Key Cutting and Spare Keys for Your Home

A spare key in the right hands saves a lockout. A spare key in the wrong hands is a risk. Here is how to manage keys well.

What can be cut

• House, garage and side-door keys.
• Mailbox, cabinet and padlock keys.
• Keys for restricted keyways, with proper authorization.

Restricted keys

Some high-security locks use patented keyways. Copies can only be made through an authorized dealer with the owner's ID or card. That protection is the point: it stops copies being made without your knowledge.

Good habits with spare keys

• Give spares only to people you trust, and keep a list.
• Avoid hiding a key under a mat or planter.
• Label keys with a code, not your address.
• When the list gets long, rekey and start fresh.

A worn key

If a key is bent or worn, a copy made from it copies the wear. It is better to cut a new key from a good original, or to have the locksmith cut to code.

See residential locksmith services for more.