Key Cutting Machine?

[Joe Norman]

Any landlords/property managers on here invested in a key cutting machine? If so I'd love your feedback on what models you like/don't like. Thanks!

[Richard F.]

Aloha,

In the past we bought used commercial cutters such as used to be on a bench in every hardware store. I'm pretty sure they were both Ilco, manual machines. You can easily replace the cutter wheel and wire wheel every few years.

From quite a few years experience, I recommend the machine be mounted near to your key board/cabinet. You should maintain one set of original keys for each property that NEVER leaves the office. Copy the keys then and there, tag them, including the date so you can easily toss old keys that get returned after locks have been changed. Use a code, not an address to further ID the key tag for when they do get lost. Always cut additional copies from the original set. Just like cutting lumber, if you mark one from a previous COPY, the cuts may not be accurate. Tolerances for your lock pins are a few thousandths, so accuracy is important for smooth operation. So is thorough buffing of newly cut keys with the wire wheel. Just be sure to wear eye protection.