Key Cutting Machine

If you're planning on starting as an employee of someone else's business (safest way to start), use their machines until you're ready to branch out on your own. Among other things, that will give you time to decide what you like and don't like about those machines before you go shopping.

If you're starting on your own: How much money do you have to invest? You need to be able to duplicate keys; you also want to be able to cut keys by code. It's possible, but inelegant and painful, to use a duplicating machine and "depth keys" to cut a limited number of keys by code; you really don't want to do a significant master-keying job that way. It's possible and elegant, but slow, to duplicate keys by decoding them and cutting new ones by code... and you risk being sabotaged by someone having used nonstandard depths when they last recombinated that cylinder. So the right answer is really either a machine that does both (there are a few, but they either don't do either job quite as well or cost a lot), or two machines (the duplicator may be cheap, but code machines generally aren't.)

I can't estimate Australian costs. A decent non-computerized code machine, new, is typically on the order of US$1200. Used, when you can find them, are less; on rare occasions I've seen them for half that. Leading names in the US market for general-purpose code machines are Framon and HPC; others certainly exist.

Key duplicating machines are much cheaper.

If you insist on cheapest-possible, the Foley/Belsaw machine can sometimes be found for as low as US$50 used, and is probably worth that much. It duplicates adequately (if you're careful) and can be made to cut by code (awkwardly, but not as awkwardly as depth keys on a duplicating-only machine), and if nothing else it can wind up being left on a bench to cut flat steel keys (with the appropriate cutter mounted). I have trouble _recommending_ this machine because it's just adequate at everything rather than actually being good at any one task... but it's hard to beat for price/performance, *IF* you don't pay F/B's official "new" price.

Thanks alot for the information.

The best value and for that matter, the most versatile key machine on the Aussie market is the US101 machine. Cost is around $1500. Cuts std house & auto keys, plus abloy, Tibbe, safe, some mortise keys, and flat steel locker keys. I have 2 of these machines, one in the van & 1 in the workshop. Most high volume key cutters in shopping centers have made the switch to these machines now, as you just can't kill them, and they are super accurate & sweet to use.

Thanks for the info Steve. I cannot see that maching (101) in the LSC catalogue. Can you give me a company name or webpage so I can have a look at it?

Any help appreciated.

Jim.

Sorry Jim, I've tried to find a pic of one one the various suppliers web sites but no luck. Locksmith Supplies (I think) DON'T sell them. I got my machines from KABA (formerly Ilco Unican) but I think 'Lock & Key Co' sell them now. You might just have to ring around. If your serious about the trade then always buy the BEST gear you can possibly afford, as it will last you many years longer & do a better job than cheap stuff. Go to your local shopping center and see what key duplicator Mr Minute or alike uses. Bet it's a US 101 machine. Cheers.