHG

retired_user_101

Blocked

12y 2,389

my `ol lady keeps them safe for me...

bra-keys.jpg

#18 10 years ago

ROK

Rock914

Rock Custom Pinball

Wayland, MI

11y 90,900 2,148 7

Until I replace the lock with a keyless I put them in the coin return.

#19 10 years ago

ROK

Rock914

Rock Custom Pinball

Wayland, MI

11y 90,900 2,148 7

Quoted from 85vett:
I know this will sounds stupid but how did you do that? Can you change the tumbler settings or do you have to have a locksmith make you all new tumblers?

Here you go bud KEYED ALIKE. http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=20

#20 10 years ago

JES

ArcadiusMaximus

Pinside member

Pittsburgh, PA

11y 61,550 1,212 4

I suggest using this http://www.harborfreight.com/20-hook-key-box-45849.html#.UxPdeYXapd8 .for the money its amazing. Very professional looking . There is also a 48 key version for those with more machines.

#21 10 years ago

TBO

Turboderf

Pinside member

Loxahatchee, FL

12y 58,900 1,337 10

I have them all keyed alike I put the old lock and key in the pin so if I sell the game I change the lock out

yes do have a key with key fob on the inside of the door

#22 10 years ago

BFP

bpull

BK Pinball

Macomb, MI

12y 67,300 660 8

Here is what I made for my keys.

IMAG0353.jpg

#23 10 years ago

GAB

WOLF

Pinside member

New Castle, PA

11y 43,650 1,602 2

You can buy them keyed alike at PBR.

#24 10 years ago

DAD

MK6PIN

Pinside+ Pro!

11y 164K 13,478 1

Quoted from z28dan:
I use these.

image.jpg 2 KB

Ditto......then put the Lockset w keys in coin box ...probably not the smartest, but pretty convenient .....

#25 10 years ago

ZOE

85vett

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 110K 6,380 3

Quoted from Rock914:
Here you go bud KEYED ALIKE. http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=20

Thanks. Ironically enough I've used those to replace a couple of my locks. I never read the full description to see they were keyed the same. Guess it helps to read. Thanks again

#26 10 years ago

SEF

practicalsteve

GoldenStatePin

El Cerrito, CA

12y 104K 7,623 5

Everyone that says they are hanging in the lock obviously does not have a small child in their home. Mine are on the inner wall of a shelf nearby the games hanging on those 3M adhesive hooks.

#27 10 years ago

BMF

hawkeye11

Pinside member

Arvada, CO

14y 70,900 1,217 16 64

#28 10 years ago

LAD

skywalker

Pinside member

Rowville Melbourne

10y 85,900 1,616 2

my kids are grown up now

keys.jpg

#29 10 years ago

LON

Lonzo

Pinside member

Bryant, AR

13y 109K 1,670 22 82

I key all mine the same.

#30 10 years ago

PBP

PopBumperPete

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 103K 4,039 8

Quoted from 85vett:
I know this will sounds stupid but how did you do that? Can you change the tumbler settings or do you have to have a locksmith make you all new tumblers?

I got mine from PBR as I like that style lock
But any decent locksmith should have them in stock

#31 10 years ago

NM

Pinside member

Usa

12y 71,150 1,649 23

Stuck right in the coin door in the event of a home break-in--to prevent the crow-baring of my machines, thereof.

#32 10 years ago

CCary

Pinside member

11y 58,600 271 53

I use the handle ones like Z28 and the rest I keyed the same so.... No issues with keys here.

#33 10 years ago

BEC

BigB

Inactive member

Dike, IA

11y 66,900 1,498 5 56

Since most locks come with two keys, I separate the two keys to make two separate key chains. Each keychain has a coin door key and a backbox key. Then I insert one key into each lock. Hard to loose them that way.

#34 10 years ago

TGB

Thunder424

Inactive member

Angola, IN

10y 24,150 294 1 67

I have mine in the door, but I'm sometimes worried my son will break it off when he's playing. Oh well...

#35 10 years ago

TAR

pinwiztom

Pinside member

Salem, OR

11y 116K 8,964 311 18

My pinball key situation is a total cluster-F**K,
with so many pins stored all over the place
some keys are in the games,
either the coin door or for the back door on EMs or BG head for SS games,
or hanging inside the CAB/coin box area.
I also have dozens and dozens of keys on various key rings or big zip lock bags or tins,
most of them not marked as to what game they go to,
so it will be a nightmare to find that correct key when i finally pull out various games from storage.
But I know i have that dang key somewhere.

