Key Cutting

[GomiGirl]

Got a question about key cutting - the secure kind.

Just moved to a new apartment and they would not issue us with spare keys which I need for guests and the cleaner.

The key is made by KABA.

Tried at the usual places - Mister Minut, Tokyu Hands etc but they were not able to cut any copies. Said something about talking to the key manufacturer...

Any advice? I really need some spare keys!!

[BakaSan]

I believe it's time to "lose" some keys and ask for replacements.

[BakaSan]

Got a question about key cutting - the secure kind.

Just moved to a new apartment and they would not issue us with spare keys which I need for guests and the cleaner.

The key is made by KABA.

Tried at the usual places - Mister Minut, Tokyu Hands etc but they were not able to cut any copies. Said something about talking to the key manufacturer...

Any advice? I really need some spare keys!!

"Duplicate keys may only be made by Kaba and against signature of the security card of the registered owner" -
ref Lose it.

[GomiGirl]

Yes but then they will charge us a fortune for replacements.

[FG Lurker]

There is a shop in Osaka that I use that has always managed to copy anything for me, including weirdass "wave" keys and the dimple keys.

That said, if Kaba doesn't sell the blanks (and if there are no other companies that can make them due to patent restrictions) then copies aren't going to be available.

I am not sure that losing them will work either as they may charge you to re-key the lock if this is the case.

[IkemenTommy]

Nothing is impossible. Just expect to pay for the machining cost. Just tell the apartment manage for new keys and they'll issue one. For reference, my dimple key costs around 2000 yen. I've lost a plenty of them and got lucked out after a too many beers many times.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Got a question about key cutting - the secure kind.

Just moved to a new apartment and they would not issue us with spare keys which I need for guests and the cleaner.

The key is made by KABA.

Tried at the usual places - Mister Minut, Tokyu Hands etc but they were not able to cut any copies. Said something about talking to the key manufacturer...

Any advice? I really need some spare keys!!

Tell them that you won't pay rent till they issue you some spares.

[alicia454]

I've rented Japanese apartments units 3 times in separate buildings, and each time I always received 2 separate keys. (One for a me, and another for a guest.) Is 2 keys the norm?

GomiGirl do you need a third key? In any event, I think it would have been best to ask for an extra key from your real estate agent before you moved in when you were finalizing your contract. At that time and in this economy, they would have been so happy with your key money (bribe) and partially refundable cleaning deposit, that they might have waved the cost of the extra key.

I do agree with you that now you will likely be overcharged for getting the landlord (or rental company) to make an extra copy for you.

In my case, copying keys on my own is not an option for me. My building is brand new and each key has a RFID chip in it, in order to open the locks electronically.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

GG...

so nice to see people offering advice on what you should have done and providing useless commentary and explaining that key money is actually a bribe. at least they could have thrown a comment in there about being a dippy bint or something. some people just don't get what fg really is about.

tokyu hands wouldn't do mine either. it took awhile(ie...i went into every and any hole in the wall place that advertised key copying over several weeks), but i finally found a little place in an alley, one of those little shops that does everything from shoe repair to jewelry repair. my key was exactly like the one pictured on that website and it cost me 3000\ per key. i don't recall what it said on the actual key, but i do remember tokyu hands and several other of the usual suspects giving me the cross armed 'dame' dance.

the place in osaka where i finally found my keymaker was near den den town, on the not-so-nice side of the tracks. i don't know tokyo well enough, but a stroll through those types of areas might have what you're after.

[Greji]

the place in osaka where i finally found my keymaker was near den den town, on the not-so-nice side of the tracks.

I know that's where you normally hang out, so it shouldn't have been a problem finding the joint....

Actually, if you go to an actual key maker, not the cut and file corners at the departo's, they are usually more than happy to give you some names and addresses of their key maker colleagues who can do that type of key. Just repeat the process at the next shop and next shop until you find the one.

I went through about four separate shops because of an unusual blank that is used on my parking lot access key and each shop was usually a step up, until I finally found one that carried that type of blank.

Don't pay any attention to Cyka's rant. She was just obtaining buglary tools for her part-time job in Namba teaching Chinese.

[GomiGirl]

I need about an extra two keys done - I have three. One each for me and the hubby and then one spare in the office for security. Then I need one for the cleaner and one for guests.

[FG Lurker]

Do you know which KABA model it is? I can check with the place that has always been able to copy stuff for me if you can tell me which model...

(You should be able to tell which model by comparing against the various master key systems on KABA's page. It may even say on the key itself.)

On the plus side to all this, KABA's various systems seem to be quite secure. They are some of the best bump-proof locks, it looks like the best way in is drilling, and that takes time and makes noise.

[GomiGirl]

Thanks FGL.. it is the Kaba Star

It says it on the key itself.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

I know that's where you normally hang out, so it shouldn't have been a problem finding the joint....

Actually, if you go to an actual key maker, not the cut and file corners at the departo's, they are usually more than happy to give you some names and addresses of their key maker colleagues who can do that type of key. Just repeat the process at the next shop and next shop until you find the one.

I went through about four separate shops because of an unusual blank that is used on my parking lot access key and each shop was usually a step up, until I finally found one that carried that type of blank.

Don't pay any attention to Cyka's rant. She was just obtaining buglary tools for her part-time job in Namba teaching Chinese.

damn you, Greji. you promised to keep my moonlighting activities SECRET!

[FG Lurker]

Thanks FGL.. it is the Kaba Star

It says it on the key itself.

That's a pretty good lock, probably one of the better ones that can be found in apartment buildings.

The downside is that they are very difficult to copy and Kaba has the keys under patent until 2020. That doesn't mean there aren't unlicensed blanks floating around though, so I'll stop by that cutter tomorrow if I have a chance and see what he has to say.

[sillygirl]

[Cyka UchuuJin]

[GomiGirl]

That doesn't mean there aren't unlicensed blanks floating around though, so I'll stop by that cutter tomorrow if I have a chance and see what he has to say.

Any luck FGL?

I am off to Aus in January for wedding No 2 (same guy) and finally a honeymoon. So I might try some of the key cutters there that might not have the same restrictions as the Japanese key cutters.