Portable Key Cutting Machine

[clyde_d]

Hello
I am thinking of buying a portable key cutting machine for the van. Not to sure what to go for as regards powering it. Have seen hand powered ones, are they any good, does anyone use one of these.

Any recommendations or advice would be helpful

Regards
Clyde

[Bump]

Definately not hand job!

SKS Tempest comes in 12v and 240v models for £330 + VAT, its lightweight and very portable but only for the occassional cutter. Has a cylinder and mortice blade but you need to change the setup every time.

If you want a true dual machine the Cylone at £830 + VATis not a bad unit. Otherwise if you Google Key Machines you can get tons of them, just depends on the price you want to pay and the purpose of its use.

[Adavislocksmith]

does anyone else have tempest key machine?
how do you turn the vices around?
instructions not very good

[kodierer]

Get a generator, or a power inverter and use any key machine you want.

[NKT]

I've got a Tempest, and it's very good for the occasional key. It isn't up to a shop, and it's barely up to doing some mobile jobs.

It's a good portable machine, but you'd be nuts to even try to turn a profit using one to cut keys for a living - it can, and I kid you not, take 30 minutes to cut a safe key. And that's assuming you have one to copy from, the right sized blank, and it is already set up and calibrated!

But it runs off 12v, so I didn't need an invertor when I started up.

I'm planning to get a Blitz. A world of difference!

[Bump]

Get a generator, or a power inverter and use any key machine you want.

Lift the vice up (its spring loaded) and spin it around!

[Raymond]

Back in the 60's I started out with the smallest Ilco key duplicater. It came with a 110V motor. I added a second set of O-ring pulleys and another 12V car fan motor to the side. Now I just move the O-ring belt from one set of pulleys to the other to make the change. I even used a small motorcycle battery to make it completely portable. All this was installed in a typewriter case. I still use it as a backup today.

[zeke79]

For a code machine, the ITL950C comes setup to either run off of 110 or 12VDC with no other inverters needed. This might be something to look into for you as it seems to have quite a few car manufacturers programmed in from the factory. I know I have seen Peugot listed while flipping through, plus you have up to 100 user definable codes that you can setup yourself if you have the space and depth info on hand. The 950C also has vehicle codes built in so if you have a vehicle with the code stamped on a door or boot cylinder you can simply peck that code into the keypad and it will convert the code to cuts for you.