We’ve built a new display for our large and growing selection of painted keys. If your in Parsons, Kansas come by and check it out.
Our new key display
All kinds of groovy painted keys at Steve's Lock Out
Archive for the ‘Keys’ Category
Our New Painted Key Display
Friday, May 21st, 2010
Did you know?
Friday, March 19th, 2010Steve’s Lock Out is a dealer for Lucky Line Products, Inc. Lucky Line produces hundreds of different products for carrying and organizing your keys and remotes as well as some safety products. You can see many of them here.
Lucky Line products are some of the best quality of their type on the market. Some products even have a LIFETIME warranty!
Recent Educational Accomplishments
Saturday, March 13th, 2010Recent educational accomplishments at Steve’s Lock Out:
Back in September 2009 both Steve and Andrew took an automotive locksmith class. They learned how to easily make keys for cars when no working key is available. Both have received a certificate for completing the class. Congrats guys!
That’s A Lot of Keys
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010At Steve’s Lock Out we have built quite a reputation for keys that work right the first time. We’ve won over many customers with that simple fact.
Why do our keys work? Our staff has been cutting keys for over 10 years. We use high quality duplicating machines and they are frequently checked for accuracy. We also carry a huge variety of keys. Over 2400 different keys. Chances are that we have the correct key for your application.
So not only do they work. They are very accurate. Why is this important? A key that is not cut correctly can be very hard on locks. What’s worse is they can get stuck in or break off in a lock which translates to further frustration and more expense.
2400 keys? Why so many? So we have the correct key for your needs. Believe it or not 2400 is still a long ways from having all the possible keys, however, it covers our market pretty well. Why is having the correct key so important? Many home stores and other retailers use keys that cover several applications to minimize the number of keys they have to carry. This is seldom a good idea. Some of these keys are milled much thinner to pass multiple keyways making them much more prone to breaking and twisting.
Since June of 1999 Steve’s Lock Out has cut over 32,000 keys. Most of those have been in the last 4 years. Out of that 32,000+ we’ve had less than 45 returned. That’s about a 99.85% success rate.
Next time you need a key cut consider giving us a try. Or if your not in the Parsons, Kansas area give your local locksmith a try. You might be pleasantly pleased with the results.
Steve’s Lock Out is located at 1806 Main Street in downtown Parsons, KS.
Buying Chip Keys and Remotes Off the Internet
Saturday, January 30th, 2010I sometimes feel like a nay sayer with many of the articles I write, however, I feel like I need to inform the general public of situations where they could be taken advantage of.
My topic for this article is remotes and “chip” keys.
First I want to clear up a few things on what a chip key is. They can and are called many different things by vehicle owners, manufacturers and dealers including some four letter words when priced by the consumer who just wants an extra key and didn’t even know their key contained a chip. Some terms you may have heard are transponder, chip, immobilizer, smart key, computer key, security key, anti-theft, PATS, Sentry key and there are many others. Irregardless of what they are called they are a key with a transponder in them. Below is a key we stock that you can see right through the head of the key. It happens to be a Ford key. And to the right of that a close up of a transponder. Many people are unaware that their is a transponder in their key because it is house in plastic and not visible.
What is a transponder? The word Transponder itself is a combination of two words; transmitter and responder. Occasionally abbreviated TPDR, TR, XPNDR or XPDR. When you put your key into your ignition and turn the key. An antenna either on, around or near your ignition transmits a signal to your key. They key then needs to “respond” back with the appropriate signal to let the car know its ok to start.
What is the purpose of a transponder? Simply put, to make your vehicle harder to steal. Forcing the ignition will not allow the car to run like it would on many non transponder vehicles. There are other systems that deture this as well, but I’ll save that for another article.
Clear Ford Key Showing TransponderA Close Up of a Transponder
Transponder keys are not to be confused with VATS (vehicle anti-theft system) keys. These have what is called a chip in the blade of the key, however, its not a chip its a resister pellet. Still a security feature, but a whole different type of system and much easier to bypass.
VATS Key
And now that we have the basics out of the way we can get to the main subject of this article.
Chip keys are expensive. And many people try to by them off the internet to save some money. Here are some things to think about when buying off the net:
- Many times when having a chip key made for your vehicle the largest part of the cost is the programming. Or when you have lost your keys all together a key will need to be originated which would also consider into the price. I’ve had customers buy their keys off the internet and then have me cut and program them only to find out it would have been cheaper to just have me do the whole job.
