Advice on Key Machines

[chains]

Hello fellow lockies. I am just getting started purchasing my locksmith tools and would greatly appreciate some advice or pointers on which one of these 2 key machines I should purchase. Unfortunately my budget is limited so I am looking at these 2 lower cost key machines to start with.

1. HPC Premier Speedex Manual 9160MC -- $490.00

2. Ilco 008A Manual -- $379.00 incl. shipping

Thanks in advance for any replies!

[straightpick]

I would choose the HPC Speedex. I bought a used Mini-Mite (008) and was not impressed. It was light weight(10 lb.) and portable but it has a rotary file cutter. The Speedex is pretty hefty at 30 lbs., has four way jaws so you will be able to hold just about any keyblank and is equipped with a milling cutter. The milling cutter does a MUCH nicer job cutting keys. It also has a reversible tracer point that can be used in conjunction with an optional slotting cutter kit which will allow you to cut safe deposit keys.

[integritycs]

The 9160MC is a workhorse. Been using it in my mobile shop and cut thousands of keys with no problems.

Never tried the other one though

[lockguy8]

i dislike the 9160 speedex, just sold mine cheep, mine might have been poorly put together at the factory, would never stay calibrated, and the left side jaw was out 6 thou since the day i bought it new 6 yrs ago, buying a new ilco semi automatic next week, but thats just me, the best i have used is the bravo 2, borkey is very nice as well, the newer bravo 3 is not quite as good as the bravo 2 imho, both are very expensive, but will last for 20 yrs at least, on the bravo 2 i may have mis cut 1 key in 1000, with the 9160 speedex i would mis cut 1 in 7 like i said it could have been poorly assembled at the factory, i have several duplicators none tried my patience like the hpc.

[ElAbogado]

Hello fellow lockies. I am just getting started purchasing my locksmith tools and would greatly appreciate some advice or pointers on which one of these 2 key machines I should purchase. Unfortunately my budget is limited so I am looking at these 2 lower cost key machines to start with.

1. HPC Premier Speedex Manual 9160MC -- $490.00

2. Ilco 008A Manual -- $379.00 incl. shipping

Thanks in advance for any replies!

I would go with an Ilco 045 manual duplicator. A bit more money, but very well built, accurate, 4 way jaws, and you can use depth keys to take the place of a code cutter until you buy one. As far as a semi automatic machine, I would recommend the Rytan series machines.

[lock2006]

I will go with this one 2. Ilco 008A Manual -- $379.00 incl. shipping
if this is your first machine then this is the one to get
you don't want to spend more money and find out is not the one for the work you want to do
besides is a dood deal hope this helps.