re keying ?

[tpark]

If you buy KIK cylinders, some come pre-keyed. If you have to combinate the core to something else (e.g. it's part of a master system), you have two keys you can use for other customers. Anything mastered should be generated by software, to prevent cross keying. Sometimes the customer needs new cores instead of repinning his skungy worn out locks. If you have new cores with keys, and a supply of keys, you're set - people with worn locks pay for a new core, but if the locks are OK, you use the unused keys from other jobs to repin the customer's locks. The keys actually are new, so you're not trying to palm off old stuff on the customer.

[ltdbjd]

I had zillions. If you install a couple locks and key them to an existing, I'd throw the two that came with each lock into a bin. If I had four or more of the same, I'd keep them on a ring in case a customer wanted more than two keys. If I got bored, I'd make precuts in sets of 4, 6, or 8 to save time on a job. If somebody only wanted an odd number, I'd just throw in the extra key for free.

I saw a post that had a 8 cut in the first spot. Personally, if possible, I won't use a deep cut in the number one spot, that's where most of the stress is on a key, and where it's most likely to bend/break. My deepest cuts are usually in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th position.

As for coming up with the code, I just make something up, staying within MACS of course.

As a side note, I kept all the keys people gave me because they weren't needed any more. I filled up a 5 gallon bucket with keys, old cylinders, other brass stuff, and brought them to a recycler. I walked out with about $300. I saved up all my lock parts and brought them in. I had 650 lbs. I won't do that again. I got $27. The guy who rode in on a bike with three trash bags full of plastic bottles got more than I did. Mixed metal is almost worthless.

[Tyler J. Thomas]

I always offer customers their existing keys and hardware back after a job BUT I make sure to tell them I'll be happy to recycle it for them. I score a lot of "set up keys" that way. I just got about 40 sets of Schlage C, 5 pin that way. I'm in the parking lot right now to perform a lock swap that will net me 3 pristine Assa V10s. For set up keys, I only care about saving new, factory cut sets. Used keys get tossed into the recycle bucket.

My only moral clause is to stress that you offer the hardware back to the customer first because it is their property. Most don't want it back and I do recycle a lot of brass like that. That said, a lot gets repurposed or collected.

[cledry]

Jeff

Probably can put sets of Y1 together from locks we rekey. Not so much Arrow. Not popular here.

[cledry]

I always offer customers their existing keys and hardware back after a job BUT I make sure to tell them I'll be happy to recycle it for them. I score a lot of "set up keys" that way. I just got about 40 sets of Schlage C, 5 pin that way. I'm in the parking lot right now to perform a lock swap that will net me 3 pristine Assa V10s. For set up keys, I only care about saving new, factory cut sets. Used keys get tossed into the recycle bucket.

My only moral clause is to stress that you offer the hardware back to the customer first because it is their property. Most don't want it back and I do recycle a lot of brass like that. That said, a lot gets repurposed or collected.

Yeah, I make a bit of beer money from the nice cylinders I swap out. This week I got a DOM mortise cylinder, a matched rim and mortise Medeco Patriot with key, and 5 or 6 old Medeco Air keyway locks.

[Tyler J. Thomas]

I always offer customers their existing keys and hardware back after a job BUT I make sure to tell them I'll be happy to recycle it for them. I score a lot of "set up keys" that way. I just got about 40 sets of Schlage C, 5 pin that way. I'm in the parking lot right now to perform a lock swap that will net me 3 pristine Assa V10s. For set up keys, I only care about saving new, factory cut sets. Used keys get tossed into the recycle bucket.

My only moral clause is to stress that you offer the hardware back to the customer first because it is their property. Most don't want it back and I do recycle a lot of brass like that. That said, a lot gets repurposed or collected.

Yeah, I make a bit of beer money from the nice cylinders I swap out. This week I got a DOM mortise cylinder, a matched rim and mortise Medeco Patriot with key, and 5 or 6 old Medeco Air keyway locks.

Do you ever get offered safes? Company called us out a few weeks ago to remove a large safe. Told us we could have it if we just took it out. Didn't have time to take the job on unfortunately.

[cledry]

I always offer customers their existing keys and hardware back after a job BUT I make sure to tell them I'll be happy to recycle it for them. I score a lot of "set up keys" that way. I just got about 40 sets of Schlage C, 5 pin that way. I'm in the parking lot right now to perform a lock swap that will net me 3 pristine Assa V10s. For set up keys, I only care about saving new, factory cut sets. Used keys get tossed into the recycle bucket.

My only moral clause is to stress that you offer the hardware back to the customer first because it is their property. Most don't want it back and I do recycle a lot of brass like that. That said, a lot gets repurposed or collected.

Yeah, I make a bit of beer money from the nice cylinders I swap out. This week I got a DOM mortise cylinder, a matched rim and mortise Medeco Patriot with key, and 5 or 6 old Medeco Air keyway locks.

Do you ever get offered safes? Company called us out a few weeks ago to remove a large safe. Told us we could have it if we just took it out. Didn't have time to take the job on unfortunately.

Yes, we probably have 15 in stock right now that we either removed when we installed a new one and were instructed to dispose of, or ones offered to us at $50 or so. Mostly CSS deposit safes, but the other day we got a nice Cincy teller safe with 1" solid steel walls and a 1 1/2" solid steel door for $50.

We completely refurbish them, new lock usually and a nice cosmetic makeover.