Today I was at Home Depot and I just needed another SC1 key. I like keeping mine on a lanyard, but then there isn't one on my normal keychain. My key is kind of old and a bit worn, and I don't have the original. I know traditional key machines copy the pattern and maybe lose a little bit in the copy. Besides that - the semi-manual key machine operated by an employee had a line of customers. I think the price was $2.49.
So instead I just used their Minute Key machine. I've also used another brand years ago at WM to make keys for another house, although I still have the original key. They seem to work differently. The one I used years ago required placing the key flat on a tray and it would scan it. Minute Key requires inserting it into a slot, where it clamps down and scans. I thought maybe it would be better since it doesn't copy the pattern (including the wear) exactly, but it assesses the bits (I think that's what they call them) and then cuts as if it were a new key from a code.
The only thing odd about it was that I just wanted a standard SC1 style key and they're typically shaped just like an original Schlage key. This one has a square head, but it works.
So instead I just used their Minute Key machine. I've also used another brand years ago at WM to make keys for another house, although I still have the original key. They seem to work differently. The one I used years ago required placing the key flat on a tray and it would scan it. Minute Key requires inserting it into a slot, where it clamps down and scans. I thought maybe it would be better since it doesn't copy the pattern (including the wear) exactly, but it assesses the bits (I think that's what they call them) and then cuts as if it were a new key from a code.
The only thing odd about it was that I just wanted a standard SC1 style key and they're typically shaped just like an original Schlage key. This one has a square head, but it works.