The Process of Cutting Keys

One of the most common services provided by locksmiths is key cutting. Whether providing a copy or a replacement key, locksmiths are required to cut keys. It is always recommended that one have a set of spare keys cut and left with a friend or relative that can be called upon in the event that one is locked out of their home, business or car. This is not only useful and convenient in the event that keys are misplaced but is a genuine sign of trust as in leaving a copy of one’s keys with a person, they are essentially leaving their life and security in that person’s hands.

Key cutting is a fairly simple process. A locksmith will take a key blank appropriate to a particular model of lock and cut or shave excess metal from the key blank in the correct shape necessary to operate a particular lock. On standard locks, key cutting is usually a very quick and fairly inexpensive process taking no more than a minute or so. Key cutting is certainly one of the more common services that a locksmith will perform.

When cutting a key, two keys are generally inserted to the vices of a key cutting machine. The first of the keys will be an original key that requires copying and the second key will be a blank key. The blade of a blank key has no indentations or grooves with which to manipulate the pins within a lock. Instead, blank keys will simply have a blade that is completely flat. Both keys are held in place next to each other with the original key used to guide the cutting device. The cutting device will then cut the indentations and grooves as required to make a perfect copy of the original, insuring a perfect fit with the relevant lock.

Once the blank key is cut, the locksmith will have to exact copies. The next step in the process is deburring. Deburring is the process of filing down any sharp edges that might be left on the new key as a result of cutting. This prevents anyone from getting cut on the key and will also prevent any damage to the lock itself.

The process outlined above involves a pattern grinder. Keys may also be duplicated using a punch machine which simply measures the notches in the original key for length and depth and then punches the blank key repeatedly until it is the exact shape of the original. Key punching is a slightly more complicated process and requires the skill and knowledge of an experienced locksmith but results in a better copy of the original with cleaner margins.