Help me have a key made in Chicago

February 1, 2008 11:27 AM

I own a condo in a twelve-story vintage building in Chicago. I am trying to get copies of the keys to *my* *unit's* front door (not copies of the mag lock key to the front door of the building). Everywhere I go tells me it's a "do not copy" blank but my miraculously sucky management office insists it isn't and says they can't do anything to get me another key to my front door. Suggestions?

I have been to the Home Depot, the key place at Sears, and an Ace Hardware. The key looks like an ordinary key: it's silver, does not appear longer than the key to the front door of my parents' or sister's houses. It's marked HY-KO on one side and "tawain C03" on the other. It's just a handle lock, but the sort of handle lock that cannot be unlocked from either side that only opens from outside with a key and opens from the inside at all times.

I am at my wit's end.

posted by crush-onastick to Home & Garden (17 answers total)

Check with a real locksmith. And if they won't do it, buy a blank and file your own.
posted by Marky at 11:31 AM on February 1, 2008

Just put a sticker or rubber key cover on it so the "do not copy" is not visible. Then keep walking around until you find someone who'll copy it. I'd go to an independent hardware store, not the big chains.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 11:31 AM on February 1, 2008

In my experience, you need to find a little mom & pop locksmith to do this for you. You might want to ask around.
posted by radioamy at 11:32 AM on February 1, 2008

Ask other tenants where they went to have extras made.
posted by iconomy at 11:33 AM on February 1, 2008

I got a "Do Not Copy" key, clearly marked, copied at the Meijer key copy station by a guy who hit on me.

If it doesn't say "Do Not Copy," I'd go to a small shop and be prepared to slip 'em an extra $20?
posted by Gucky at 11:35 AM on February 1, 2008

Have your management office write a brief later stating that they give permission to have that particular key copied, along with a phone number for any questions. That's all Home Depot told us we needed to get our retail store's keys copied. They basically said they just have to have some sort of paperwork on their end in case it comes back on them.
posted by Ugh at 11:37 AM on February 1, 2008

HY-KO does a bunch of key-related stuff (key blanks, key machines, etc.) so their name on the key is not going to be very useful to you.

What's written on the lock cylinder? A manufacturer name should be on there somewhere.
posted by aramaic at 11:37 AM on February 1, 2008

Err. Letter, not later.
posted by Ugh at 11:37 AM on February 1, 2008

get your lock replaced.
posted by thinkingwoman at 11:45 AM on February 1, 2008

Go to an independent locksmith. Explain that you are the manager of an apartment complex and you need copies of that key made.

It's always worked for me, though I did happen to be the manager of an apartment complex at the time. But seriously, nobody ever asked for ID or paperwork. They just made the copies.
posted by rocketman at 12:03 PM on February 1, 2008

Go to a small shop and ask, "How much to copy this key?" Then pay up to $10 for the service.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 12:28 PM on February 1, 2008

Maybe this: Remove the entire lock (it's usually easy) and bring it to an independent locksmith. Have the lock rekeyed so any keys already out there won't work. Get as many keys as you want on a regular key blank. Have one of the new keys made on a a "do not copy" blank and give that to the management company, assuming they're supposed to have keys to your place.

I once brought a lock for rekeying to a small, independent locksmith. All they asked was, "Do you own the building?" and I said, "Yep." It was cheap, too.
posted by PatoPata at 12:47 PM on February 1, 2008

What PatoPata said. You probably won't even have to bring it in. I have had the lock rekeyed at a place I lived and they never asked one question.
posted by Foam Pants at 2:00 PM on February 1, 2008

For what it's worth, when I was in college, every key from the school or property management companies had "Do Not Copy" embossed on the face, and the locksmith at the edge of campus (who made many of the original keys) would copy them again without a second look. In addition to the small locksmith mentioned above, I'd scout out one near a campus.
posted by zachxman at 2:06 PM on February 1, 2008

The key doesn't say "do not copy", but they are telling you it is?

What that probably means is that the key is the slightly larger, slightly longer "campus" style lock. Like dorm room keys. They are usually more easily re-keyed than a consumer grade lock, as well as having more tumblers to make more key combinations and harder to pick.

They just told you that because they don't have blanks for that kind of lock. Go to a real locksmith.
posted by gjc at 5:30 PM on February 1, 2008

There's an independent hardware store in Andersonville on Clarke that might do it...I think it's labeled "Hardware" and on the same block as Chicago Filmmakers...
posted by melodykramer at 7:52 PM on February 1, 2008

Gucky writes "f it doesn't say 'Do Not Copy,' I'd go to a small shop and be prepared to slip "em an extra $20?"

A bribe isn't required (and kind of risky for someone who is probably bonded).

A licenced locksmith will copy a "do no copy" stamped key no problem (as long as the blank isn't patented). He may be required to keep a record (and he may ask for ID for that record) depending on the jurisdiction. The "do not copy" stamp only binds unlicensed key cutters most places so you have to go to a real locksmith. Look in the yellow pages under locksmith.

Now if the key is patented you'll need to find a locksmith who handles that specific line. And the blanks can be as much a $100 a piece. This is pretty unlikely in an old building.
posted by Mitheral at 7:01 PM on February 2, 2008