Why does a copied key sometimes not work?
Most trouble with duplicate keys comes from one place: the copy of a copy. A key cut from a worn original carries that wear with it. A key cut from that copy carries the wear and adds its own small error. After a few generations the key drags, sticks, or turns only if you jiggle it. People then blame the lock, when the key was the real problem all along.
Key cutting is simple in concept. The cuts on a key lift the pins inside the lock to the exact heights the lock needs. A cutting machine traces the original and reproduces those depths and spacings on a blank. The tolerances are tiny. A fraction of a millimeter can be the difference between a smooth turn and a sticky one. So the quality of the blank, the setup of the machine, and the finishing of the cut all matter. A burr left on a fresh edge can scrape the inside of a cylinder and wear it faster than it should.
We are a locksmith shop, not a self-serve kiosk. Before we cut anything we ask what the key is for, look at its condition, and decide whether it is a good source to copy from. Sometimes the honest answer is that the original is too tired to copy, and we will tell you that rather than hand you a key that will fail in a month.
How do we duplicate a key, step by step?
Whether it is one spare house key or a batch of office keys, the process follows the same order. Skipping steps is how bad copies get made.
If you cannot bring the lock with you, we will tell you to try the new key at your door before you put it away, and to call us if it binds so we can look at it. A copy that works on the first try at the counter should work at home, but the only real test is the lock it was made for.
- Identify the key. We look at the brand stamp, the keyway shape, and the blank type. Many keys look alike and are not interchangeable, so matching the profile comes first.
- Inspect the original. We check for bends, cracks, rounded cuts, and worn shoulders. If the key is badly worn, we say so and talk through alternatives, such as cutting by code or rekeying the lock to a fresh key.
- Choose the correct blank. It must match the keyway, length, and shoulder position, and be made of a material that holds up to daily use.
- Cut the copy. The machine traces the original and cuts the blank, and then we clean every edge so no burrs are left to catch inside the lock.
- Test and compare. We check the copy against the original and, when the lock is with us, test it in the cylinder. We also confirm which key is the copy so you do not mix them up.
- Hand over and advise. We suggest trying the key at its door right away and give practical advice on where spares should live.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Which keys can we copy?
The short list covers almost everything on a typical key ring. Some of these are quick jobs, and a few need extra care or authorization, which we explain below.
- House key copy and spare house key: standard residential keys for front doors, back doors, and side gates.
- Duplicate deadbolt key: deadbolts often use a different keyway than the knob on the same door, so we check each lock on the door rather than assuming one key fits both.
- Apartment key copy: we can cut these, but many leases and building managers limit who may copy keys. Check your lease first, and tell us what the key is for.
- Office key duplication and commercial key duplication: staff keys, back-room keys, and storefront keys. If you want control over who can copy what, a master key system is the longer-term answer.
- Mailbox key duplication: small flat keys, often stamped with a number. If you have no key at all, that becomes a lock job rather than a copy, and our mailbox lock replacement service covers it.
- Security screen door and window grille keys: these use their own locks and are easy to forget when making spares.
- High-security and restricted keys: possible in many cases, but with extra steps, covered in the next sections.
- Car keys: these are a different job, especially when a chip is involved. See our car key replacement page, and we confirm the details by VIN and in person rather than guessing.
How much does key duplication cost in Pacoima?
We do not quote numbers on a web page, because the price of a copy depends on the key in your hand. Here is what actually moves the cost up or down, so you can judge any quote you get from anyone.
Bringing your key to our storefront is usually the more economical route for a single spare. A mobile visit makes sense when you have several keys, a lock you cannot leave, or an after-hours need, but travel and time of day are part of that price. Pacoima is roughly 19 miles from our Westwood storefront, so it is worth a quick call to decide which option fits. Describe the key over the phone at (213) 577-1366 and we will talk through what applies before we cut.
- Key type: a plain brass house key is a simpler job than a high-security key with a milled or sidebar cut.
- Blank availability: common blanks are easy to stock, while specialty and restricted blanks are harder to source.
- Quantity: cutting several keys in one visit is usually more economical per key than returning repeatedly.
- Condition of the original: a worn key may need to be cut by code or from the lock, which takes more work than tracing a good key.
- Authorization: restricted keys need proof that you are allowed to copy them, and that process takes time.
- Where and when: a visit to our shop and a mobile visit to your door are different services, and after-hours calls differ from daytime ones.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What about high security and restricted key duplication?
Standard keys can be copied by almost any shop. High-security keys are different on purpose. Some have unusual profiles, internal cuts, or sidebar designs, and some are tied to a manufacturer's restricted keyway. The point of those systems is that a random shop cannot just cut a copy. We will not pretend otherwise.
A stamp that says 'Do Not Duplicate' is a request, not a physical barrier, so it does not always stop a cut. That is exactly why it does not mean the key is controlled. Truly restricted keys are protected by the manufacturer or the system owner, and copying them means going through that owner or an authorized process. If your key falls into that category, we will tell you plainly whether we can cut it, whether it needs authorization, and whether the blank has to be ordered. In some cases the original manufacturer or a dealer is the only source, and we will say so rather than send you around in circles.
If you are thinking about changing from ordinary keys to a controlled system, read about our high-security locks work. A restricted system is only worth having if you plan to manage the keys properly afterward.
When does mobile key duplication make sense?
