ciawest Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 I've been using the Delta SA 2000 cylinder machine for 6 year and was wondering if i should replace the tracer. Just wanted to know if this is something worth doing or not? I've replaced the cutter plenty of times. The same goes for my RST Jakey MK2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auto Key Wizard Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 I have never replaced a tracer on any mortice/cylinder machine in 38 years ciawest 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x minit uk Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 Looks good to me. ciawest 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 Only ever replaced one tracer once on my Rekord plus but it had cut well over 200,000 keys. ciawest 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciawest Posted September 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 ok, i'll hold off ordering replacement tracers, thanks everyone for the speedy replies, I had a bad run of a few keys coming back and just couldn't see what could be the problem. hopefully it was just bad luck. wow, i'm not even near doing 200000 keys yet. 13 minutes ago, grahamparker said: Only ever replaced one tracer once on my Rekord plus but it had cut well over 200,000 keys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 Use a Vernier caliper, keep your cutter sharp and check alignment of you machine. Do all these and you should be ok. lock&quay 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 Never replaced a tracer. Check alignment on a regular basis to allow for slight blade wear. ciawest 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciawest Posted September 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 2 hours ago, grahamparker said: Use a Vernier caliper, keep your cutter sharp and check alignment of you machine. Do all these and you should be ok. not sure where to use the vernier caliper. i usually put 2 blank keys in to see if the cutter starts at the right point and just barely touch the blank through the whole motion. i wasn't sure if a slight wear on the tracer was giving inaccurate cuts at certain points of the profile of some keys Would using a Vernier caliper be more accurate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 Measure the original key and the copy this will tell you if your machine is cutting to high or to low. A vernier caliper is THE MOST IMPORTANT part of cutting keys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciawest Posted September 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2018 15 hours ago, grahamparker said: Measure the original key and the copy this will tell you if your machine is cutting to high or to low. A vernier caliper is THE MOST IMPORTANT part of cutting keys. feeling like a novice now, i've never used one. do you have a recommendation for what Vernier Caliper i should get or what specs it should have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted September 19, 2018 Report Share Posted September 19, 2018 Mitutoyo. https://www.zoro.co.uk/shop/measuring-and-test-equipment/digital-calipers/500-196-30-abs-aos-caliper/p/ZT1016418X?utm_campaign=pla-Measuring+%26+Test+Equipment+-+&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping-pla&utm_keyword=ZT1016418X&istCompanyId=6aa6787b-063e-4414-802d-129f235df603&istItemId=wtqixiaxwm&istBid=tztt&gclid=CjwKCAjw54fdBRBbEiwAW28S9puEktagzY1hO3p6yrpopiYXSiy5ZGQJX-p_2HTi4ob9mYAseI3EaRoClRgQAvD_BwE Auto Key Wizard 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciawest Posted September 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2018 1 hour ago, grahamparker said: Mitutoyo. https://www.zoro.co.uk/shop/measuring-and-test-equipment/digital-calipers/500-196-30-abs-aos-caliper/p/ZT1016418X?utm_campaign=pla-Measuring+%26+Test+Equipment+-+&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping-pla&utm_keyword=ZT1016418X&istCompanyId=6aa6787b-063e-4414-802d-129f235df603&istItemId=wtqixiaxwm&istBid=tztt&gclid=CjwKCAjw54fdBRBbEiwAW28S9puEktagzY1hO3p6yrpopiYXSiy5ZGQJX-p_2HTi4ob9mYAseI3EaRoClRgQAvD_BwE that's a bit more than i was planning to spend, thanks for the recommendation. i'll consider it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted September 19, 2018 Report Share Posted September 19, 2018 Most important tool you should have will save you a fortune if your serious about key cutting. Budget version. https://www.amazon.co.uk/LOUISWARE-Electronic-Extra-Large-Conversion-Stainless/dp/B01MAY5ECH/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1537357026&sr=8-3&keywords=digital+vernier+caliper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted September 19, 2018 Report Share Posted September 19, 2018 7 minutes ago, ciawest said: that's a bit more than i was planning to spend, thanks for the recommendation. i'll consider it Had mine over 30 years now more than paid for itself. ciawest 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciawest Posted September 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2018 ok, you have convinced me. I'll go with quality Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auto Key Wizard Posted September 19, 2018 Report Share Posted September 19, 2018 Mitutoyo is the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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