#36 10 years ago

LAD

skywalker

Pinside member

Rowville Melbourne

10y 85,900 1,616 2

I guess you get that with the 317 pins

#37 10 years ago

KER

Kerry_Richard

Pinside+ Frequent

Danville, CA

12y 83,900 3,024

All mine are in the coin return of each game.

#38 10 years ago

JLH

Hougie

Pinside member

Marysville, IN

11y 103K 3,102 12 34

Quoted from PennSkier:
I just leave them stuck in the coin door in the locked position -

Did this until my son nearly split his forehead open on one.

Quoted from Rick432:
Not my idea, but read it here on the forums.
I use the 3M Command strips that have the small hooks attached. I mount them behind the right front leg. Not visible. Easily accessible. Reversible.

Now this. Much less dangerous with toddling folk in the house. Not to mention he has "runnoft" with them a couple of times. That was fun...

#39 10 years ago

ART

OLDPINGUY

Arts Arcade

12y 171K 12,507 7

Quoted from z28dan:
I use these.

image.jpg 2 KB

Where do you get these?

#40 10 years ago

LGS

Chum43

Inactive member

Nanaimo, BC

10y 51,400 334 2 10

I put mine on a ring which hooks on the backboard snap down latch. Latch locks down and they don't go anywhere and are always handy if you need them!!

#41 10 years ago

YAW

Lethal_Inc

Pinside member

Westminster, CO

11y 88,300 4,933 7 34

I put mine on top of the back box of each game.

#42 10 years ago

SLB

Buckman

Pinside+ Frequent

Vancouver, BC

11y 77,400 1,074 9 7

Quoted from pinwiztom:
My pinball key situation is a total cluster-F**K,
with so many pins stored all over the place
some keys are in the games,
either the coin door or for the back door on EMs or BG head for SS games,
or hanging inside the CAB/coin box area.
I also have dozens and dozens of keys on various key rings or big zip lock bags or tins,
most of them not marked as to what game they go to,
so it will be a nightmare to find that correct key when i finally pull out various games from storage.
But I know i have that dang key somewhere.

With 318 machines I'd say it would be pretty easy to misplace a machine or two, let alone some keys to them! I can see how things might go when you're looking for a set of keys "Now where on Earth did I put those keys for AFM...no better yet, where on Earth did I put that AFM?"

#43 10 years ago

ROK

Rock914

Rock Custom Pinball

Wayland, MI

11y 90,900 2,148 7

Quoted from OLDPINGUY:
Where do you get these?

Here Art http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=2782

#44 10 years ago

LON

Lonzo

Pinside member

Bryant, AR

13y 109K 1,670 22 82

Quoted from z28dan:
I use these.

image.jpg 2 KB

I use these when I am restoring a game and then replace it with a lock when the game is finished.

#45 10 years ago

MJS

schudel5

Pinside member

20y 166K 6,398 27

I picked up 40 locks all keyed alike about 10 years ago. New game comes in and the lock gets changed. The old goes in a pile to use for parts, games that are sold or EM backbox locks if missing.

Only need 1 key to get into any game.

#46 10 years ago

JRK

jrivelli

TrueColor Protectors

Milwaukie, OR

11y 89,650 4,625 10 20

Quoted from z28dan:
I use these.

image.jpg 2 KB

Agreed. No coinbox to steal

#47 10 years ago

DAN

z28dan

Pinside member

Akron, OH

11y 45,800 406 29

try this link from pinball life.
http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=2782

#48 10 years ago

DAN

z28dan

Pinside member

Akron, OH

11y 45,800 406 29

I used to have 50 locks keyed alike for my games. I have been buying and selling pins, bowlers,arcades and jukeboxes for the past 15 years or so. I would end up installing one here and there for customers or left one in because I didn't have a different lock to replace. only have 15 or so left.
key in the locks worked for a while until body nudging by guests or bumping against them with their butt broke them off.
I now prefer the handle, no real reason at my house to lock them.

#49 10 years ago

DJP

Chitownpinball

Pinside member

Aurora, IL

11y 102K 7,314 5

All my machines are keyed the same...why would you do it any other way? I have one key on my car keys, one key stashed in a spot in the gameroom, and one key in a safe.

#50 10 years ago

SDM

EMsInKC

Pinside member

Kansas City, MO

10y 79,550 4,023 22

I used to leave them in the locks, but enough scraped knees later, I took them out and put them in a drawer. They're all marked with the name of the game, most of them are keyed alike anyway.

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