Key Codes, Can they be reverse engineered? Options

[bbrock]

In the down time when I'm not chopping huge chunks of rested metal out of my car, I've been working on more fiddly tasks. Lately it has been cleaning and re-keying all of my locks. Dan (tweet) set me up with a new-to-me OEM ignition lock to replace the VW part installed by a PO, a new master key blank, and the right wafers to complete my matching lock set. He really went above and beyond what I expected making sure I was taken care of! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Now to the question. My original key is pretty worn and nicked up, so I'd like to have a good master cut from the code... which I don't have. I do know the tumbler sequence now. This old thread indicates the wafer sequence and key code are the same. If so, which direction is it read from?

Thanks.

[bandjoey]

Code is read shoulder to tip in a code book. Each tumbler will have 4-5 debths. (Can't remember how many). A real locksmith will look at a worn key and within 1-3 tries cut a new key for you.