Setting Up Your Keyboard - Foley Belsaw 200 Adjustment & Operation Instructions

sEttINg Up YOUr KEY BOArD
Many locksmith supply companies sell a complete key board assortment in addition to locksmith supplies.
These assortments are fine for the beginner, if you are operating in the proper locality. They consist of a wide
selection of blanks, however, many of them may end up as dead stock in your particular location. In many
areas, particularly suburban communities, you will find one or two types of locks very popular. For example, in
one community, you may find many Schlage or Weiser locks and almost no Russwin or Corbin locks. Naturally,
you would want to stock more Schlage and Weiser key blanks. Over time, you will discover which locks are
most common in your community. Foley-Belsaw offers some great starter key blank sets that represent only the
fastest-moving key blanks, including Starter Key Kit #1 (G5485); House & Commercial Kit (5738990); USA
Auto Kit # 1 (5738978); Foreign Auto Kit (5736999); and a Flat Steel Kit (5736998).
Automotive locks are common throughout the country. You should maintain a complete stock of these blanks,
with the exception of some of the earlier and discontinued models. Be sure to stock blanks for makes and mod-
els with dealerships in your community.
Figure P
There are three basic methods of setting up a key board. Locksmiths have varied opinions of which one is the
best. The first system is numerical, as shown in Figure P. When setting up a board numerically, you would
insert key hangers, screws, or nails in a piece of 1/2" plywood. Space the keys evenly across and up and down.
When installing these key hangers, which are available from most locksmith supply houses, including Foley-
Belsaw, you should leave space for several keys between them so you can easily add new blanks at some later
date without having to move all the subsequent keys over a peg. To start your numbering system, begin at the
top left hand corner with the lowest number and work across to the right. You should end up with the highest
number in the lower right hand corner. The size of your key board will depend on the amount of blanks you in-
tend to stock. Generally a board 3 feet by 4 feet is adequate. This is a simple method preferred by many begin-
ning Locksmiths.
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