actionman Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 Hi i'm wanting to buy a laser car key cutting machine. I was going to buy a used Silca Matrix S that's currently been waiting for some parts for a refurb for a few weeks now & i'm getting to the point where if it takes any longer i may have to buy a different machine. I've been looking at the SKS Hurricane which brand new is slightly cheaper than the Matrix i'm thinking of buying. I've been told it's an entry level machine which may be adequate for me anyways. I'm relatively new to the key cutting business so would like a bit of advice from more experienced & established locksmiths. So basically my main question is: Would i be better of waiting for the Matrix or will the Huricane be good enough. Work load wise i'm estimating i'll cut maybe 5 laser type keys per week. That's roughly how many jobs i'm getting in at the mo with that type of key. Currently i'm either getting them precut by my key supplier or just getting the blade cut at a locksmiths near where the customer lives. Another concern is that i've seen the Matrix has been discontinued so was wondering what it'll be like to get hold of parts etc thanks Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Davis Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 You will always beable to buy parts for any silca machine, the main draw back with any manual machine is the jaws, they wont grip some later keys properly, which key blanks are you planning to cut? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actionman Posted February 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 i'm wanting to cut pretty much most laser type car key blades such as VAG, Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen, Ford, Fiat etc etc. As many types as possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Davis Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 In that case i would check and make sure the manual machines can grip them before parting with any money, i know its alot of expense but in the long run your much better off with an electronic machine, if you have 2 grans it could be worth considering trading one of them in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actionman Posted February 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 the problem with that is i haven't got a laser machine to trade in! lol! another problem is that i haven't got £2k spare to buy an elec laser machine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Gardner Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 Hi i'm wanting to buy a laser car key cutting machine. I was going to buy a used Silca Matrix S that's currently been waiting for some parts for a refurb for a few weeks now & i'm getting to the point where if it takes any longer i may have to buy a different machine. I've been looking at the SKS Hurricane which brand new is slightly cheaper than the Matrix i'm thinking of buying. I've been told it's an entry level machine which may be adequate for me anyways. I'm relatively new to the key cutting business so would like a bit of advice from more experienced & established locksmiths. So basically my main question is: Would i be better of waiting for the Matrix or will the Huricane be good enough. Work load wise i'm estimating i'll cut maybe 5 laser type keys per week. That's roughly how many jobs i'm getting in at the mo with that type of key. Currently i'm either getting them precut by my key supplier or just getting the blade cut at a locksmiths near where the customer lives. Another concern is that i've seen the Matrix has been discontinued so was wondering what it'll be like to get hold of parts etc thanks Craig i havevth matrix s and hurricane and thesilca matri s is farr better wait for it you wont regret it craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lock&quay Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 Before i I had the Silca Viper I was using a HD Punto I had to get Dave Fotheringham to make some adaptors to hold Merc & BMW keys but other wise its was fine I still use it for dimple keys . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worcesterlocksmith Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 i had the hurricane m8 its a lode of crap i now have a jma daky and its as smooth as hot knife in butter lovely cutter i hated the hurricane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actionman Posted February 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 ok thanks for that guys. Def going to stick with getting a matrix Just another question. Are there any types of blades that i'll def have to buy an adapter for? such as Ford as i know the blades are quite slim thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worcesterlocksmith Posted March 1, 2012 Report Share Posted March 1, 2012 ok thanks for that guys. Def going to stick with getting a matrix Just another question. Are there any types of blades that i'll def have to buy an adapter for? such as Ford as i know the blades are quite slim thanks with fords i would get the 2 half mm follower and cutter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted March 1, 2012 Report Share Posted March 1, 2012 ok thanks for that guys. Def going to stick with getting a matrix Just another question. Are there any types of blades that i'll def have to buy an adapter for? such as Ford as i know the blades are quite slim thanks My Matrix SX came with slim adapters for Mercedes, Ford etc. and an adapter for Fichet keys.I have also bought the VAG adapters (not cheap!) but not had call for anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growster Posted March 1, 2012 Report Share Posted March 1, 2012 There's £1600 Matrix S on Gumtree. Very friendly seller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actionman Posted March 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2012 There's £1600 Matrix S on Gumtree. Very friendly seller. 3 different people have offered to me a Matrix S for quite a bit less than that. 1 is waiting for parts for a refurb, another has just been refurbished & the 3 has hardly been used & is also the most expensive at £1100 but i also have to do a 400 mile round trip to collect it. I'm waiting to see which of the 2 refurned machines are available to actually buy 1st as i've got cash sat here waiting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Have you seen how much the new matrix is......F**K ME you can buy a computerised machine for that sort of money.The Italians must really be in the doo doo like greece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted March 6, 2012 Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 Have you seen how much the new matrix is......F**K ME you can buy a computerised machine for thatsort of money.The Italians must really be in the doo doo like greece. Saw the machine at the ICL exhibition at the weekend and i've changed my mind.I want one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actionman Posted March 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 i've not seen it yet. Still trying to get my hands on used machine i can afford so haven't looked at new machines of that level! how much is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted March 6, 2012 Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 Just a tad over £3000. + vat. which is a lot of money but it has every conceivable jaw built in so you can cut bmw/focus/mercedes and others without the need for adapters and you can also cut radial keys on it (again the jaw has this function built in) and it has tiltable jaws for kaba and other blanks. You really do need to see it in the flesh it has the wow factor when you wave your hand over the front guard and it all lights up (matt even joked about putting blue underfloor lighting on it as well). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actionman Posted March 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 Sounds like a really good bit of kit! If i had the cash i'd probably have a look at it! Got cash at home waiting to be spent on a machine but just can't seem to get my hands on anything I want! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actionman Posted March 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 bit of an update! after both of the Silca Matrix S I was interested in seem to be now unavailable i've now gone down the route of buying a brand new machine as I can't wait any longer for somebody to let me actually buy a used machine they have! I've ended up going for the An-san Panther TR-2050. Not really found much info about it on the net but it does come with lifetime warrenty for all elecs & mechanical parts! Should be with me early next week. Looking forward to getting my hands on it for a practice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growster Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 There is, it seems, plenty of info about. But it's all in Turkish. Is it indiscreet to ask how much it was? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actionman Posted March 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2012 Yep, i did find some but as you say it's all in Turkish. Some of the pages did translate but I was hoping to find info on forums such as reviews etc. As for the price, it's listed retail at £1500+vat. I paid a bit less with discount, not saying how much less though! Don't tink it would be very professional of me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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