Key Cutting & Duplication

Our storefront sign says it plainly: keys made here. Key cutting in Kitchener is the most common reason people walk through our door at 300 Manitou Drive. House keys, business keys, padlock keys, mailbox keys and more are cut at the counter while you wait. The store is open Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 5 pm, and Friday, 8 am to 4 pm.

Getting a good copy

A copy is only as good as the key it’s made from. Every time a copy is made from a copy, small errors add up, until the newest key sticks or won’t turn at all. A few tips:

• Bring the original or the best working key you have, not the worn spare from the junk drawer.
• Bring every key you want copied in one trip, so they’re all cut on the same visit.
• Test new keys right away in every lock they’re meant for, and come back if one is stiff.

Keys by code

Many locks have a code stamped on the lock face, the key or the original paperwork: filing cabinets, desks, mailboxes, lockers, some padlocks and some older locks. With the code, a key can often be cut without the original. If you have lost the only key to a cabinet, look for a small number near the keyhole and bring it in.

Restricted and high-security keys

Some keys can’t be copied at a hardware counter, by design. As a Mul-T-Lock Super Center, we cut Mul-T-Lock keys for systems set up under our account, and only for people authorized on that system. That is the whole point of a restricted key: the owner decides who gets copies. If you would like that kind of control at home or work, see our high-security locks page.

You may also see keys stamped “Do Not Duplicate.” That stamp is a request, not a security feature; it doesn’t stop a machine from cutting the blank. If you need keys that truly can’t be copied, a restricted keyway is the answer.

Padlocks

We sell padlocks from brands such as Master Lock, ABUS and Guard, and we can set them up three ways:

• Keyed alike: several padlocks that all open with one key, handy for a shed, a gate and a trailer.
• Keyed different: each padlock has its own key, for lockers or storage units shared by different people.
• Keyed to an existing key: padlocks that open with your house or business key, so there’s one less key on the ring.

Camlocks and mailbox locks

Camlocks are the small locks on cabinets, drawers, display cases, lockers and many mailboxes. We supply and key camlocks and mailbox locks, including replacements for apartment and condo mailboxes owned by the building. Bring the old lock with you if you can, as length and cam shape vary. One note: community mailboxes on the street belong to Canada Post, so their locks and keys go through Canada Post rather than a locksmith.

Keeping track of copies

It’s easy to lose count of how many copies of a key exist. Keep a simple note of who has one, and don’t put your name or address on a key tag; a lost key with an address attached is an invitation. Colour-coded heads or key covers help tell similar keys apart without labelling what they open.

Keys for work

If you need copies of a business key, check with whoever manages the building first. Many businesses keep a record of keys issued, and copying a key without telling them can cause trouble later. Restricted keys can only be copied with the system owner’s authorization anyway.

Car keys

Modern car keys usually contain a chip that has to be cloned or programmed to the vehicle. That’s covered on our car keys and fobs page; call with the year, make and model before you come in.

When copying isn’t enough

If you’re copying keys because you’ve lost track of who has them, a new key is the better fix. Rekeying makes every old key useless. We cut keys for walk-in customers from across the region, including Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge.