From: jeffj@panix.com (Jeff Jonas)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: How best to manage house keys?
Date: 18 Nov 2003 21:02:06 -0500
Summary: security vs. convenience

>Certainly codes like "office" "Shed" "Sally's house" aren't going to be much
>use to anyone else, at least not unless they have unheard of persistance.
>Get a scratch awl and scratch a code letter or symbol on each key. Although,
>if you use them so infreqently that you can't remember what they're for, are
>you really sure you need them with you at _all_ times? They also sell little
>color-coded plastic thingys you stretch over each key's bow (handle) to
>identify them. Might be worth a try.

First I must agree with the above comments and observations
- don't mark them clearly enough that someone will know where to
  use them if they're lost.  Certainly no address on any tags.
  Perhaps an email address since that's harder to correlate to an address?
  Phone number is risky since that's easily matched to an address.

- marking keys is HARD.  Inks rub off quickly.  Labels rub off.
  Try Sharpies, Magic Markers all you like.  In a week it's all gone.
  Look at stuff the locksmith sells: colored holders for the keys.
  I use little luggage tags to ID my keys.
  Engraving/scratching them is hard but warranted.

I found that nail polish or enamel paint adheres well to keys
(after cleaning and polishing).
I painted my padlocks and keys with matching colors.

I bought many key fobs and use many separate keyrings for infrequently used keys.
I got accustomed to the fake onion ring being the storage room keys, etc.

I have some metal tags with "mail if found" and a serial number,
but I fear they're useless since the company never replied
to my change of address request and request for verification of coverage.