Lost Key Alert: Can A Locksmith Make A Key From A Lock?

There were times when people could move around freely without having to worry about their belongings. My great-grandmother would tell me stories about her young adulthood when they would hardly ever lock their bicycles because they knew nobody would steal. Well, indeed, the times have changed, and we live in a materialistic world. Hence, we cannot imagine leaving our belongings unlocked when we are away, which makes physical locks an entity that almost every human being uses.

While locks have become synonymous with home security, they also protect our vehicles, garages, luggage bags, etc. Therefore, investing in a lock that assures security is recommended. Also, it is important to ensure taking care of the keys of the lock as lost keys may compromise the security of your belongings and cause you the trouble of running to the locksmith.

Recently, one of my cousins lost the key to his apartment. Since the spare keys of his apartment were with his ex-girlfriend, whom he did not prefer contacting, he was left with no option but to get the duplicate keys made. He called me to ask, ‘how to get a house key made without the original key?’ Upon this, I referred him to my friend, who is a licensed locksmith.

A locksmith can cut the key for your lock even without the original key. A locksmith can cut the key of your lock without the original key by either cutting the key according to the keycode, making an impression of the key by inserting a blank key into the lock, or by dissembling the lock to crack the key code.  However, some locks may be more formidable than others and maybe even be impossible to be keyed if the original key is lost. 

In this article, we shall learn about the cans and hows of cutting a duplicate key of a lock without the original key. But before that, let us learn about why you might need a duplicate key for your lock.

Why You May Need A New Key For Your Lock

It’s not always that you leave your spare keys with your ex-partners. In most cases, a locksmith may not have to cut a key from the lock as it is likely that the original key of the lock is functional and intact. But there are cases when you may need to get a duplicate key made without having the original key. In such cases, you would have no option but to get a duplicate key made with the help of a locksmith.

Some of the situations that will lead you to ask a locksmith ‘how to get a key cut without the original’ are as below:

Your Lock Key Is Misplaced: In case you have misplaced your keys at some safe place but cannot find them. Hence, you are not worried about any security threat but need a set of new keys to access your lock.

Your Lock Key Is Lost Or Stolen: If your lock key is lost, but the items that you intend to lock are not under any security threat because the key was lost far off, you may get a new set of keys made without the original keys. 

Your Lock Key Is Broken: Whether the key broke while using it as a lever or while unlocking the lock, if you wish to continue using the lock, you would need a locksmith’s help to cut the key.

Can A Locksmith Make A Key Without The Original Key?

Most of us believe that a locksmith can only make a duplicate key using an original key. Hence many of my readers ask me, ‘how to get a house key made without the original?’

I understand that it may seem slightly counter-intuitive to believe that a locksmith could make a duplicate key from a lock without any original key. The very thought that somebody can open your lock when you don’t have access to it may be scary but is also extremely comforting when you have your lock keys lost or broken. 

In case your lock key is lost, you cannot use just any key to unlock it. Hence, it is necessary to have a duplicate key made for your lock if you are locked out or are considering continuing to use the lock. Each lock has a specific code as per which the key is made that aligns perfectly with the groves of the lock. The design of most modern-day door locks, the skillset of a licensed locksmith, and appropriate tools, when coupled together, can unlock most locks by recreating the key. 

To summarize, yes, an experienced locksmith has the ability to make a key from the lock without the original key. However, it is important to note that the steps involved in this process may be challenging, and it may not be possible to cut the keys for all kinds of locks. Some locks may be more formidable than others and maybe even be impossible to be keyed again. 

Also, if the cost to get a new key made for your lock is too high, it may be better to replace the lock than to pay a handsome fee to the locksmith.

How Do Locksmiths Make Keys Without The Original Key?

Depending upon the lock and the locksmith, a locksmith may use a different approach to cut the key for your lock. The major techniques used to make the duplicate keys without the original keys are making an impression of the key using the lock, cutting the key as per the key code, or as a last resort, dissembling the lock.

Locksmiths use some tools and machines to cut the keys, and the same must only be used by a professional. A punch machine doesn’t require any power to function and is operated manually, but it cannot cut complicated keys.

An electric code machine runs on electricity and is used to cut more complicated keys. The machine allows you to cut the new keys both manually and automatically.

In the end, it is almost always advisable to hire a licensed professional to rekey your lock rather than trying to do something as complex as cutting a new key on your own or by an untrained locksmith to avoid the risk of damaging your lock. 

Making A Key By Using The Codes

Cutting the key as per the key code is the simplest way for a locksmith to make a key for your lock without the original key. However, the fact that the process is relatively easier does not imply that every lock’s key can be recreated using this method.

