Key cutting: mortice blanks

[budget1977]

Hi everyone, looking for a little advice. Currently i provide a key cutting service from my van. I only stock the key blanks for the locks i supply and fit as i do not want to carry hundreds of different blanks which i will probably never use.

The problem is i now have a contract with a big letting agent who now and again ask me to come and cut keys for them at the office. As for cylinders, i usually get away with using my universal 5 and 6 pin blanks, however i only stock union mortice blanks (locks i supply and fit). My question is, is there a few universal mortice blanks on the market which will cover the majority of mortice locks? Or will i have to bite the bullet and buy in all the popular mortices blanks?

Thanks

[cledry]

Hi everyone, looking for a little advice. Currently i provide a key cutting service from my van. I only stock the key blanks for the locks i supply and fit as i do not want to carry hundreds of different blanks which i will probably never use.

The problem is i now have a contract with a big letting agent who now and again ask me to come and cut keys for them at the office. As for cylinders, i usually get away with using my universal 5 and 6 pin blanks, however i only stock union mortice blanks (locks i supply and fit). My question is, is there a few universal mortice blanks on the market which will cover the majority of mortice locks? Or will i have to bite the bullet and buy in all the popular mortices blanks?

Thanks

Buy the correct blanks. You can get away with the longer blanks and reduce the length if things are really tight. When you say universal do you mean top level section on a sectional keyway? If so that usually will result in a very weak key.

[jimu57]

What brands and profile

[budget1977]

I was speaking to my local lock supplier today (keyprint edinburgh) ended up getting union blanks (fits all union), era fortress blanks, chubb and legge. He recommended keeping a few universal blanks for each gauge from 5 to 7. And only use these when one of the above blanks do not fit

[RumballSolutions]

Just for clarity, When budget refers to mortice lock blanks for Chubb, Union, ERA Fortress and Legge he is referring to bit style keys for lever locks that are in common usage in the UK.

[cledry]

I was wondering about that, makes sense then.

[Squelchtone]

Just for clarity, When budget refers to mortice lock blanks for Chubb, Union, ERA Fortress and Legge he is referring to bit style keys for lever locks that are in common usage in the UK.

Do you mean key blanks made by a company such as Silca instead of buying official Chubb or Union or Legge blanks? or blanks that have a shape so they can be inserted in several different manufacturers keyways?

Thanks
Squelchtone

[RumballSolutions]

Obviously each manufacturer has their own specific blanks with particular dimensions and just like cylinder locks, you can buy factory ($$) or aftermarket like Silca, Keyline etc.

Where Budget refers to universal blanks, they are an aftermarket product that may fit several brands/models of locks given they have reasonably similar dimensions (some minor modification may be required) and in the case of side wards, they have cuts that accomodate the common profiles.

Universal blanks for lever locks stem from the fact that most lever locks use fairly simple key designs and share common dimensions being sized using the gauge system.

[Squelchtone]

Obviously each manufacturer has their own specific blanks with particular dimensions and just like cylinder locks, you can buy factory ($$) or aftermarket like Silca, Keyline etc.

Where Budget refers to universal blanks, they are an aftermarket product that may fit several brands/models of locks given they have reasonably similar dimensions (some minor modification may be required) and in the case of side wards, they have cuts that accomodate the common profiles.

Universal blanks for lever locks stem from the fact that most lever locks use fairly simple key designs and share common dimensions being sized using the gauge system.

Thank you for the easy to understand reply!
Squelchtone

[RumballSolutions]

Thank you for the easy to understand reply!
Squelchtone

No problem. Happy to offer assistance where I can. There are peculiarities in locksmithing all over the world. Where those in the US may have limited knowledge of residential lever locks, they may be experts in SFIC? Conversely, the locksmith from the UK may never have seen an SFIC. We all share and learn!