Key Duplication Is a Necessity For People Who Share a Home, Car, Or Office

Key duplication is a necessity for people who share a home, car, or office. This will help prevent someone from misplacing or breaking the original keys.

Proper key copies are made using a machine called a key duplicator. An original key is placed in the vice, and a blank key is placed on top of it. As both keys move horizontally, the blade cuts them to create the duplicate key.

1. It prevents you from being locked out

The last thing anyone wants to experience is getting locked out of their house, apartment, or car because they misplaced their keys. This is why it’s important to have spare keys on hand at all times — you never know when you’ll be in a bind and need access to your home or office.

While you can get duplicate keys at many hardware stores, it’s best to call a locksmith for the service. These professionals will have a wide variety of key stock and duplication machines that can make precise copies of your keys in no time at all. It’s also much more secure to have your spare keys cut by a professional because they won’t be easily replicated or stolen.

Whether you’re going on vacation or need to leave your keys with someone to take care of your pets and plants, having a spare key is a great way to ensure that you’ll be able to return at your convenience. In addition, it can help to prevent you from accidentally locking yourself out in the future if the original key breaks or gets stuck inside the lock.

There are a few different ways that you can duplicate your own keys, but the most common is to trace the head of your original key onto another material like plastic or cardboard and then cut around the imprint. This technique isn’t foolproof, and it may not work well if your key has been painted over or damaged in some way.

2. It saves you time

Having duplicate keys can save you time in the event that you are locked out of your house, business, or vehicle. It can also prevent you from having to call for help or wait on an expert locksmith to arrive.

There are many ways to make a copy key at home, such as using a vice and hand file or a key duplication machine. These methods, however, are not suitable for all locks. For instance, some keys are designed to be hard to duplicate, like Medeco keys. Purchasing a key duplication machine can be expensive and only works for the type of key that you own. It’s usually much cheaper to bring a key to a local hardware store or professional locksmith to have it copied for you.

The process of key duplication involves comparing an original key to a blank and then cutting the same shape into the new blank. A copier can generally make an exact copy of a key in just a few seconds. The copy is then deburred, which is the process of brushing the newly cut edge to remove burrs that would be dangerous if left on the lock and could possibly foul it. This is done with a wire brush, either built into the machine or manually. The key is then tried in the lock to ensure that it fits properly.

3. It saves you money

Having duplicate keys can save you money in the long run. This is especially true if you live with other people and share a home, car, or office. Having just one key would make everyone depend on that one person, and there’s a greater chance of it getting lost or broken.

You can save even more money by having duplicate keys made before you need them. Duplicating a simple cylinder key at a hardware store is fairly cheap, but getting a high-tech car key or specialized security key duplicated can be more expensive.

It’s also worth noting that purchasing a key duplicating machine yourself doesn’t make financial sense, at least not for most individuals. You’ll likely need to copy hundreds of keys before you can break even on the investment. That’s why it’s generally much more economical to let a hardware store or locksmith handle your key duplication needs.

Keep in mind, however, that you can’t duplicate a key if you don’t have the original to use as a template. If you lose your only copy, you’ll need to call a locksmith to decode the bitting of your lock and make a new key to its specifications. This is more expensive than merely having a key copied, but it’s still cheaper than having to replace your locks entirely.

4. It saves you from stress

The process of key duplication allows you to create an identical copy of a key. This way, you can keep the spare copy on hand, so if one of your keys breaks, it won’t prevent you from getting into your home or car. The extra key will also allow you to easily access your belongings in a hurry. This will save you from stress if you are in a rush to get somewhere or are running late for an important meeting or event.

Even if your key is made of strong material, it’s not immune to breaking. Consistent use causes the key’s shaft to wear down, which can cause it to break inside of your lock. Having a duplicate will save you from the hassle of having to call emergency locksmith services or breaking into your home using an alternative method, such as credit cards or bobby pins.

While there are some keys that are hard to duplicate, such as Medeco or those marked “Do Not Duplicate,” the majority of house and specialty keys can be copied. If you’re looking for an easy, affordable and convenient way to reduce your stress related to locks, consider bringing in your original keys to Clarks Ace Hardware in Ellicott City or Columbia. A team member will be able to quickly and conveniently handle your key duplication needs.