SteelCityShoes Posted December 13, 2016 Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 We have just switched over to Davenport. There are quite a few variations of material, which do you guys prefer? Also is anyone able to tell me the difference with the budget and premium versions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Muppet Posted December 13, 2016 Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 Stick with the brass. The steel is horrible and will cost you more in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike at Vauxhall Posted December 13, 2016 Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 When I started I used predominantly sks steel, changed over to hd brass, never like their eco steel . Was going to gradually change over to new hd premium steel. Now count muppet has confused me. I don't think it really matters for most keys, although I do prefer steel for extra long or thin keys. Price difference isn't that great between the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Muppet Posted December 13, 2016 Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 It's possible that you will be ok with the steel ones from davenports, you hopefully won't get the same batches as us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelCityShoes Posted December 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2016 What was wrong with the steel ones you had? They seem to do a few variations of steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Muppet Posted December 14, 2016 Report Share Posted December 14, 2016 A lot of them don't work. No matter how many times you reset the machine and check with calipers and test locks. Too many burrs on them after cutting, and the cutters don't seem to like them. I would think ours are made to our requirements though. Cheap as possible, no matter what. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathews Posted December 14, 2016 Report Share Posted December 14, 2016 I'm a big fan of RST and Errebi myself. Even though the Errebi have a coating on them they never come back and the cutters stay all good with them, customers like the look of them too as they look a bit flash and they are strong in a lock. I've had too many problems with HD brass in the past I've found quality to be a bit all over the place. If anyone wants a good deal on RST and Errebi stuff feel free to message me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simes Posted December 15, 2016 Report Share Posted December 15, 2016 I've had a few customers specifically asking for steel keys complaining that the brass ones cut at Mr T's bend or snap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Muppet Posted December 15, 2016 Report Share Posted December 15, 2016 Most of the T keys are steel now. They've been snapping because they are usually cut on the wrong blank. Too many UL1&2's shadowster, ironplanet uk900 and mrkeys 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike at Vauxhall Posted December 15, 2016 Report Share Posted December 15, 2016 I would say this. I do find steel keys cut cleaner with fewer burs that need polishing off. Generally only relevant when cutting larger volumes . Got a regular builder, cuts loads of lf2s, 30 to 50 at a time . Use to use brass hd, switched to steel sks ( then to sks lf36), Made quite a difference time wise. Someone is probably now just going to post that I should change my blades more regularly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYKeys Posted December 16, 2016 Report Share Posted December 16, 2016 There seems to be an industry wide problem with steel blanks at the moment - they're so hard and are ruining our cutters and we get bent bits or snapped off bits. Frustrating. This is confirmed by SKS by the way before anyone jumps on me claiming I simply don't know what I'm doing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted December 17, 2016 Report Share Posted December 17, 2016 I use mostly Silca atm... After having issues with keys not fitting, even tho my machine is 100% spot on... I've had key blanks in the past than just look wrong, especially JMA... era 6 pin not tall enough, 25B's don't even look anything like etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted December 17, 2016 Report Share Posted December 17, 2016 I use mostly Silca atm... After having issues with keys not fitting, even tho my machine is 100% spot on... I've had key blanks in the past than just look wrong, especially JMA... era 6 pin not tall enough, 25B's don't even look anything like etc etc I'm the same, but noticed yesterday that ASEC1 5 pin blank in Silca is quite a bit lower than HD ASEC1!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelCityShoes Posted December 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2016 That's the main reason why we have just switched to HD. Noticed it on a few different keys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted December 17, 2016 Report Share Posted December 17, 2016 Only use Silca or Genuine blanks for cylinder keys. Never have any issues with blanks bending, snapping, twisting or not fitting. We have Gone though well over 1,000,000 Silca cylinder blanks in 35 years and cannot think of a time when a blank did not fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYKeys Posted December 17, 2016 Report Share Posted December 17, 2016 Only use Silca or Genuine blanks for cylinder keys. Never have any issues with blanks bending, snapping, twisting or not fitting. We have Gone though well over 1,000,000 Silca cylinder blanks in 35 years and cannot think of a time when a blank did not fit. Given that our issue isn't cylinder keys but mortice keys - any suggestions? It's not the ERA brass blanks but if we need to cut keys on universal blanks when duplicating other universal keys. Perhaps for gate rim locks etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdr Posted December 17, 2016 Report Share Posted December 17, 2016 Given that our issue isn't cylinder keys but mortice keys - any suggestions? It's not the ERA brass blanks but if we need to cut keys on universal blanks when duplicating other universal keys. Perhaps for gate rim locks etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdr Posted December 17, 2016 Report Share Posted December 17, 2016 Have you tried cutting off the part of the bit you don't need with hacksaw before cutting on machine, saves the cutter a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted December 18, 2016 Report Share Posted December 18, 2016 Change the cutter often is my best answer. We usually replace the mortice cutter every 6-8 weeks. I get most of my mortice blanks from sks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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