How to Save Time and Money by Duplicating Keys Yourself
Learning Objectives
In this lesson you will learn:
- How to make your own keys to save time and money
- The two most common types of keys used for houses and apartments along with where to buy blanks
How to Make Your Own Keys
The first couple of years I was in business I went down to our local hardware store or locksmith to make copies of client’s keys. But after some time we were taking on so many clients it was cheaper for me to buy a used key machine and start making our own. Plus I saved a ton of time not having to drive to the hardware store.
Keys are very easy to make yourself. I found an Ilco Mini-Mite 008A key machine on Craigslist for $120 US. And with copies from the hardware store being about $2 a piece it paid for itself within a year.
If decide to buy a used key machine ask the seller if you can make a copy of a key before you buy the machine. Be sure test that the machine is making good copies before you buy it.
Every now and again I still need to go to the local hardware store and buy an oddball key for a client’s door. But surprisingly almost every client’s home uses one of two types of key:
