Discussion
When I bought my F355 nearly 7 years ago it came with just one key and then 2 fobs. This always bugged me as not having a spare key can be a worry. Anyway, one of the fobs started going faulty and so as a precaution I bought a new set of 3 fobs (1x master 2x slave) and then set about getting another key.
The F355 key is a very simple affair but with a nice plastic top to it, the key itself is actually just some old key you can get for a Fiat. The problem was, the Ferrari key was £399 (for the addition of a bit of plastic)! I therefore opted for the bare metal basic key from a local key cutter for £8.50. Naturally the look of this thing was wrong when being used on a Ferrari.
Cue the use of some latex, some liquid plastic and a few hours. Using some latex rubber moulding solution on the old key I managed to make a mould, then using some black plastic solution, I filed the top of the new key down to the right size and then injected plastic into the mould and let it set. I was quite chuffed with the end results:
Fresh out of the mould:
The back: faint line left by the mould but I can live with that.
A little bit of silver paint added to the Prancing Horse:
The F355 key is a very simple affair but with a nice plastic top to it, the key itself is actually just some old key you can get for a Fiat. The problem was, the Ferrari key was £399 (for the addition of a bit of plastic)! I therefore opted for the bare metal basic key from a local key cutter for £8.50. Naturally the look of this thing was wrong when being used on a Ferrari.
Cue the use of some latex, some liquid plastic and a few hours. Using some latex rubber moulding solution on the old key I managed to make a mould, then using some black plastic solution, I filed the top of the new key down to the right size and then injected plastic into the mould and let it set. I was quite chuffed with the end results:
Fresh out of the mould:
The back: faint line left by the mould but I can live with that.
A little bit of silver paint added to the Prancing Horse:
Edited by Jonty355 on Thursday 19th June 05:31
The plastic I've used us supposed to be quite durable, not sure that used in 3D printing is as strong? Not to mention there would be the issue of printing it onto the key itself? Would imagine it to be quite costly too considering there not being many machines about.
Now I have the mould I can now use it to make extra keys for the 308 and Mondial too. It appears most Ferraris only ever come with one key!
Now I have the mould I can now use it to make extra keys for the 308 and Mondial too. It appears most Ferraris only ever come with one key!
tb1880 said:
Very clever, well done sir. Did you use that Sugru stuff or something else.
No was just some stuff I found on ebay. £11 for the latex stuff to make the mould (and plenty of it so can make a more) and about £8 for the plastic. Probably enough to make about 6 or 7 keys I reckon.Gassing Station | Supercar General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff