Can Locksmiths Make Keys From a Lock?

Usually locksmiths have to deal with tricky situations like fixing broken locks, unlocking doors and duplicate keys, but did you know they can also make a key from a lock even if there’s no original key to copy. You might not think about it but a lot of people call locksmiths all the time asking for this service.

A locksmith can make a key without the original by working directly from the lock and it can happen because of these 2 main reasons:

Lost Keys

This can happen to anyone and if there is no spare key people can easily find themselves locked out. Instead of changing the whole lock a locksmith can create a new key that works perfectly with the existing lock.

Broken or Damaged Keys

Over time keys can wear out and break inside a lock, so instead of replacing the entire lock a professional locksmith can extract the broken key pieces out and make a new key for it.

How Locksmiths Make Keys From Locks

Creating keys from locks might seem simple for locksmiths but actually it is quite challenging. It involves taking apart the lock mechanism which is not an easy task without having the lock’s key.

Cutting the key based on the code

Locks have special codes that can be use by locksmiths to make new keys. These codes are unique sets of characters. Sometimes locksmiths can also figure out the code from a broken key.

Experienced locksmiths can disassemble locks and get this number but if it unreadable from some reason they can also figure out the pin arrangement to make a new key.

Take an impression of the lock

Creating a new key without the lock code is quite a challenge and it involves making an impression of the lock using a special technique.

Experienced locksmiths can complete this job by using a special key referred as a bump key and by inserting it into the lock and bump it the pins inside they mimic the original key and identify it in order to cut a new key that is identical to the original.