Looking for first cutter

[nickmannnxx]

My birthday is coming up and my girlfriend is going to buy me a small key cutter. I dont do this a profession and I dont want her to spend a fortune. What should I be looking for in a smaller, used machine for a hobbyist? We wIll probably be looking on here and ebay, so if its not something that I can find one of those two places its pretty much out. She wants me to show her what to look for but as of now I dont even know! hahaha.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-Nick-

[billdeserthills]

You want something better than the ilco 008?
Better start saving up some real $$$

[cledry]

eBay doesn't sell key machines bu Craigslist always have them. It depends on what you will be using the machine for. I sell machines all the time for $150-$250 from the Ilco 027 and 008 on up. Shipping anything larger gets pricey though.

[MatrixBlackRock]

My birthday is coming up and my girlfriend is going to buy me a small key cutter. I dont do this a profession and I dont want her to spend a fortune. What should I be looking for in a smaller, used machine for a hobbyist? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-Nick-

Let preface my reply by stating I am not a locksmith, I am merely a keeper of the locks and maker of the keys, that stated I needed a machine such as what you described and this is what I went with.

http://www.hpcworld.com/mobile/km/minis ... index.html

It's a small compact easy to use and fully manual machine precision machine that does a good job of quickly duplicating most any shouldered cylinder lock key, if you are looking to duplicate shoulderless keys you will need to obtain the optional tip gauges ST-1 for most keys and BT-1 for Best keys.

If you search around you can find the Mini-Speedex for under $400 shipping included, do be forewarned, make sure whomever you decide to buy one from, actually has it in stock, the first dealer I ordered one from quickly charged my credit card but then never shipped the unit, when I contacted the dealer as to why, I was informed they where out of stock and it would be two more weeks before it shipped, I cancelled the order and found another dealer that had them in stock at a slightly higher price, but with free shipping which actually lowered the delivered price.

As for e-Bay be very careful, I watched e-Bay for a couple of months before buying a new machine and a lot of what I saw offered was either missing certain key parts or where beat to death, yea you might save a few bucks going used but if you have to replace a cutter or a motor or a part that is out of production you're screwed. Another problem I see with used is wear causing increased tolerances, if the shaft the jaws ride on is not nice and smooth duplication becomes a pain, if the cutter shaft bushings have been run dry or scored you are in for an expensive repair at a cost probably exceeding the value of the machine.







Wayne

[billdeserthills]

I like my HPC Speedex machines too, I have a 9120 in my van and a 9160 in the shop. I have replaced the cutter shaft and the cutter shaft bushings many times over the last 25 years
and it isn't really that hard to do. However if You ask, some folks don't even think the HPC Speedex is a real key machine...

[Squelchtone]

I had an ILCO 027A which was a fine machine for basic work, but yeah, this stuff, even used, can cost $400+ like already said because you end up making money from cutting keys so it eventually pays for itself.

I sold my machine on craigslist after ebay pulled it citing security concerns. They actually called me to tell me they were canceling the auction and I told them their rule was stupid and selling key machines isn't going to start a crime wave.

You can still find them on ebay, try to get one before they notice it and pull it. Local craigslist is nice because you can save on shipping such a large heavy item.

Squelchtone

[MatrixBlackRock]

I sold my machine on craigslist after ebay pulled it citing security concerns. They actually called me to tell me they were canceling the auction and I told them their rule was stupid and selling key machines isn't going to start a crime wave.
Squelchtone

Interesting, I never realized they where a prohibited item, but it does explain why when I was watching e-Bay, I saw so few of them and those I did see where dumpster ready.

It is a odd rule as they can be had on the Net with the only check being, did the card clear.

Wayne

[Squelchtone]

NickMannnxx fill in your profile so we know where the heck you live.. we can all look around craigslist and find machines near you.
Here is a key machine in CT for $250 or best offer http://nwct.craigslist.org/tls/4940980457.html

[nickmannnxx]

Sorry guys, my phone is broken so I actually have to wait until I'm home in front of a computer to respond.

I'm from Pennsylvania, about an hour north of Pittsburgh.

That spedex machine that matrix posted looks like about what I had in mind. Just a lot cleaner than what I figured on. The machine can be used, it can be short a motor... heck 8t can even require a few parts if they are easily found. I just don't want to go out uneducated and buy junk.

I also wasn't aware that ebay prohibited them. I have seen a few on there (probably before they got pulled)

Squelch I will get my profile updated.

[1mrchristopher]

It would be a bit of a drive, but a day trip, a key machine and a rack full of keys.... http://cleveland.craigslist.org/for/4893138035.html

[billdeserthills]

It would be a bit of a drive, but a day trip, a key machine and a rack full of keys.... http://cleveland.craigslist.org/for/4893138035.html

These older Curtis machines may only have vises to hold single-sided keys, whereas the HPC Speedex machines have 4-way vises
Depending on what keys You will want to cut, this Curtis machine may be a really bad choice for Your business...

[nickmannnxx]

Its just for personal use. Also i will never car car keys, its just for locks that i repin or for trying to replace keys for locks that came without. So would an ilco 008 be about right?

[billdeserthills]

Its just for personal use. Also i will never car car keys, its just for locks that i repin or for trying to replace keys for locks that came without. So would an ilco 008 be about right?

Yes and You should not make it out like the 008 is a pos, if You wanna make fun of a key machine I would pick the Foley-Belsaw machine before the Ilco 008

[nickmannnxx]

Its just for personal use. Also i will never car car keys, its just for locks that i repin or for trying to replace keys for locks that came without. So would an ilco 008 be about right?

Yes and You should not make it out like the 008 is a pos, if You wanna make fun of a key machine I would pick the Foley-Belsaw machine before the Ilco 008

Huh? I wasnt calling the 008 a pos or making fun of it.... am I missing something?

[billdeserthills]

Its just for personal use. Also i will never car car keys, its just for locks that i repin or for trying to replace keys for locks that came without. So would an ilco 008 be about right?

Yes and You should not make it out like the 008 is a pos, if You wanna make fun of a key machine I would pick the Foley-Belsaw machine before the Ilco 008

Huh? I wasnt calling the 008 a pos or making fun of it.... am I missing something?

Most likely it was my mistake,
I still consider the foley belsaw machine something of a joke, but many folks think it is a good machine