How to Get a Car Key Cut
It can be costly to replace your car keys, especially if it is the only one you have. Having duplicate keys is the best defense against expensive replacements.
You can save money by cutting your car keys at an automotive retailer like AutoZone instead of a dealership. However, not all hardware stores or locksmith shops offer key duplication or programming services.
What is Key Cutting?
Everyone loses their keys at some point. This could be a huge inconvenience as you are unable to get into your vehicle or go to your home. Most people choose to have spare keys cut rather than changing their locks completely. This process is faster and less expensive, as well as more efficient.
Key cutting is a process that involves duplicating an original key onto the blank key with a specially-designed machine. This process is carried out to ensure that the new key is identical to the original in both shape and function which makes it impossible for someone other than you to gain access to your property using an imitation.
Many hardware stores and big box stores have the option of a key-cutting station, where you can get an exact copy of your key made in a matter of minutes by a skilled worker. These kiosks usually use keys that have the same style as your current key, however, they also can make copies of more intricate keys, such as keys for your car or home security.
The most recent technology for key replication utilizes lasers instead of mechanical tools to accurately duplicate the unique markings of the original key onto a blank one. It is called key-by-photo and it revolutionises the method of key duplication by reducing the cost and time.
Modern electronic keys that control car lock systems, or security access points, have additional components that must be programmed to work correctly. These other components, such as a transponder chip in vehicle keys, or a microchip embedded in some home security keys, communicate with the system they're designed to integrate into and require specialized equipment to duplicate correctly.
Key cutting can be the best way to get an extra key quickly and easily, however it is important to seek professional assistance when you require it. It is not advisable to choose any locksmith. Instead, you should choose a reputable business with a team of professionals who have been through rigorous training in dealing with various locks and locking systems. It is also essential to find locksmiths that offer emergency services, as they'll be able to provide assistance in the event of an accident that causes a lockout.
Key Cutting Techniques
Key cutting allows for the making of spare keys, which will prevent damage to original keys and reduce the overall wear and wear and tear. A spare key can be used to gain access to your home or car, or any other secure location if someone has locked themselves out.
A professional can utilize either the punching or tracing method to duplicate keys. With the tracing method, one end of the original key is heated until it becomes black, and then pressed against the sticky side of the clear tape to leave an impression. Key cutters can utilize this imprint to cut it away creating a copy that is the same dimensions and shape to the original.
Another common method is to make use of a pattern grinder that takes the original key and then grinds it until a flat surface remains on one side of the blade and the grooves and notches are gone on the other side. This allows for easier inserting the key into locks. A key can also be cut with punching machines that measure the depth of the notch. The device forces an edge onto the key and cuts each notch to the required depth. These machines can be electric or manual and can be programmed for various keys, thus reducing the requirement for a specialist to be present.
A newer kind of key cutting technique is being utilized in a few locations, referred to as laser cutting. Instead of grinding the keys down to the correct dimensions, the laser is used remove the material from the side of the key. keys cut for cars resemble the serrated knife and are more resistant to bumps, as are other kinds of keys.
Key cutting services can also make replacement keys for electronic key fobs, that have an embedded chip that communicates with a vehicle's or lock's immobilizer system. However it cannot create replacements for more sophisticated smart keys, which require specialized programming usually reserved for dealerships or car manufacturers.
Key Cutting Equipment
It is essential to select the correct key-cutting machine for you need your keys cut. There are a variety of types and some of the factors that can influence a person's choice are the type of key they require as well as whether or not they want to use an automated or electric machine and how much money they'd like to spend. The type of machine they select can also affect the quality of their work as well as the accuracy of it.
Most key cutting machines trace the profile of a key in order to create an entirely new key. This can be done manually or with a machine that is manual. It could also be done using a laser or code machine. These machines require a code to inform them where to place the notch on the new key. The code can be manually entered into the machine or downloaded from databases.
There are a variety of machines that are able to cut mortice and cylinder locks. These are often called dual key cutters and can reduce the time a locksmith spends by cutting both types of locks with the same machine. These tools can be costly, but they can also make it possible to offer a wider range of services to customers.
Another alternative is to buy an entire kit that includes the cutting machine and tools required to operate it. These kits are typically cheaper than purchasing individual tools separately and can be an excellent investment for those planning to launch an enterprise that cuts keys.
The Futura Pro is an electronic key cutting machine that is designed to be user-friendly. Its removable 10-inch touchscreen tablet allows users to access a large range of keys, and provides step-by-step directions for duplicates and cutting the keys. It also comes with an accessory tray built-in and LED lights to indicate status, according to Ilco. Futura Pro is able to cut and decode a variety of keys that include dimples. It also comes with optional clamps for handling the flat household keys and Tibbe keys as well as Cruciform keys.
Key Cutting Costs
Modern keys for cars are more than just a piece of metal. They have a transponder chip that needs to be programmed for your vehicle and require specialized cutting equipment. They are more expensive to replace in the event that they are lost or taken. This is why it's always a good idea to invest in a spare key, so you have something to go to if you're stuck.
If you're considering having your car key cut, it is important to know the difference between key cutting and duplication. While they may seem similar, key cutting involves creating a brand new key from scratch whereas duplication is simply copying an existing key. Knowing the service you require will save you time and money in the long run.
Mechanical key duplication is a more traditional way of making an extra car key and it requires the key cutting machine to trace the original contours on the blank key. This process is cheaper than other methods of creating keys for replacement, but it can be risky when the key isn't correctly made or the key blank isn't made of high-quality. If the keys are not cut properly, they could cause damage to the lock's cylinder and cause the key to stop working.
Laser key cutting is more sophisticated and requires a special key-cutting machine. These machines can cut laser grooves on the flat side of the key and permit it to fit inside the lock-cylinder in any direction. They are commonly called sidewinder keys, and are more effective at stopping theft than standard keys. They are also more expensive due to the fact that they're more complicated and difficult to find in hardware stores.
At AutoZone the associate will choose the right key blank for your year, model, and model and use a special cutting machine to duplicate your old car key. We have a vast selection of transponder keys, which means you're sure to get the right one for your vehicle. We can even help you program it to your vehicle should you require it, for only a fraction of the price that you would spend at the dealership.