A key copy looks like a commodity. However, every copy is cut from the key you hand over rather than from the original specification, which means errors compound with each generation.
How copies drift
Your key has worn since the day it was cut. Consequently a copy taken from it inherits that wear, and a copy of that copy drifts further still. Therefore a third-generation key may not turn at all, and people blame the lock. Furthermore, a slightly wrong key wears the cylinder faster, so the problem accelerates.
The alternative
A locksmith can decode the lock itself and cut to the original code. Consequently the new key matches the cylinder rather than your tired old blade.
Blank quality is not marketing
Cheap aftermarket blanks use softer brass, so they wear noticeably faster and are likelier to snap. Consequently a key that costs a dollar less may last a third as long. Moreover a soft key in a hard cylinder does the wearing, which means you pay twice. Therefore blank quality matters more on a key you use daily.
Car keys are a different job entirely
A kiosk copies the blade and nothing else. Consequently the key opens the door and turns the ignition but will not start the engine, because the transponder was never programmed. Furthermore, people frequently arrive having already bought two useless copies. Therefore any car key from 2001 onward needs a locksmith or a dealer.
When to just replace the key
If your key needs a specific angle or a wiggle, it is worn past the point where copying it helps. Consequently cutting to code produces a better key than duplicating. Additionally, cut two while you are there, because a spare is the cheapest lockout insurance available. Above all, do not wait for it to snap in the cold.
Questions we get about this
Why does my copied key not work?
Probably copied from a worn key. Consequently we cut to the lock instead.
Are cheap blanks a false economy?
Usually. Softer brass wears faster and snaps sooner.
Why will a kiosk car key not start my car?
Only the blade was copied. The transponder was never programmed.
Can you cut without the original?
Yes, by decoding the lock or from the VIN on a vehicle.
How many spares should I have?
Two per household member, plus one with a neighbour.