Most people picture key copying as a counter job, and for a single spare it often is. Mobile key duplication earns its place in particular situations: you cannot leave a business unattended, you are working with a lock that needs to be tested in place, you have many keys to cut, or it is outside normal hours and you need a working spare right now.
Our mobile locksmith vans carry key-cutting equipment and common blanks, so we can cut and test on site in many cases. Some keys, especially high-security or restricted ones, may need a blank we do not carry in the van. When that is the case, we will say so on the phone before anyone drives out, so you are not paying for a trip that cannot finish the job.
The phone line is staffed around the clock, every day of the year, so a late-night call about a spare for a family member or a worker locked out of a routine does not wait until morning.
What does key duplication look like around Pacoima?
Pacoima sits in ZIP code 91331, and the housing here shapes the keys we see. Much of it is small-lot single-family homes from the 1940s and 50s, and many of those homes have a security screen door or window grilles added over the years. One household often carries a front door key, a deadbolt key, and a separate key for the screen door latch. When families make spares, the screen door key is the one that gets forgotten, and then someone is stuck on the porch behind a locked grille. If you live in one of the postwar tracts off the Laurel Canyon Boulevard corridor, count your keys by door, not by house, before you decide how many copies you need.
Heat plays a part too. Pacoima is one of the hotter parts of the Valley in summer, and dry Santa Ana winds age exposed hardware. A key that hangs by a sun-baked door, or a screen door lock that has sat in the sun for years, wears faster than one kept indoors. If a lock has gotten stiff, a fresh copy will not fix it, and cutting new keys to a gummed-up lock only hides the problem. We look at the lock as well as the key.
Rental units change hands, and that includes homes and apartments in areas like the San Fernando Gardens area. A key that has passed through several tenants is a key nobody can account for, and copying it just multiplies the unknown. For landlords and managers, the better move is often to rekey the locks and then cut fresh copies from the new key. Our locksmith for landlords page explains how that works with turnover.
Along the Van Nuys Boulevard corridor known as the Mural Mile, shops and small offices need keys for owners, staff, and cleaners. Commercial key duplication there is mostly about control: who holds a key, how many exist, and which ones fit which door. Near the Whiteman Airport district, gate and hangar-area keys live outdoors, get dropped on hard ground, and take more abuse than a house key. We check both the key and the lock before we cut, because a bent outdoor key copied as-is produces a bent copy.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366When is a copy not the right fix?
Sometimes a customer asks for a copy when the situation calls for something else. We would rather say so than cut a key that does not solve the problem.
If you have lost a key and do not know who has it now, or if a former tenant, roommate, or employee may still have a copy, duplicating the remaining key keeps the problem alive. Rekeying changes the lock so old keys stop working. If your only key has snapped in the lock, you need broken key extraction first, and a copy can be made from the pieces afterward when they are usable.
If you have no working key and cannot get in, that is a lockout rather than a copy job, and we handle it through our lockout services. And if a key has stopped turning smoothly in a lock that used to work, the lock itself may be the cause, so a new key alone will not help.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for duplicate keys?
We have been in business since 1987, and key cutting is one of the oldest parts of the trade. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work, and we are one company, not a call center passing your job to whichever contractor is free. The person who answers (213) 577-1366 is calling from the same business that will cut your key.
We have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile service vans, which lets us offer both counter work and visits to your door. We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including Pacoima, and the phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round.
One more thing worth knowing: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask any locksmith you hire for their license details before work begins, and do not be shy about it. It is a normal question and a good habit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a spare house key made late at night in Pacoima?
Yes, you can call (213) 577-1366 at any hour, since the line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether we can cut on site depends on the key and blank, and we will tell you on the phone whether a mobile visit can finish the job.
Can you copy a key marked 'Do Not Duplicate'?
That stamp is a request and not a physical barrier, so it does not always mean the key cannot be cut. Truly restricted keys are controlled by the manufacturer or system owner and need authorization. We will tell you plainly which category your key falls into.
Can you make a key without the original?
Sometimes. Depending on the lock, we can work from the lock itself or from a code, but that is a different job than tracing a key and it takes more work. We confirm what is possible in person, since it depends on the lock type and condition.
Do you copy mailbox keys?
Yes, mailbox key duplication is routine when you still have a key to copy. If you have no key at all, the lock usually needs to be replaced instead, and that falls under mailbox lock replacement.
Can I copy my apartment key?
We can cut it, but many leases and building managers limit who may copy keys. Check your lease or ask your manager first, and tell us what the key is for when you call.
Why does my new copy stick or only work with jiggling?
Usually the original was worn, the blank did not match well, or a burr was left on the edge. Bring both keys back and we will inspect them. If the lock itself has gotten stiff, we will tell you that instead of recutting the key.
Can you duplicate a car key with a chip?
Car keys with chips are a separate service from standard key cutting, and the details vary by make, model, and year. We confirm by VIN and in person rather than guessing, and some cases may only be possible through a dealer.
How many copies should I make?
Count doors, not houses. Many Pacoima homes have a front door, a deadbolt, and a security screen door that each use a different key. Make spares for each lock people actually use, and keep track of who holds them.
Should I ask about a license before hiring a locksmith to cut keys?
Yes. California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and it is reasonable to ask any locksmith for their license details before work starts. This applies to key duplication as much as to any other locksmith service.
More locksmith help in Pacoima
Key Duplication near Pacoima
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.