Can A Locksmith Make A Key From A Lock? If So, How?

People commonly duplicate their keys for several reasons. It could be because they need to give a copy to a family member or a roommate or just simply want to have a spare key. Typically, when we want a key recopied, we usually bring the original key to a locksmith and they make a copy from it. But what if you lose the key before getting a spare? Is it still possible for a locksmith to make a key without the original? 

Well, the answer is yes.  A trained locksmith can create a key even if there is no original key available. What they need though is the lock of that key. Here are some of the ways a locksmith can make a key when the original key has gone missing:

1. Cracking the Code of the Key

If the lock can be disassembled, then a trained locksmith can crack the code of the key. This means that the locksmith needs to see, know, and understand the pins that make up the code of the lock. These pins have different lengths and the order of the pins makes that particular lock unique from other locks. What the locksmith needs to do is to pull the lock apart and decipher the type of pins, their length, and their order to make a key that matches the lock. 

2. Key Impressioning

Key impressioning is a locksmithing skill that requires hundreds of hours to master. It is a non-destructive, covert way to make a copy of a key without the need to disassemble the lock or use lock picking techniques. This means that, unlike the first method, the locksmith no longer has to pull the lock apart. For locksmiths to do this, they need to insert a blank key into the lock and manipulate the blank key. By doing this, the pins in the lock will press against the key and will then leave markings on the blank key. The locksmith will then make the cuts where it is needed. This method may take a while as the locksmith may have to insert the blank key several times to make sure that all the cuts done are correct. A locksmith needs the proper training, experience, and the right tools to pull this job off.

You might wonder why you need to know if a locksmith can make a key from a lock. But you will be surprised how many people lost their keys in unexpected ways, like accidentally throwing them away or dropping them down the drain. When this happens to you, you wouldn’t feel so scared or worried anymore as you know there are still ways and options for you to make a key from your existing lock. So, if you lost your keys and have no spare key, simply call a locksmith and they will make a new one for you.