Locksmith Key Cutting Tips for Novice Locksmith

Are you a beginner who has just started his career as a locksmith? Well, like every beginner, a novice locksmith will face many challenges while doing his job. For example, it’s quite common in this profession that you cut a key, but the client comes over to you again and again. Why? Well, it’s not because he was impressed by your job last time. Instead, the key you cut earlier is not working.

This not just eats up a significant amount of time. It increases the financial cost as well. That’s why you need to know some of the best tips suggested by professional locksmiths (Ex. Serrurier liege). In this article, I am going to walk you through some fundamental locksmith key cutting tips that every novice locksmith should know.

So, without further due, let’s see what the tips are.

Locksmith Key Cutting Tips

Get the More Information About the Lock

When you get a call from your client, the first thing you have to do is not getting information! Yeah, it’s not just information. It’s more information. Some locksmiths fail to get some trivial yet significant details on the lock, costing him more resources ultimately.

Consider, you have to cut a key for pin tumbler locks. You need to get a thorough profile of it. If you use, for example, a thinner universal key for this kind of locks, you might end up making a key that fits lose inside the lock. Not only is it consuming your time, but also it can cause damage.

Similarly, if you use a thicker key, you might end up damaging the lock once again. It will cause the top pins to fall into the barrel chamber, thus seizing the lock.

That’s why you need to have a good range of key blanks in your stock so that you can use the perfect key blanks that suit the concerning locks. Key identification will be a lot easier if a label is used on the key blank by the manufacturer.

Machine Set-Up

Now comes the most crucial part. It’s time to cut the key. Remember, there are some sorts of keys that require much precision than most of the keys around. You need to get your machine perfectly aligned. Check your machine carefully because it can be out of alignment due to the last key that you cut.

Not just that. You should regularly check your machine if it has other issues that might hamper the task. For example, there might be wear and tear in the cutter. Wear on the tracer point is going to have you failed. Try to keep the machine clean constantly.

Check for Left-over Material

So now that you have made the key, you need to check for extra materials in the key. Especially check for the tip of the key, as some locks having cams at the end may be obstructed by the extra material. Keeping the angled contour, remove the left-over material using a grinding machine.

Look Out for Shoulder of the Key

Some cylinder locks, especially the vehicle locks, come with an anti-drilling plate covering the keyhole. The mechanism requires an extended shoulder length so that the key can reach the barrel. You might have seen in some ignition locks in which the barrel gets pushed in when the key is turned back to remove it. If you make a short length shoulder, the key would be unable to push in.

Check for Any Scrape Marks on the Keys

This is one excellent way to notice what’s wrong with a key. Put the key into the lock first. Check out for any marks after you get the key out. These scrape marks down the profile of the key will be created if the profile is too thick, not fitting the lock perfectly.

Do it for Your Client

Do you think you have made a perfect cut yet it is not working? Well, now it’s time for you to go and check it out yourself. Sometimes, it’s not about the key you made. You really have made the perfect key, but the problem might lie in lock itself. For example, the common problem is that the keyhole or the profile is worn, which makes it difficult for the key to working properly.

Read this also: 19 interesting facts about locks & locksmiths

Final Words

So these are the locksmith cutting tips, suggested by the experts for those who have just started their career. Now that you know how to handle some of the challenging things in this profession, we hope you would put this knowledge into application. Whatever you do, make sure you don’t have to repeat your task. Being cautious from the start will help you achieve this feat with fewer complexities.

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