What are the "Blitz" Must Haves?

[mechmech]

I bit the bullet and purchased my first HPC 1200CMB a couple of weeks ago, and absolutely love it. Its such an improvement verse using the space and depth keys for the last two years.

I'de like to know from any of the more seasoned users what are the must haves? I only have three three cutters the 1011, 47, and 14.

I am about to purchase the tubular cutter and want to know if any of the vices are a must have? I don't cut any Medeco yet so it's not an immediate need, but InstaCode says I "might" need the Schlage Jaw or the Automotive Super Jaw or Ford Jaw, when I have pulled up certain keys.

What does it mean by "might" are the different Jaws a convenience feature or are they a necessity?

[lockjock50]

There is a cutter for sargent keys. I just cant remember the number.
if you cut safe deposit box keys, there is a couple for those.

I never liked the auto superjaw. It just may be me. But ive heard of others liking it.

[2octops]

20 is the Sargent cutter.

Just make sure you get all of the new cards and motorcycle cards. In almost 20 years I've never seen a need for any pimping out on a Blitz.

You don't need no fancy jaws or speed nutz.

The best things that you can buy are a calibration kit and a 1" chip brush to keep the shavings from building up. Shavings will build up under the shoulder stop and keep it from activating the safety switch sometimes and that keeps the machine from working.

Once you get your calibration kit, calibrate your machine and play with it until you understand how each of the pieces works with the others to make needed changes. Please, never think it would be easier to just take the cover off and bend the needles just a little bit. That's a good way to totally screw up your machine.

The Tibbe adapters are cool as long as the machine is dead nuts calibrated.

The safe deposit stuff works very well also.

I've never used the tubular adapter for these.

[mechmech]

Thanks for the reply! I am waiting on my calibration kit to come in the mail, but so for the basic KW and SH keys have been dead on when checked with a micrometer. The tubular key looks kind of funky. It cuts flats verses the normal look, but they work perfect. I'll try to post a picture later.

[minifhncc]

Yeah the Blitz is a nice machine. My only gripe is that, with the provided code cards, the spacing needle tends to scrape them towards the LHS. So I just print cards from Instacode on plain A4 paper, cut it out and place it and it seems to be fine and even cut very accurately.

[Flanigan]

These are more general code cutting questions but I think they fit this thread;
What ONE cutting wheel gets the most use on a code machine when cutting for residential and commercial? I'm primarily looking at Schlage, Corbin, Weiser etc.
What about for Master and Abus padlocks? Do they use the same angle cutter?
What about filing cabinet keys? Is there one cutter that gets used more?

[MBI]

What ONE cutting wheel gets the most use on a code machine when cutting for residential and commercial? I'm primarily looking at Schlage, Corbin, Weiser etc.
What about for Master and Abus padlocks? Do they use the same angle cutter?
What about filing cabinet keys? Is there one cutter that gets used more?

It's the CW-14MC cutter for most pin-tumbler residential and commercial locks, not including high security and a few oddball ones.
The CW-1011 is commonly used for smaller locks like padlocks, cabinet and file cabinet locks.
Automotive keys tend to use the CW-1011 or the CW-47MC. Before I got my CW-47MC I used my CW-1011 for all auto keys and the keys worked fine. I imagine there are some makes which might not work if you substitute cutters like that, but I haven't run across any yet in the limited amount of automotive work I've done.

If you buy a bare-bones Blitz they don't come with any cutters or cards. The regular model comes with all the most common cards you'll need and it comes with the CW-14MC and the CW-1011. The Extreme Blitz comes with all three of those cutters, and some other useful bonus items.

http://www.hpcworld.com/km/blitz/index.html

When in doubt, each code card tells you which cutter to use for that particular lock.

[Flanigan]

Thanks!

[IndigoChild]

I have a very very old Blitz machine. One of the first ones. As long as you have a 14-MC and a C-1011 you will generally be alright. Some things you might want to try with your machine though. The crank on the side for your spacing, it can be replaced with a bigger crank so you get your spacing right every time. as far as the cutters go try to get your carbide steel cutters and nothing less. i guarantee they are worth the money. I have on top of the two I mentioned a Sargeant cutter and a Medeco cutter. Both valuable for locksmithing. Like was also mentioned slotted cutters might be something to look into for safe deposit boxes. I have never used any other cutters because with those that I have I can do all that I see. Its the locks that are in the area. I highly recommend getting the knurled knobs instead of the wing nuts they use. Micrometer cards are something else I like to have on hand for the blitz because sometimes you dont have the card you need and if you use a computer you can see the depths and spacings you will need for your unknown key. Wire brushes are always better than the softies also however they will fling little metal hairs at you. Anyways I hope anything I said helps.