Keys

To begin of, you need a blank, uncut key that fits in the lock. It should ideally be brass, but other materials do work. A quick swipe would pull the top player off with a file. The idea of this step is to get a consistent surface. This will make it way easier to recognize marks. While applying a moderate turning force on the key, rock the key up-and-down. Turn the key in the other direction and repeat the rocking motion. In recognizing marks, the use of a magnifying aid can benefit greatly. Changing the angle of the key will make a big difference if marks are barely noticeable. On the spots where marks are visible, remove some material. Put the key again in the lock and repeat the earlier mentioned turn-and-rocking action. Keep repeating this process. If done correctly, all of a sudden, your key will turn! 

Keys are cut with a machine called a key duplicator. In one side of the key duplicator, the original key is put in a vice, lined up with the cutting knife (or blade), and a blank key is placed in a vice on the side that contains the alignment tool. The alignment tool is a piece of metal that is even with the blade. The key guide, or alignment bar, on your key duplicator, ensures the keys are even with one another. The key duplicator is then turned on, and the blade cuts through the blank key as the current and blank keys travel horizontally around the machine, using the original as a kind of template. Afterward, the lock tech will sand the duplicate key for a smooth finish. The final product is a duplicate key that matches the original.

At Home & Ranch Hardware,  we offering much cheaper key service than a locksmith service. Let our helpful staffs duplicate basic keys for you within 5 minutes.