Worst key machine

[RedE]

Punches are definitely far from the worst of key machines if you judge them by the quality of the keys being made. In fact, I think most of us would say they produce keys better than any rotary type machine. But my main problem with them is that the cost benefit analysis is terrible. In my opinion, unless you're an institutional smith servicing only a few systems, the capital costs required to buy the punches and all the space they take up makes them unfeasible for someone who may not use them all the time.

Anyway concerning the rotary machines, I thought of another one besides the Axxess+ duplicator, which is the A1 pak a punch. Now I know a lot of people like that machine, but I had so much trouble getting it to cut keys when I was using it for BEST systems. When I had one, the machine would punch keys to a different height as you advanced through the spaces, even if you left the depth knob alone. And the depths would not always be the same increment apart! I ended up wasting $80 in Best blanks which were provided by a client one time. I had to make the difference up out of my pocket on that job and consequently I never used that thing again.

[billdeserthills]

Punches are definitely far from the worst of key machines if you judge them by the quality of the keys being made. In fact, I think most of us would say they produce keys better than any rotary type machine. But my main problem with them is that the cost benefit analysis is terrible. In my opinion, unless you're an institutional smith servicing only a few systems, the capital costs required to buy the punches and all the space they take up makes them unfeasible for someone who may not use them all the time.

Anyway concerning the rotary machines, I thought of another one besides the Axxess+ duplicator, which is the A1 pak a punch. Now I know a lot of people like that machine, but I had so much trouble getting it to cut keys when I was using it for BEST systems. When I had one, the machine would punch keys to a different height as you advanced through the spaces, even if you left the depth knob alone. And the depths would not always be the same increment apart! I ended up wasting $80 in Best blanks which were provided by a client one time. I had to make the difference up out of my pocket on that job and consequently I never used that thing again.

I hope you at least contacted A1 and sent back your clipper so they could fix whatever was wrong with it

[Tyler J. Thomas]

Punches are definitely far from the worst of key machines if you judge them by the quality of the keys being made. In fact, I think most of us would say they produce keys better than any rotary type machine. But my main problem with them is that the cost benefit analysis is terrible. In my opinion, unless you're an institutional smith servicing only a few systems, the capital costs required to buy the punches and all the space they take up makes them unfeasible for someone who may not use them all the time.

They're good for in shop use for commercial locksmiths as well, especially if it's for a patented/key control product that you sell and market for larger systems. They're also good for emergencies where you're on site and doing a large rekey. You can churn out keys far faster with punches. I've got a video somewhere I recorded of me cutting Cormax keys. I could load, cut, and remove a key in a few seconds - not exaggerating. Maybe I'll find it and post it.

But yes, in the truck(s)? No way; doesn't make sense. You're right.

[kwoswalt99-]

My old Curtis 2h that somehow disappeared and I still have no idea where it is.

[Evan]

Axxess+ automatic duplicator.

+1.

You have to hope the cartridges which hold the keys are not worn out where the shoulder stops are or that the annoying paper ID tag attached to the key doesn't spring back against the cartridge and pull the key out just a bit before cutting.

~~ Evan

[tpark]

Punches are definitely far from the worst of key machines if you judge them by the quality of the keys being made. In fact, I think most of us would say they produce keys better than any rotary type machine. But my main problem with them is that the cost benefit analysis is terrible. In my opinion, unless you're an institutional smith servicing only a few systems, the capital costs required to buy the punches and all the space they take up makes them unfeasible for someone who may not use them all the time.

Anyway concerning the rotary machines, I thought of another one besides the Axxess+ duplicator, which is the A1 pak a punch. Now I know a lot of people like that machine, but I had so much trouble getting it to cut keys when I was using it for BEST systems. When I had one, the machine would punch keys to a different height as you advanced through the spaces, even if you left the depth knob alone. And the depths would not always be the same increment apart! I ended up wasting $80 in Best blanks which were provided by a client one time. I had to make the difference up out of my pocket on that job and consequently I never used that thing again.

I too had poor success with the pak a punch on Best blanks. Strangely enough, the kit for the IC depth/cutter didn't come with the die, so I had to get the die from CLK. I had OK success with cutting Schlage keys, but as you found, the increment depth wasn't consistent. I had two sets of IC jigs (I modified one to support Best PKS blanks) but neither set of depth knobs was consistent. What I ended up doing was cutting shallow, then using a pippin file to adjust the cuts to the correct depth. If someone out there has gotten the pak a punch to work cutting A2 SFIC, please let me in on your secret. Even after carefully cleaning all mating surfaces, I couldn't get consistent results with this tool. Shallow cuts for sure don't work - the punch doens't cut evenly across the blank, even for 1 or 2 cuts.

I'm going to burn a few more blanks at some time with it, but I think if you're going to cut SFIC blanks in any non-hobbyist capacity you need a BEST combinator or some other capable code machine like the Blitz or Framon 2 machine.

Again, if someone knows how to make the Pak a Punch work, please let me know how it's done. The machine is so portable, and is so fast and easy to use, I really want it to work for me. It's of no use if I can't get decent keys out of it though.

[bobhdus]

The A1 Pack-a-punch I had wouldn't cut BEST accurately enough either but does fine with Residential stuff so I traded the BEST dies for SC1's. But I believe its how tight you hold the carriage in your hand while squeezing handle in the other that is going to determine its repeatability. It shows in the demos that you have to firmly hold the carriage and believe me, it will vary your cut depth depending on how firm a hold that is. Thought about using a big rubber strap wrapped around it that would maintain same pressure each time. BEST with all the master pins needs to be more accurate than most Residential depths. JMO...