Key Duplication in Burbank, CA: house, office and mailbox keys cut accurately

What does good key duplication actually involve?

Most people think of key copying as a thirty-second chore at a hardware counter. Usually it is. But a copy that is cut slightly off will still turn in the lock on the day you cut it, and then fail six months later, usually on a cold morning when you are late or on a night when you are locked out and the spare is the only thing between you and the sidewalk.

A key works because a row of pins, wafers or discs inside the lock each rise to a precise height. The cuts on a key set those heights. The tolerances are tiny, and a copy that is off by a hair on one cut may bind, grab, or wear the inside of your lock faster than it should. Good key duplication is about matching the original cut for cut, using the right blank for that keyway, and checking the result in a lock instead of assuming it is fine.

That is the work we do at Wilshire Lock & Key. We have been cutting keys since 1987, from a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and from mobile service vans. Burbank is about 16 miles from our shop, which is exactly why a lot of Burbank customers prefer to have us come to them for key work instead of driving across town.

Why do some copied keys stick, spin, or stop working?

If a new key feels rough in your lock, the cause is nearly always one of a few things. Knowing them helps you judge any key copy, ours or anyone else's.

• The wrong blank. Keys that look alike can have slightly different keyway profiles, and a blank that almost fits will cut a key that almost works.
• A copy made from a copy. Every generation adds a small error. A key duplicated from a key that was already duplicated from a worn original can drift far enough from the lock's true cuts that it no longer lifts every pin properly.
• A worn original. Years of use round off the peaks and valleys of a key. Cutting from a worn key reproduces the wear along with the shape.
• Burrs left on the blade. Metal shavings from the cutter, if not removed, drag on the pins and scratch the inside of the cylinder.
• A tired lock. Sometimes the key is fine and the lock is the problem, with dirty or worn internals. A new copy will not fix that.

How do we duplicate a key, step by step?

Whether you come to the shop in Westwood or have one of our vans come to your Burbank address, the process is the same. We are careful about it, because the copy is only as good as the process behind it.

1. We look at the key and ask what it opens. A front door deadbolt, a side gate padlock, an office suite, a mailbox, and a storage cabinet each have different considerations.
2. We identify the keyway and match the blank, checking the brand and profile stamped on the key where there is one, and measuring when there is not.
3. We check the original for wear. If it is badly worn, we may suggest cutting from the lock itself or from a better key, instead of reproducing the wear.
4. We cut the copy on a calibrated machine, then deburr it so it enters and leaves the lock smoothly.
5. We test the new key in the actual lock whenever the lock is with us, which is always the case when we come to you. We test the original alongside it, so you can feel that they behave the same way.
6. We hand you the copy and tell you honestly if anything in the lock looks worn enough that you should deal with it soon.

What affects the price of key duplication?

We do not quote numbers on a web page, because the honest answer depends on the key in your hand. What we can tell you is what moves the cost up or down, so there are no surprises when you call (213) 577-1366.

• Type of key. A standard single-sided house key is a simple job. Dual-sided, high-security, and restricted keys take more machine time, special blanks, or authorization.
• How many copies you need. A few spares cut in one visit are usually the more economical route compared with returning later for each one.
• Where the work happens. Bringing the key to the shop is the lighter-cost option. A mobile visit costs more because we bring the machine and the van to you, and that is what you are paying for.
• Condition of the original. A worn key can add steps, such as cutting from the lock or re-evaluating the cylinder.
• Whether authorization is required. Restricted keyways need proof that you are entitled to copies, which can add a step.
• Time of day. Our line is open 24 hours a day, but after-hours visits are priced differently from daytime work. We will explain that on the phone before we head out.

Which keys cannot just be copied anywhere?

Not every key is open to copying at a self-serve kiosk or a quick counter. High security key duplication and restricted key duplication are different jobs from a plain house key copy, and you should know the difference before you rely on a spare.

Restricted keyways are protected so that blanks are not freely sold. The point is control: nobody should be able to walk into a store and have your building key duplicated. When a key is stamped with markings like do not duplicate, that is a request, not a physical barrier, and it does not stop a careless shop. We treat those marks seriously and ask for the right authorization before we cut a restricted key. In some cases, the system is controlled so tightly that only the manufacturer or an authorized dealer can produce a copy. When that is the case, we will say so plainly instead of pretending we can do it.

For people who want real control over who copies their keys, our high-security locks page explains the options. For everyday needs, a standard copy is fine. If a key is a car key with a remote or any electronic component, that is a separate job; see our car key replacement service. We confirm vehicle key details by VIN or in person, because we will not guess.

Can you copy office, apartment, and mailbox keys?

Yes, with a few differences worth knowing about.

Office and commercial key duplication often involves more than a single key. Suites may have a master-keyed system, where one key opens many locks, and the person asking for copies has to be someone authorized by the building or business. If your office runs on a master system, our master key system page covers how that works. For ordinary commercial keys, we will cut copies for a tenant or manager who can show they control the space.

Apartment key copying is simple for ordinary keys, but many complexes use restricted keys on entry doors, laundry rooms, or gates. If your property manager issues the keys, they may need to approve copies. We will not cut a restricted key without confirming it is yours to copy.

Mailbox key duplication is a small job people forget until a key is lost. Cluster mailboxes often use their own key type, and copies need to match the lock. If the lock has been compromised, or you have no key at all, replacing the cylinder may be the better path, which is covered under mailbox lock replacement. A duplicate deadbolt key follows the same logic as any house key, and we match it to the brand and keyway of the deadbolt itself, not just the key it resembles.

What does key duplication look like around Burbank?

Burbank is a mix of housing and workplaces, and that mix shapes the key work we see. Whether you are in 91501, 91502, 91504, 91505, or 91506, your key needs depend on what kind of building you are in.

In Magnolia Park, many homes are 1920s-1940s bungalows, and many older homes in town still carry original mid-century door hardware. Old locks and old keys deserve extra care. A key that has been in use for decades may be worn, and copying it may reproduce that wear. In those cases we often check the lock first. If the old hardware is sound, a careful copy works well. If the lock is tired, it may be wiser to rekey instead, and our lock rekey service gives you fresh keys that fit the existing lock without replacing the hardware.

Downtown Burbank and the Media District have added mid-rise condos and large controlled-access apartment complexes. That means more restricted keys, more fobs, and more management rules about who may copy what. For residents, the practical advice is to ask your property manager how spares are handled before paying anyone to cut one. For businesses around the Media District, office and gate access hardware is a regular part of the picture, and copies for staff or contractors need to be tracked. We can come to the office, which saves a trip for a manager who cannot leave the front desk.

Up in the Hillside district and across the Rancho District, with its equestrian-zoned single-family lots, houses often have more than one entry: a front door, side doors, garage entries, and outbuildings or gates. People tend to end up with a handful of keys that all look similar. Having each copy labeled and tested against its own lock saves a lot of guessing later.

Climate matters a little. Valley heat in summer swells wooden doors, and a key that suddenly feels stiff in July may be a door problem, not a key problem. Dry Santa Ana winds sweep down the Verdugo foothills, and hillside homes get more sun and wind exposure than the flats. There is no salt-air corrosion this far inland, so keys in Burbank wear mostly from use, not from rust. That is good news for key longevity, but it also means a heavily used key slowly rounds off, and a spare cut from it inherits that wear. Cutting a spare while the original is still in good shape is the smart move.

Should you bring the key to us, or have us come to you?

For a simple house key copy, bringing the key to our Westwood storefront is usually the lighter-cost option. If you are already on the west side, it is a quick stop.

A mobile visit makes more sense in several situations: you have many keys to cut, the keys belong to a business that cannot close up, the copy needs to be tested in a lock you cannot unscrew, or you simply would rather not drive. Our mobile locksmith service covers mobile key duplication across Burbank, and the van carries the machine, blanks, and tools to do it on site.

One more case: if your only key is cracked, bent, or partly broken off in the lock, do not try to copy it. A cracked key can snap. Get the broken piece out first, which is the job of broken key extraction, and then we can cut a clean copy from the lock itself.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for your spare keys?

We try to be plain about what makes us worth a call:

• We have been in business since 1987, and key cutting is the oldest part of what a locksmith does.
• We have a real storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, plus mobile vans. You can bring the key in or have us come out.
• You deal with one company. There is no dispatch middleman passing your call to whoever is available, and no one else's name on the van.
• David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. If something does not look right, there is a person responsible for it.
• Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. If you need keys at an odd hour, our 24-hour locksmith service is there. For straightforward copying, daytime is usually easier on both of us.

A note about choosing any locksmith

California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, issued through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Ask any locksmith you are considering for their license number, and check it. That is good advice whether you are getting a single spare key cut or a full set of locks changed. Be wary of anyone who will not give you a name and a company, or who quotes one thing on the phone and another at your door.

If you are not sure what you need, call us at (213) 577-1366 and describe the key. We will tell you if a simple copy will do, or if something else is the better move.

More locksmith help in Burbank

• Change Locks in Burbank
• Deadbolt Installation in Burbank
• Gate Lock Repair in Burbank
• High Security Locks in Burbank
• Lock Installation in Burbank
• Lock Rekey in Burbank
• All services in Burbank

Key Duplication near Burbank

• Glendale
• Toluca Lake
• North Hollywood
• Sun Valley
• Studio City
• Valley Village