Copied Key That Won't Turn? Jacksonville Key Cutting That Works the First Time

Keys we cut

• House and deadbolt keys, including common Kwikset and Schlage keys
• Business keys, including commercial and master-keyed systems
• Padlock keys for gates, sheds, trailers and storage units
• Mailbox keys for curbside, wall and cluster boxes. See mailbox locks.
• File cabinet, desk and furniture keys
• High-security keys such as Medeco and Mul-T-Lock, for authorized key holders only. See high-security locks.

Why copies of worn keys fail

Every time a key is used, it wears a little. A kiosk or store machine traces your key's shape exactly, wear and all. A copy of that copy adds a bit more error. After a few generations, the key no longer lifts the pins to the right height, and you're jiggling it in the lock or getting stuck outside.

We avoid that in two ways:

• Cutting by code. Most locks are built to a set of standard depths. We measure your key or read the lock, find the original depths, and cut a fresh key to factory spec.
• Testing in the lock. Because we come to you, we try every new key in the lock it's meant for before we leave.

Keys for locks with no key

Moved into a house where nobody left a key to the back door? Found an old padlock, desk or cabinet that's locked? We can make a key from the lock itself, by decoding the pins or taking the cylinder apart and measuring them.

If the missing keys might be in someone else's hands, rekeying is usually the better choice. It makes the old keys useless and gives you new ones, for about the same cost.

Mobile key cutting

We're a mobile locksmith, not a storefront, so our key machines ride in the van. That means:

• Keys are cut where the lock is, and tested on the spot.
• Adding spares to another job costs little. If we're already there to rekey, change locks or open a door, extra keys are a small add-on.
• A trip just for one copy carries a trip charge, so it's worth grouping keys together. For a single simple copy of a good key, a hardware store may cost you less, and we'll tell you so.

Key control: who can copy your keys?

Any standard house key can be copied almost anywhere. A "Do Not Duplicate" stamp is only a request, and many shops ignore it. We only copy marked keys for people we can confirm are authorized.

If you need to know exactly how many keys exist, for a rental, an office or a building with staff, a patented key system is the real answer. Copies of those keys can only be cut by authorized dealers for people on your list. For businesses, it pairs well with a master key system.

Keys for landlords, offices and HOAs

Property managers, offices and HOAs often need keys in batches: a set for each new tenant, a ring for the cleaning crew, pool gate keys for every household, or clubhouse keys for the board. We cut them in one visit and test them in the locks they're meant for.

A few habits keep a building's keys under control:

• Stamp each key with a code and keep a simple log of who holds it.
• Collect keys when people leave, and rekey when one doesn't come back.
• Order a small batch of spares rather than letting tenants copy their own.

For rental turnovers and batch rekeys, see our page for property managers and realtors.

Smart ways to handle spare keys

• Label keys with a code, not an address. A lost key with your house number on it is a risk.
• Use a lockbox instead of a key under the mat or in a fake rock.
• Leave one spare with someone you trust, and keep a list of who has keys.
• Get your keys matched. If you carry several keys for one house, we can rekey the locks so one key opens them all.
• Rekey after big changes, such as a move, a breakup or a lost key.

A spare with a neighbor can save you a house lockout call. That's a good trade.

What it costs

The price depends on:

• The key type. Standard house keys cost the least. High-security, commercial and specialty keys cost more.
• By copy or by code. Cutting to factory code takes a little longer.
• The trip. Keys added to another visit cost far less than a trip for keys alone.
• Making a key from a lock. Decoding or disassembly is priced as a job.

You get the full price on the phone before we drive out, and we confirm it before any work starts. See our pricing guide.

Where we cut keys

We cut keys on site across Jacksonville, including Mandarin, Bartram Park and Julington Creek, Southside and San Marco.

Need spares that work? Call (904) 509-0907 or text us what keys you need. We're available Mon & Fri 7 AM–2 PM and Tue & Thu 7 AM–6 PM.