Locksmith Can't Cut Porsche Keys

[alan911]

Nigel's right.

Home Depot is the place. They even have the blanks (for my '77). Not "Porsche" mind you, but they work for spares.

I suspect keys and locks for the mid years (70's) are easily duplicated and changed. Don't know about the 80's models.

[Bravo]

Thanks for all of the input!! It sounds like Home Depot is the place! Not even 5 minutes from my house!! I'll post the results Monday

[Wayne 962]

We must have sold thousands of these Porsche key blanks:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/ksearch/pel_search.cgi?command=DWsearch&description=key+blank

and I've never heard of anyone having a problem getting them cut? Try Home Depot?

-Wayne

[Steve W]

The problems I've seen with key cutters is that the steel Porsche keys are supposed to be cut with a special carbide cutter that most locksmiths don't have. Most keys, including the replica Porsche keys are made of soft brass. If you find someone who doesn't know this (i.e. Home Depot) they may cut it for without knowing they will destroy their cutting wheel, like cutting through nails with a Skilsaw blade. The other and more significant problem is that some if these guys don't know how to cut the double sided key properly (and this I would not trust my expensive Porsche blank to Home Depot) Single sided keys are easy because the master and new blank have a flat side to base against on the machine before cutting. Not so with a double sided Porsche key. If either the master or blank are not exactly centered in the jig, and when flipping over the copy to cut the other side, the distance of the groves from center will off - I've seen it happen several times. Even the master locksmith I've used here in L.A., Via Zapata, notes that he has to use extreme precision when cutting the blanks. So I'd make sure the guy you use knows what he is doing.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally posted by Steve W
...The other and more significant problem is that some if these guys don't know how to cut the double sided key properly (and this I would not trust my expensive Porsche blank to Home Depot)...

Yeah, BTDT. That is exactly why keys are one of the very few things I still go to the dealer for. They have the correct steel blanks (obviously), and can cut them for you right there. If they screw it up, they will grab another blank and do it again for free.

[unimog]

Stuart at sales@keys4classics.com can cut from codes if you need that. He also has the very hard to find wheel lock key blanks or again he can cut those from code.

I'd get your 'normal' blanks from Pelican, reasonable price, and the 'real deal'.

[911Rob]

I got a pair of these from our host....
locksmith in town cut them, no problem.
Now if I could just find them?

[Jarrett88]

In the SoCal area i would go to steve's lock n' safe, across the street from manhattan beach mall, on sepulveda. Talk to dave, he's actually the owner and my father. I worked for him during summers and those keys are a pain because of the fact that when you flip it over it can be out of alignment and if you dont measure 3 times then you will sometimes mess one up. Also anyone looking for an alarm install, you might want to check the shop out, never had a car stolen in 25 years of installing alarms (NO BS). His alarms are not cheap because of the time he spends installing them, but your not investing in a noise maker.

[filou]

'89cab,
I also bought blank keys on line and went to the locksmith on Del monte around that japanese place at the intersection of Broadway in Seaside.
No problem. I gave my original, the blank key, made me a copy and charge only $2.00 for labor.
Phil.

[red-beard]

Geez, when Wayne's (former) SC didn't have any keys, I called a mobil key smith who cut the keys from the key numbers I found in the owner's manual.

Sure beat driving around with a screwdriver...

[VaSteve]

Originally posted by pwd72s
Do you have the VIN and proof of ownership on your car? If so, a dealership should be able to do it...

The local dealer looked at my key and said that it was too complicated for them to cut. He looked up how much it would cost from PCNA - $60!! I procrastinated and one day a padded enveloped showed up in my mail. The PO found some old keys that didn't fit their other Porsches and mailed them to me. They fit!!! Yeeehaw!

I hope you have better luck with your dealer.

[Tim Walsh]

Steve was that from randell? If so he had ALOT of porsche's to go through

[red-beard]

If you have AAA, call AAA and have them send a mobil locksmith...

[VaSteve]

Originally posted by l33t9eek
Steve was that from randell? If so he had ALOT of porsche's to go through

Ha ha. No it was the actual owners. The keys just showed up. I owe them a thank you note. They saved me $60.

[RickM]

I've had bad luck with Home Depot. Two seperate house keys and many trips back and forth. I finally gave up.

I went to a very well equipped local locksmith who charged a bit more but the keys worked perfectly the first time.

[RickM]

BTW, here's Tony the Key guys website (as previously mentioned)... http://www.hillmanimages.com/912/030601-2338.html

Bring/send him your Pelican blanks and you're in business.

[Superman]

If I were a locksmith, I'd either get out of the business, or get a machine that performs well enough to cut steel keys. Ridiculous. I guess they're ready to cut plastic keys any time you like.