Incorrectly Clamped Keys - FREE Lesson from How to Duplicate Keys & Make Money

Without a shadow of a doubt, the number one issue or mistake that happens when duplicating keys is not clamping the key correctly, and that's why I've spent so much time covering and going over that in the previous chapters. It is because if you don't get that key clamped correctly, it's going to lead you to all sorts of problems. It's about impossible to duplicate a key that works and not have it clamped correctly. Grab your Topo Chico as we go through the few of the most common issues that you're going to run into with clamping the key correctly.

DEMONSTRATION

To ensure that you are duplicating the key correctly, start by putting the key that you need to duplicate first instead of putting the key blank first. The reason is that a lot of times, you can clamp the blank key easily, for there is a vast amount of material to clamp on.

I am aware that many lockbosses out there find it simple to clamp the key that you want to be duplicated; however, sometimes the simplest things are the hardest always to do. So, when clamping a key that you want to copy, look and see where the most amount of material is missing to make sure that you can still have a suitable clamp on it and center it in the jig the best you can.

I used an HD109 motorcycle key a shoulder stop key in this example. When installing this key, make sure that all of the cuts, if possible, are always over the key.

Do not take your chances by putting the key like the image below. Technically, you can duplicate a key in that position, but it might bring trouble. It is because when duplicating a key, you'll be applying pressure, and the key may start to slide out due to that pressure. It will result in a copied key not working.

Another point I want to bring about this is sometimes when you get it put in to cut, even with using the shaving technique, if your cutter is extra dull, you could find yourself where you're having a challenging time clamping it down, and it's going to start flying.

In this case, you're either going to want to use adapters or find a different way to cut it. Typically, on a double-sided key like this, you're going to want to move it over to jaw three or C and start to use the grooves in it like this. If the cuts are lower than the actual jaw, you can't do it.

Otherwise, you can quickly put the same B86 key GM10 cut key on the C jaw, align it with your tipstop the same way you would, and cut it. You can put it in like this, do both keys, and cut the key this way.

If you don't have a lot of jaw material, even though technically it's proper, it's sitting on there. We have the bulk amount of the cuts covering it. All of the keys that go in and set it down there will run into situations where that's not going to work on the jaw one.

These are two big things regarding the key not being clamped correctly. You don't want to be dealing with them falling out or popping out of the jaw and miscutting them. And at the same time, using these same principles, if the key is not sitting straight, you can also start looking at other jaws. Those are the few of the things that you want to look out for when you're clamping the key. You want to make sure it's right and run a test to make sure you have the key clamped securely.