why don't copied keys always work smoothly?

[rh71]

Talking about door keys and most recently for me, a car key. The originals obviously insert smoothly and turn without a problem. I've had a few copied keys that would insert fine but don't turn at all. I'm guessing that's a groove-copy problem and another copy eventually worked.

Now I had a folding (flip) key made for our car and it's just not inserting into the ignition smoothly at all. I've got to jiggle it and angle it halfway through. Is that because the cut wasn't accurate? Or the plate is still fresh and not smooth? Seems to turn fine, and pull out fine though. The main difference I see with a side-to-side comparison is that peaks are taller on the original. The dips are not as pronounced on the copy. Does that affect it at all?

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/11370060/2012-08-26 23.57.20.jpg (copy is on top)

 

[manimal]

thought I was in a warez thread in 1998! Oh hotline how I miss you!



Drives me crazy as well. I put new locks in at home this year and went and had a DOZEN keys made. Three of those just dont like the lock.

 

[lxskllr]

If it's not identical, it can hang up. You're manipulating several small pieces of metal at one time, so minor variations can make it difficult, or impossible.

 

[darkxshade]

As long as you can unlock you should be fine... the unlocking gets smoother over time after the key wears a bit.

 

[rh71]

As long as you can unlock you should be fine... the unlocking gets smoother over time after the key wears a bit.

the problem with the car key is simply inserting it into the ignition... if it's not smooth, it's just a pain in the ass and not worth using. $25 down the drain for the flip key (they're across the country otherwise I'd just have them do it again). I am hoping it gets better over more use and that's why I'm trying to understand why it isn't smooth. Maybe I need to sand it or something?

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

You know, for car keys you can have the dealer look up the key codes based off your VIN and have it cut that way vs. tracing an existing key. Result is a more accurate cut just the way it came from the factory. Give that a shot! Good Luck.

 

[jtvang125]

When I was getting some blanks cut for my car they will go in the ignition just fine but I couldn't turn. Must have tried it for a good 2-3 minutes but right before I was going to go back into the locksmith it worked. It was still alittle sticky after that but now it works like the original.

 

[sixone]

You know, for car keys you can have the dealer look up the key codes based off your VIN and have it cut that way vs. tracing an existing key. Result is a more accurate cut just the way it came from the factory. Give that a shot! Good Luck.

Dealer $$

 

[SphinxnihpS]

The main difference I see with a side-to-side comparison is that peaks are taller on the original. The dips are not as pronounced on the copy. Does that affect it at all?

Are you trolling?

 

[Capt Caveman]

the problem with the car key is simply inserting it into the ignition... if it's not smooth, it's just a pain in the ass and not worth using. $25 down the drain for the flip key (they're across the country otherwise I'd just have them do it again). I am hoping it gets better over more use and that's why I'm trying to understand why it isn't smooth. Maybe I need to sand it or something?

Try squirting a little graphite into the key hole. It'll make inserting the key much smoother. Any key place will sell small tubes for a few bucks.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Dealer $$

It was a whopping $3.00 to have them look up my key codes. You can take the codes anywhere and get the keys cut once you have them.