Is the HPC Switch Blitz any good?

[AlwaysLearningDavid]

https://www.clksupplies.com/products/hpc-1200-switch-blitz-code-machine?variant=3155470721&gclid=Cj0KCQiAwc7jBRD8ARIsAKSUBHKYw_58elLwXWH0AUVriL-U8Mf67Hy3dg3uzXxkO90Sp6v3zcxAmowaAqzYEALw_wcB

I like the prospect of one less machine in the van, but I'm wondering if switching out wheels would negate the the benefits.

Or maybe you could keep the copy wheel on it and move it back and forth?

Lastly, my copy machine needs calibration about every two weeks as it is ( I cut a LOT of keys and have wild temperature changes in the winter), is that going to be worse swapping wheels out all the time?

[GWiens2001]

What kind of copy machine are you using that needs to be recalibrated every two weeks?

Changing the wheels is pretty easy on a Blitz, and you can even get speed-nuts that allow you to change them without tools. (Use one on my Blitz), though I don't have a SB.

Gordon

[Raccoon]

I own the Ilco Universal II which is basically a clone of the HPC 1200 Blitz (don't ask me which came first, I dunno.)

It would be rather convenient to have a key copy built right into the machine, but I wouldn't use it for large-scale copying. In fact, I might use it for reading keys against the card needles more than anything else. It also seems like a profoundly expensive feature compared to the lesser Blitz models that lack it.

You definitely should keep (or buy a better) copier for making copies. But that's just my opinion. You don't want to wear out your Blitz.

And yes, temperature plays a huge factor. It didn't take long for me to discover that I needed to calibrate my Universal II if the temp changes 10°F ~ 20°F or so, with as much as .005" deviation in my cuts.

[johnny2olives]

The Blitz is the industry standard for sourcing keys, reading cuts in keys is also a 'reverse engineered' thing that one learns using a Blitz...
If you don't have a Blitz (or some way to code source keys) - you're really sitting and spinning.....
John

[RedE]

Do you currently have a code machine? And have you used a regular Biltz before? If you can say no to both questions, I would wait and at least see if you can find someone who will let you try out a Blitz to see if you like how they operate. I can't stand them, and it'd suck if you found out the same thing after the purchase.

Also,to continue a previously mentioned point, is the cost benefit analysis favorable to having just one machine in the mobile shop? Yes it may take up less space, but the tradeoffs of less versatility and the potential of being totally dead in the water if the Switch Blitz dies, would be factors I would seriously think about before moving forward.

Just want to make sure that whatever you end up with will be something you'll be happy with.

https://www.clksupplies.com/products/hpc-1200-switch-blitz-code-machine?variant=3155470721&gclid=Cj0KCQiAwc7jBRD8ARIsAKSUBHKYw_58elLwXWH0AUVriL-U8Mf67Hy3dg3uzXxkO90Sp6v3zcxAmowaAqzYEALw_wcB

I like the prospect of one less machine in the van, but I'm wondering if switching out wheels would negate the the benefits.

Or maybe you could keep the copy wheel on it and move it back and forth?

Lastly, my copy machine needs calibration about every two weeks as it is ( I cut a LOT of keys and have wild temperature changes in the winter), is that going to be worse swapping wheels out all the time?