Cutting Keys Illegal?

[turbine68rt]

Probably more along the lines of what someone said, if it gets cut wrong how would they replace it ?
That's the liability.
Ever take your own eggs to Denny's to have them cooked ?

In the case of dealing with certain types of keys that are no longer stocked by a lot of places or self-serve machines, we don't have much of a choice but to provide our own blanks. Unfortunately this store wasn't even willing to try, even with a disclaimer.

 

[Billccm]

Just had a key nightmare with my trusty Grand Marquis. Ford uses PATS transponder and has 8 and 16 bit keys.
In Tucson lock smith shops have gone the way of TV repair shops. It's now all mobile service and the best quote I could get was $309 for a new key "programmed in my driveway".
Yep, three hundred and nine dollars for a new key for a 2009 Grand Marquis. That's the BEST price I could find.
Ford PATS can be programmed by the owner (I'll skip the procedure).
Ordered a new Ford Mercury branded 16 bit key blank off eBay for $37 free shipping.
Took the blank to my local ACE hardware; they will not cut customer provided keys. Tried Lowe's, Home Depot, three other hardware stores and no luck.
Talked with my office building facilitator and he introduced me to a "industrial security company" that cut my key as a favor. Programmed and works great.
If anyone in Tucson wants to partner with me I'm ready to start a lock smith business.

 

[Red63440]

I happen to have an old school key machine in my basement…just in case. If anyone needs keys cut just provide the blank/s and I will cut them for free, just cover the shipping.

 

[R413]

I stopped going in the door at Lowe’s and Home Depot. If I Want exercise I’ll go for a walk by the lake instead of in there. LOL.
Local small hardware store has everything but lumber. Whoever stocked that store new what was needed, they have it! Always a good experience while there.

 

[Ron H]

Had a similar bad experience trying to get an ig key for my mother's '90 Riv years ago. GM had that chip in the key...don't recall how this got resolved; but I try to forget bad memories..

 

[moparedtn]

I really like the idea of doing your own with a Dremel, except for one thing....
I only have one ignition key for Fred and I dang sure ain't going anywhere near it with
a Dremel!

 

[toolmanmike]

Lowes doesn't want to cut you a key?Go somewhere else. If it's their store policy they just lost some business. And next time you need something, go to Home Depot.
We have a couple locksmith shops in town that will cut/duplicate anything. I bought blanks at the Nats and got them cut for a few bucks.

 

[turbine68rt]

I really like the idea of doing your own with a Dremel, except for one thing....
I only have one ignition key for Fred and I dang sure ain't going anywhere near it with
a Dremel!

Since I never cut a key before freehand I made sure to ease into every cut without being aggressive and it actually went better than I thought it would. Maybe 36 years in custom cabinetmaking being concerned about the smallest detail comes in handy now and then.

 

[Red63440]

Most of the stores have gone to a cassette system made for newer keys only. In most cases it’s not that they don’t want to cut it they just don’t have the ability to do it.

 

[Ron H]

Since I never cut a key before freehand I made sure to ease into every cut without being aggressive and it actually went better than I thought it would. Maybe 36 years in custom cabinetmaking being concerned about the smallest detail comes in handy now and then.

Yeah and maybe ease up on the caffeine until cutting the key, lol

 

[moparedtn]

Since I never cut a key before freehand I made sure to ease into every cut without being aggressive and it actually went better than I thought it would. Maybe 36 years in custom cabinetmaking being concerned about the smallest detail comes in handy now and then.

You must also have good close-up vision I gather?
My eyesight is great for distance anymore (no glasses needed for driving) - doc says because my impending
cataracts are acting like correctlve lenses (!) - but up close, the granny glasses come out for sure.

 

[turbine68rt]

You must also have good close-up vision I gather?
My eyesight is great for distance anymore (no glasses needed for driving) - doc says because my impending
cataracts are acting like correctlve lenses (!) - but up close, the granny glasses come out for sure.

I can see close up great without the glasses. After about a foot away things get blurry from there.

