Paulie Posted March 11, 2023 Report Share Posted March 11, 2023 Hi, Looking for a bit of advice if possible, I'm not a key cutting professional or anything like that. Basically I refurbish/restore mortice and rim locks (Georgian, Viccy, Edwardian, 1920s, etc), up until recently I had a local guy who I could drop off the locks needing mortice keys and he'd do them for me. Unfortunately (for me) he's no longer about, I've tried a few local Companies and none of them are interested in doing them, so I need to do them myself. I've been doing them by hand (Dremel, saws & files) but it's not a long term solution. I've been looking about and a used Silca Lancer seems to be a quality machine. I appreciate there's probably no easy answers, would a machine like that make my life easier? I'm not copying keys, just cutting new ones from blanks, I'm reasonably competent. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auto Key Wizard Posted March 11, 2023 Report Share Posted March 11, 2023 Silca Lancer is a speedy machine for duplication, I use one. To produce a key for a lock then the Jakey Mark II will give much more control for face and ward cutting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted March 11, 2023 Report Share Posted March 11, 2023 Even better is a blade vectis or blade super. Best machine ever made for mortice keys. I have 3 (1 in bits for spares). I have made thousands of keys to fit locks on mine over the last 40 years. I also have a lancer plus but it is much more difficult to control, only use mine for duplicating double bit safe keys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaky Posted March 12, 2023 Report Share Posted March 12, 2023 Good luck finding a vectis. Auto Key Wizard 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathews Posted March 12, 2023 Report Share Posted March 12, 2023 Silca lancer is a great machine for copying. But as control hand moves 360 it on will be very difficult for you to control if not copying. If you are cutting a blank with no original consider a machine with two control knobs one for x and y axis. Like the Mancuna machine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted March 12, 2023 Report Share Posted March 12, 2023 8 hours ago, Peaky said: Good luck finding a vectis. Might have one for sale when my Silca Idea arrives later this month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotlock Posted March 12, 2023 Report Share Posted March 12, 2023 Hi Graham I have a blade super that i need a set of jaws for. Do you have a spare set of jaws you can sell me. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted March 12, 2023 Report Share Posted March 12, 2023 I think I may have some spares. Which ones are you after ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie Posted March 12, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2023 18 hours ago, Auto Key Wizard said: Silca Lancer is a speedy machine for duplication, I use one. To produce a key for a lock then the Jakey Mark II will give much more control for face and ward cutting 13 hours ago, Peaky said: Good luck finding a vectis. 5 hours ago, mathews said: Silca lancer is a great machine for copying. But as control hand moves 360 it on will be very difficult for you to control if not copying. If you are cutting a blank with no original consider a machine with two control knobs one for x and y axis. Like the Mancuna machine Thanks for the tips, finding info on the internet isn't easy. I'll look for a simpler machine like a Vectis or a Mancuna. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autolock Posted March 12, 2023 Report Share Posted March 12, 2023 Not sure what part of country you’re in but I’m in north wales ,have 2 blade supers ,2 lancers ,super intense and mancuna here you’re more than welcome to come and t have a play before you buy one ,but as others have said the lancers wouldn’t be my 1st choice when cutting key to locks , an old safe engineer I knew cut all his safe keys on an old mancuna perfectly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaky Posted March 12, 2023 Report Share Posted March 12, 2023 I've got a mancuna here sitting doing nothing at the moment, how much are they worth? Not particularly after selling it but if they are going for good money I could be persuaded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie Posted March 12, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2023 1 hour ago, autolock said: Not sure what part of country you’re in but I’m in north wales ,have 2 blade supers ,2 lancers ,super intense and mancuna here you’re more than welcome to come and t have a play before you buy one ,but as others have said the lancers wouldn’t be my 1st choice when cutting key to locks , an old safe engineer I knew cut all his safe keys on an old mancuna perfectly Thanks, I'm a fair distance away but I might come back to you if I can't get anything more local. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie Posted March 12, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2023 8 hours ago, grahamparker said: Might have one for sale when my Silca Idea arrives later this month. Thanks Graham, feel free to send me any info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotlock Posted March 12, 2023 Report Share Posted March 12, 2023 Graham I have a two mismatched jaws. i will post a photo of the jaws i have tomorrow. If possible might be able to make up a matching set. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted March 12, 2023 Report Share Posted March 12, 2023 On 3/11/2023 at 7:47 PM, Paulie said: Hi, Looking for a bit of advice if possible, I'm not a key cutting professional or anything like that. Basically I refurbish/restore mortice and rim locks (Georgian, Viccy, Edwardian, 1920s, etc), up until recently I had a local guy who I could drop off the locks needing mortice keys and he'd do them for me. Unfortunately (for me) he's no longer about, I've tried a few local Companies and none of them are interested in doing them, so I need to do them myself. I've been doing them by hand (Dremel, saws & files) but it's not a long term solution. I've been looking about and a used Silca Lancer seems to be a quality machine. I appreciate there's probably no easy answers, would a machine like that make my life easier? I'm not copying keys, just cutting new ones from blanks, I'm reasonably competent. Thanks in advance. Where abouts are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fast Fix Elgin Posted March 13, 2023 Report Share Posted March 13, 2023 On 3/11/2023 at 7:47 PM, Paulie said: Hi, Looking for a bit of advice if possible, I'm not a key cutting professional or anything like that. Basically I refurbish/restore mortice and rim locks (Georgian, Viccy, Edwardian, 1920s, etc), up until recently I had a local guy who I could drop off the locks needing mortice keys and he'd do them for me. Unfortunately (for me) he's no longer about, I've tried a few local Companies and none of them are interested in doing them, so I need to do them myself. I've been doing them by hand (Dremel, saws & files) but it's not a long term solution. I've been looking about and a used Silca Lancer seems to be a quality machine. I appreciate there's probably no easy answers, would a machine like that make my life easier? I'm not copying keys, just cutting new ones from blanks, I'm reasonably competent. Thanks in advance. There are quite a lot of pre-cut Rim keys you can pick off the shelf and if there is not one suitable then get the closest to what you need and most of the cutting has been done for you rather than starting with a Rim Blank Key kobblers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted March 13, 2023 Report Share Posted March 13, 2023 23 hours ago, scotlock said: Hi Graham I have a blade super that i need a set of jaws for. Do you have a spare set of jaws you can sell me. Thanks Found a couple of sets of F and 2 jaws (the ones we use all the time). Message sent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie Posted March 13, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2023 19 hours ago, Flash said: Where abouts are you? Sunny Bristol, but I'm currently using our 2nd car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie Posted March 13, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2023 8 hours ago, Fast Fix Elgin said: There are quite a lot of pre-cut Rim keys you can pick off the shelf and if there is not one suitable then get the closest to what you need and most of the cutting has been done for you rather than starting with a Rim Blank Key Thanks, I have tried a couple before but they never seem to work. I have tried to get an account with some of the trade sellers, but they won't deal with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted March 13, 2023 Report Share Posted March 13, 2023 1 hour ago, Paulie said: Sunny Bristol, but I'm currently using our 2nd car. Sorry, to far for me to be able to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_ Posted March 13, 2023 Report Share Posted March 13, 2023 1 hour ago, Paulie said: Sunny Bristol, but I'm currently using our 2nd car. www.tcolledgeandson.com could supply you with blanks on a cash sale basis, they are in Bristol so no delivery charges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie Posted March 13, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2023 19 minutes ago, Paul_ said: www.tcolledgeandson.com could supply you with blanks on a cash sale basis, they are in Bristol so no delivery charges. That's great, thanks very much for that link, really helpful. It's all a bit of a new world to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotlock Posted March 14, 2023 Report Share Posted March 14, 2023 Graham Photo of the mismatch jaws i have. F and 2 jaw will give me a matching set. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted March 14, 2023 Report Share Posted March 14, 2023 I have sent you a message. Can you see it ?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
da miller Posted March 14, 2023 Report Share Posted March 14, 2023 i've got a mancuna anyone looking for one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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