A key code is the code of the bits, which, basically, is a set of characters that signify the shape and cutting of the key of a specific lock. The bitting code is not written on the lock, but, in some cases, it is printed on the key. If you have the photograph of your lock key, which I understand is less likely, you can easily get your lock keyed with the help of the picture. You may also track the code with the help of the model number of the lock. Some high-security locks or reputed brand locks come with a user manual that mentions the code of the key in it. You may also reach out to the retailer or the manufacturer of the lock to check whether they can tell you the key code of your lock. 

However, manufacturers usually roll out this information to only licensed locksmiths and not to any untrained professional who is not licensed. 

Hence, if you are lucky enough to have or extract the codes of your lock key, you will be able to get a new key made for your lock without the original key. If not, I have got you covered, as there still are chances that your lock can be rekeyed using a more complex process.

Making A Key By Creating The Key Impression Using The Lock

In comparison to cutting a key to the key code, making an impression of a lock from inside to make the key is a more direct approach if you do not have access to the key codes. The process is more expedient in nature as it involves taking the impressions of the lock from the inside to create the key. Hence, most locksmiths prefer this approach to others.

Taking the impressions of the lock allows a locksmith to make a key without decoding the lock. A blank key is inserted into the lock and turned so that the impressions of the lock from inside can be made on the key. The pins press against the key, leaving marks where the key needs to be cut. The procedure is repeated multiple times to decipher the exact marks and to ensure that the key is cut correctly.

Several trials run later; the locksmith will get the right key that fits into your lock, which is not possible without a skilled professional and the right tools. This is one reason why we do not have as many locksmiths around as plumbers or electricians.

Making A Key By Dissembling The Lock

In case you have no luck locating the key code of your lock and the locksmith was unable to create an impression of the key, the last resort to create a duplicate key without the original is by dissembling the lock. It is a much harder process as compared to making an impression of the key but since it is not always possible to successfully impression a key, sometimes dissembling the lock is the only way a locksmith can make a duplicate key for your lock without the original key. 

Disassembling the lock involves opening the lock to access the internal parts of the lock. The lock cylinder is disassembled to identify the bitting for the key by examining the alignment and size of the pins and tumbler within the lock cylinder. 

In order to disassemble the lock, the locksmith will have to pick the lock. Hence, the harder your lock is to pick, the harder it is to disassemble it. In the case of an in-built lock, a locksmith will have to remove the lock from the door in order to properly disassemble it. 

It is important that the task is done by an experienced professional so that the lock is disassembled in a non-destructive way. 

Rekeying Of A Lock

Rekeying a lock means changing the working key of the lock without replacing the lock itself. In other words, rekeying means keeping the same lock with a new key so that the old key will no longer operate. Rekeying is done by dissembling the lock and replacing some of the internal parts like pins and tumblers.

Usually, rekeying of the lock is recommended in case your key is stolen or lost. It is unsafe in terms of security to use your lock as it is after the keys are lost. Hence it is suggested that you either invest in a new lock or rekey your lock. In case, you are looking for a new apartment lock for your home, reading one of my past articles article may be helpful.

FAQs

Q1. Is it possible to cut the key of any lock without the original key?

Answer – No, it is not possible to cut the keys of all the locks as some locks have a specific security feature that deters cracking the code to make a duplicate key using the lock. In such a case, it is nearly impossible to cut a key without having the original key, and the only option in case of losing the keys is to replace the lock.

Q2. I lost the keys to my trunk. The locksmith could not get the lock’s code and failed to make an impression on it. Is there any other way I can get it rekeyed?

Answer – If the key code of your lock is not known and the locksmith is unable to make an impression of the key, the only option is to dissemble the lock to crack the code.

Q3. Is there a way I can rekey my locks myself?

Answer – Though most locks cannot be rekeyed by oneself and require a professional locksmith’s assistance for the same, there are some modern locks that allow the users to rekey them on their own. This depends on the types of locking mechanisms. 

It is often better to hire a professional locksmith if your lock is complicated to be rekeyed.

Conclusion

Incidents like losing the key to your home or forgetting the car keys inside the vehicle are not uncommon. With the hustle and bustle of regular life, we all tend to get a little careless at times. But this carelessness can lead to trouble if you do not have the spare keys. In this case, the only person who can resume you is a locksmith.

A locksmith can cut the key of your lock without the original key by either cutting the key according to the key code, making an impression of the key by inserting a blank key into the lock, or by dissembling the lock to crack the key code. If you are looking for an answer to the question ‘can a locksmith make a house key without the original?’, the article must have been helpful for you. In case of more queries related to home security, I am happy to help you.