How to Identify a Bad Key Copy: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (2024)

Download Article

1. 1

   Do the keys line up side by side? The easiest way to tell if a key is bad is that if it does not line or match up with the grooves and the shoulders on your original key.

2. 2

   Is it the correct key blank? On many basic keys, there are numbers you can check on the shoulder or the front head of the key. On normal house keys, a number might look like SC-1 or KW-1.^[1]

   Advertisem*nt

3. 3

   Could the key even be copied? Sometimes stores try to copy keys that cannot be copied on normal blanks. Certain types of keys cannot be copied by regular locksmiths, such as ones for Primus locks and ones meant for college dorm rooms and apartments.

4. 4

   If it was a car key, did you tell the company the make and model? It's very easy for larger department stores to screw up your key if you don't tell them the year or model car you have. Also, some newer models of cars have electronics inside, and car doors or the ignition may not work if you copy them from a regular key blank.

5. 5

   Is the clerk confident that he or she did it right? You can sometimes tell if the clerk is not certain whether the key will work. Sometimes, if the clerk takes a long time, or no time at all, he or she may have chosen an incorrect key blank.

6. 6

   Has the original key become worn from use? Years of use in the lock causes wear in an original key, possibly causing it to not be able to be copied correctly. If this is the case then an original key will have to be made.

   • Note that it's generally the flat parts, not the pointed corners, that operate the lock, so a key with some wear may still copy correctly.
7. 7

   Is it a copy of a copy? If you copy a key based on copies, they will slowly gain more errors. After the fifth generation of copies, those keys may fail to work in your lock, or work improperly.

8. 8

   Was it copied locally? Many times, locally owned businesses copy keys better than department stores. It may cost a bit more, but it's definitely worth it.

9. 9

   Was your original key broken or bent? You can sometimes copy a key from a broken or bent key. A locksmith needs to find out the numbered combination of your lock and needs to cut you an entire new one if it is broken in a bad spot or if the machine cannot grip the broken pieces.

   See Also

   What Happens if I Lose My Device With 2FA on it?How to Set up And Use Google Authenticator on Your Phone [2023]Transponder Keys: Why Are They Expensive? - Guardian Safe & Lock LLCThe best security keys of 2023: Expert tested and reviewed

Advertisem*nt

Community Q&A

Ask a Question

• Keys will get worn when used a lot. Always remember to get your locks re-keyed (and possibly replaced) every couple of years.

  Thanks

  Helpful0Not Helpful0

• If your original doesn't work, the copy won't work.

  Thanks

  Helpful0Not Helpful0

• The better the original key, the better the copy.

  Thanks

  Helpful0Not Helpful0

Show More Tips

• If you are trained to make keys, always wear eye protection and beware of brass splinters.

  Thanks

  Helpful3Not Helpful0

• Do not copy keys yourself. Key copying machines have a dangerous, fast-spinning blade to cut keys with. Most hardware stores and lock shops have staff who will copy a key for you at a modest cost.

  Thanks

  Helpful5Not Helpful3

You Might Also Like

Co-authors: 17

Updated: September 11, 2023

Views:111,649

Categories: Locks and Keys

Español:identificar una copia defectuosa de una llave