 

[Ron H]

You must also have good close-up vision I gather?
My eyesight is great for distance anymore (no glasses needed for driving) - doc says because my impending
cataracts are acting like correctlve lenses (!) - but up close, the granny glasses come out for sure.

Since you mention vision: My eyesight has been playing games; old age I suppose. Started wearing glasses for distance in my early 20’s. Now for the past couple years I never wear them unless driving. My bi-focal script hasn’t worked for years…I take my glasses off to read close up so finally had my last pair without bi-focals. But now I find my ability to read teeny-tiny printing harder to read using a magnifying glass to read it more often. Well my hearing has gone ta **** last 10 years too and pee more as well. My wife has found the latter humorous as she reminds me of the days driving long distances having to give her a pit stop…now I need one more often than she does. Payback!

 

[ckessel]

When I worked at the dealerships in so cal, we were under orders not to cut keys [if they were missing] unless the person requesting them ponied up with the registration and license that proved they owned the vehicle. We were close to the border so that was the main reason plus just general car thieves. If we knew who it was, we let it slide. If I just did dupes, no worries. One thing on the dupes I got good at was being able to eyeball the cut depths so I could set the punch unit. You can't do a duplicate worth a darn if the sample is worn out. Using the vin's to get the key codes worked very well for 99.9999% of what's out there. I did get a couple of ones, over time, that did not match what was listed for code. It got to where, if it was a chip key, we would first cut a generic blank to make sure it could turn then do the real deal. Don't want to ruin an expensive key.

 

[#41]

So I stop at Lowes to have an extra set of keys cut for the Charger in the correct square head version. Showed the guy my current pentastar shaped one and immediately he says "we don't have anything in that style anymore". I said no problem, I have a new blank from '68, just need it copied. He said "Nope, can't do that, it's illegal. We can only cut keys that are on our rack". He wouldn't even attempt to help me. So.....I proceeded to do what would most people on this forum would do. Went home, got the Dremel out, put in a fine stem diamond tip, lined up the keys, clamped them in the vise and cut my own. Works perfect. Call me old fashioned, but how hard is it to walk into a store that has a machine, provide the keys and still get turned away?

I got the same story from Lowes and also Ace Hardware, only they said it was because of "liability". I asked "what liability?" and could not get an answer. I also dremeled my own keys and they probably work better than the quickie job they used to do anyway. As it turns out, the actual liability is that Lowes and Ace have lost a key customer for life. I'll do all my own keys for now on.

 

[Ron H]

I still like car KEYS. Our vehicles are old enough still needing a key to start them. I’ve rented vehicles with the fob/start button that is just a new hassle. Reckon it’s just a simple matter of getting used to it. Rented a Challenger and later a mini-van (not so mini IMO). Rentals I’ve had, had the two fobs wired together, ya know substantial wire rope stuff – yeah great! Wanna stuff both of those in my pocket all day long. Last time said nope, I grabbed my wire cutters and gave the 2nd one to my wife that in any thought seems like a good idea possibly losing one; but not both.

 

[Tony Tee]

A couple of the reasons I don't shop at lowes,
You walk through the isles and lots dead quiet. nobody is talking, no background music playing. No help when you need it. And when I find someone they do an about face and walk away. It's just weird. Kinda gives me the creeps! Just my observation of the store nearest me.

 

[Ron H]

I do a whole lot of shopping at our local large hardware store that caters to contractors and also Home Depot. I’m at either one at least weekly with all the projects. Both are fine as they have people around to ask for help or will usually come up to ask if you need it. Often go out of their way to assist. Our local Menards or FF? Nada! I will say though, the last time at FF (Fleet/Farm) a young guy came up to help and took his time to do so. He was pretty new; but it didn’t stop him from trying to help. First time this happened in the 35 years I’ve gone there. Ok, then there’s the issues with businesses hiring staff…another topic.

 

[Mackman]

I walked into the local Ace Hardware in Albion NY with my Mopar blank, the associate cut it for me no charge. Just said “come back again “.

 

[Basket case]

our local Lowe's doesn't cut keys, they have one of those do it yourself jobs that does it for you. My local Car Quest cuts keys anytime for me.