ilco blanks vs OEM, not always the same.

[WOT]

I've always regarded ilco blanks to be milled to factory specs, but apparently they're not, especially in closer tolerance icore stuff.

You can usually tell an OEM BEST blank from an Ilco blank of the same type just by looking at the keyway cross-section. Ilco keys are thinner than OEM in some parts. Reduction in cost? To allow for greater manufacturing tolerance? who knows.

You might say as long as it operates the keyway its supposed to operate, it's ok, but there's a reason BEST makes different keyways. The reason is to not allow the entry of keys from a different keyway.

ILCO replacement for BEST K enters "K" keyway and the "M" keyway on a few new cores. The same "M" cores would not allow the OEM BEST K to enter.

there's no doubt the ilco blanks functions in "K" but at the expense of reduction in security of M keyway system by accomplishing the same thing as deliberately using OEM blanks intended to fit both K & M.

Anyone else notice a problem of this sort with using ilco or generic blanks in place of OEM?

[WOT]

It also enters some "L" keyway cores, particularly worn out ones or even though they positively rejected OEM Best K blanks.

[Shrub]

Blank manufacturers mostly dont have a license from the lock makers to make blanks for their locks, they make them anyway to serve the industry and the lock people tolerate it as they cant do anything about it unless its a truely restricted keyway (i have in the past been able to get every restricted blank ive needed),

You will find that unless original manufacturer blanks the sizes will differ and in some cases by quite a lot with one particular key i use daily being 2mm shorter than the original,

[blackfoot]

I work with some best brand keys and you can tell the differance from a best master key blank and ilco fm master key blank. the fm is way thinner and really sloppy in the keyways.

[WOT]

Left to right:

OEM BEST K
ILCO K
OEM BEST L

The alignment groove area on the bottom is thinner on ilco, which would allow the key to move side-by-side more, probably enough to let it move over enough to let the top groove to pass over when it really shouldn't.

OEM BEST K:
Enters K.
Positively refused by M and even worn out L cores.

ILCO K:
Enters K, M and worn out L cores.

[WOT]

Blank manufacturers mostly dont have a license from the lock makers to make blanks for their locks, they make them anyway to serve the industry and the lock people tolerate it as they cant do anything about it unless its a truely restricted keyway (i have in the past been able to get every restricted blank ive needed),

You will find that unless original manufacturer blanks the sizes will differ and in some cases by quite a lot with one particular key i use daily being 2mm shorter than the original,

The ILCO FM fits BEST A,B,C,D,E,F and G cores. Dedicated keyway blanks are not mutually compatible.

It's possible for the same bitting to exist in an A keyway and a D keyway, but rely on the difference in keyway to keep the keys from working outside of its respective keyway.

For key duplicating retail Lockie, the FM blank would be golden as he'd only have to stock 150 of them and be able to accept key cutting in any quantity instead of having to stock 20 each of each type and not have any idea of demand for each keyway. Probably the only thing keeping retail lockies from stocking up on the FM is that they're total pain in the butt to claim into the key machine.

As far as individual customers are concerned, the "key works".

I would think single keyway blanks that happens to be incidental multi-milled type is completely unacceptable to institutional lockies.

[Isakill]

Judging by what I see the ILCO blank shouldn't fit into either keyway.

but with the blade being what looks to be 20% thinner I suppose the key could bypass the tolerances.

[maxxed]

I rarely work on sfic but the rest of the keyways seen to work well enough for the intended locks. So for my purpose Ilco works well

[2octops]

WOT you need to meet Randy Main. You'd like talking to him

He runs a very well known IC mail order lock shop in Cali. It takes a special breed to love SFIC that much