most popular key blanks

[glasskey]

I just bought three OLD key towers full of key blanks and I want to condense them into one tower with about 150 +or- blanks. I know I have tons of blanks that are still in use along with some OLD blanks that I most probably will never use. I don't want to turn away any potential customers SO I am looking for a listing of THE most popular key blanks so I have an idea of what blanks to keep and which ones to put in a box and hide some where. I did find a site at keymachine.com with a listing of supposed 150 hot numbers, but looking at the blanks that are carried by others on the internet, I am finding a lot of hot numbers on the other sites that are not on this list and a lot of numbers on the list that are not carried by other suppliers. I want to think that most suppliers won't carry a bunch of blanks that don't sell.. if any one knows of a recent list of popular key blanks that does NOT include 1945 studebaker blanks I would appreciate the feedback.

[plot]

I would think the most popular blanks would be pretty easy to spot... kwikset, schlage, master lock, and the popular cars on the road.


where'd you get 3 key towers?

[mcm757207]

Probobly...
KW1
SC1
M1
Y11
Y13
And the others that I can't remember the Letters for...
Russwin (LA12 I believe)
Corbin
American Padlock (AM1?)

And then all of the vehicle keys, which you'll have to ask someone else about.

[Buggs41]

The list will vary quite a bit region to region. Kwiksets might be very hot in your town, but Schlage is the lock used most in the town 10 miles down the road.

It will vary mostly by what the retailers have on their shelves. Check out the selection at hand. This will give you the best clue as to what sells in your area.

[kodierer]

Don't forget Wr5

[vector40]

Foley-Belsaw sells a "little of everything" keyblank starter kit that includes blanks from what I guess they consider the most common keyways:

Arrow AR1

BEST BE2

Bommer BO1

CCL CO68

Chicago CG1

Dexter DE6

Ilco IN35

Kwikset KWI

Master M1 M2 and M16

Schlage SC1 SC4 SC8 and SC9

Segal SE1

Weiser WR3 and WR5

Sargent S22 and S68

Weslock WK2

Yale Y1 Y1E Y2 Y11 Y12 and Y13

Take that how you will.

[raimundo]

Some people even want keys to their cars, so if your in the US, keep a stock of US japanese, german auto blanks. Put the blanks for british french and italian cars in a box in the back.

[glasskey]

I have most of these down so far, but thought someone might have a new key blank chart from the one of tha blank makers with the most popular. the KW1 and KW10 are by far the most popular top two in my area and account for 75% of keys that I have cut since I got my first machine a month ago. I have had to re-order these blanks already.

[Peaky]

You have answered you own question then really havent you, as all have said the blanks will vary on the area you are in even town/city you are in so the only way is to keep them all and over the period of 12 months you should have a good idea of what to stock, round here i might find the local council changes their 100+ locks every April but not see that lock for the rest of the year.

[glasskey]

problem is I don't have room to keep 3 key blank towers in my shop.

[plot]

you dont have to keep key blanks on key towers you know


really though, where did you get 3 key towers?

[Mad Mick]

problem is I don't have room to keep 3 key blank towers in my shop.

Well Matey, you could always send em to me (complete with keys) Heheh!

[Peaky]

What ive done in the past when i have bought job lots of key is to take frequently used ones out then using a nylon tie wrap group the rest together in blank sizes then chuck them all in a bucket, burn the boards or donate to one of the above.
You could allways have the boards on the ceiling with the unused keys dangleing down to give the shop a more cluttered feeling