What does a locksmith do when a key is lost?

The answer is they make new keys to replace the old ones, usually for a house, car, safe, or even a window lock. Depending on the type of locks they have to work with, it can be as simple as cutting a new key or impressioning the lock and then re-creating the key from scratch. 

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They can also rekey your locks if you have a number of doors that all operate with the same key. This will prevent unauthorized people from entering your home or building. Rekeying your locks is the best way to protect yourself from theft and other problems that may arise. 

Rekeying your locks will give you the peace of mind that no one can regain access to your home or office without turning in the key and paying a fee for it to be rekeyed. Rekeying your locks is a lot cheaper than completely replacing your locks, so it’s worth doing if you have any concerns about unauthorized people getting into your home or business. 

You can always try to find a spare copy of your lost keys. This might be something you can keep on your key ring, give to a friend or neighbor, or leave in a hidden location that only you can see. If not, contact a locksmith immediately and have them come out to your property to rekey the locks. 

Changing locks after losing a key

If you have lost your keys, there is a good chance that someone else has the same one. This is especially true if you have moved into a new home, or if the previous tenants have kept their old keys. A locksmith can rekey your locks to change the pins and wafers that are in the lock so that only you have the key and no others. 

Making a key from a lock

The process of making a key from a lock is called impressions and involves marking a key blank with the location of the pins inside the lock. A locksmith can use a file, key grip, and magnifying glass to achieve the required precision. 

Impressioning is a very precise technique and requires the locksmith to be highly skilled. It can take multiple attempts to get a key blank filed exactly right, and there are some things that can go wrong when it is not done correctly. 

A good locksmith will be able to determine what kind of impressions are needed and how far apart they need to be on the key blank. A locksmith will often use a 6-inch swiss #4 cut round file for this task, and a key grip to hold the key in place while using force to create the marks. 

A locksmith can also use a special decoder tool that combines a lockpick with a graduated scale to read the biting from the pins once they have been picked. This is the most efficient way to make a new key from a lock, but it can take a bit of practice and time.