- Are the keys you are buying new? It is a fairly common to do what is called re-chipping or re-blading keys. This is to take the chip from a key like a miscut or used key, which is usually the most expensive part and put it into a new shell or put a new blade on the key. Where this is all fine and dandy in some keys the chips are not reusable and will not be able to be programmed to your vehicle. One type of chip that comes to mind are the ones used in Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth and Jeep. These can be reused if the chip is “virginized” using special equipment, however, 9 out of 10 of these sellers don’t even have this equipment, as a matter of fact many locksmiths don’t.
- What is the return policy? Am I going to be able to contact the seller if I have a problem? Like anything else you get a bad one every once in a while. And this won’t be known until it comes time to program the key.
- Is the seller knowledgeable enough to know which key your car needs? A few vehicles have more than one option on the same year for different chips and it cannot be told until comparing the keys. And what’s worse is the wrong chip can be put into what appears to be the right key.
- Many people want some kind of guarantee on their key, however, most locksmiths won’t warranty a key not bought at their shop. And for good reason. Would you want to be responsible for someone elses mistake?
Feel free to contact us with any additional questions you might have.
Steve’s Lock Out sells and programs chip keys and remotes in the Parsons, Kansas area. Feel free to drop by for an estimate at 1806 Main.
This is Steve signing off.
Cheaper Isn’t Always Better
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010
Sometimes it pays to listen to your Locksmith and compare the pros and cons and prices before making a decision. Today I’m referring to Auto Locks. Ignitions, especially, when they fail. There are some vehicles that failed ignitions are quite common. We try to keep the most ignitions in stock, but sometimes they aren’t available or you are one of several customers that has called us and they haven’t been restocked yet. So that means ignitions are sometimes out of stock or are not a regular stock item, however, we can usually have them overnighted if your in a pinch.
The price we quote you includes:
- The service call rate (for the time of day and location of your vehicle). We repair on site unless you bring your vehicle to us. If you bring your vehicle to us then this fee does not apply.
- An OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) replacement ignition, we do NOT use cheaply made ignitions. We also do NOT use salvage yard or used ignitions this is only asking for trouble. I state this as a warning as well. I have seen a few shops both locksmith and mechanic use this practice.
- The Ignition set to YOUR KEY (when available).
- Possibly code cutting of a factory key. If the key is worn this may be needed. This could have even been the reason for the ignition failure. If it is a “chip” key it will also need programmed.
- Removal of the old ignition. Many ignitions use what is called an active retainer and must be turned to the “on” position for removal.
- Installation of the new ignition
- Possibly additional labor. On some vehicles removal of an ignition can be a lengthy process.
We suggest doing it this way. Why? For many reasons. Here are a few.
- Setting your ignition back to your original key can make generating a key for your vehicle much easier. Therefore, much cheaper in the event that you loose your keys.
- One key is convenient. Do you really want 2 separate keys when it should be a 1 key vehicle?
- Used locks are just a bad idea. They could fail with the next turn of the key.
- Use of a worn key can cause premature failure. Inaccurate keys are hard on locks.
If you decide to shop around, make sure to ask the individual what all is covered in the fees. Does your vehicle need towed to their location? Will the replaced ignition be new and set to your original key? What, if any, additional labor charges are involved.
I hope this article will help you out in making a decision if you personally ever have to deal with this problem.
Key Tip for the day….
Friday, January 8th, 2010
Winter weather is here. It’s been rather odd here in the mid-west, nothing like what we are used to. Here’s a quick winter weather tip for you…….
Have an extra door key made for your car/truck. Keep it on a separate key ring in a different pocket. When you go out to start your car on these wintry mornings to warm it up and defrost the ice and snow you won’t be locked out when your vehicle “automatically” locks on you when you least expect it.
Introducing The Remote Skin
Monday, November 9th, 2009These cool little remote skins are out newest product at Steve’s Lock Out. With the growing request for some way to
fix a broken remote when it can no longer be put on a key ring. Here’s the solution!
These cute little skins:
- protect your remote
- make it possible to put your remote back on your key chain
- are made from a soft neoprene fabric that won’t fray (under normal use)
- have a tough vinyl window that provides visibility of remote buttons
They will work for most GM, Ford and a Universal (which fits many of the Import auto remotes). They can also work for most Remote Head keys.
It’s quick and easy to put them on your remote too! They have an overlapping flap in the back allowing you to slip your remote in and out with ease.
Organize Those Keys
Thursday, November 5th, 2009We have a few solutions for easy key indentification. From one key to multiple keys.
HERE we have a variety of key tags. Each comes in a package of 1 to 25.
This key rack organizes up to 4 keys or 4 sets of keys . It is easy to install with quick adhesive mounting. the rack comes with 4 keytags that have a removable paper that you can write on where the key(s) go. This product is available at Steve’s Lock Out online store and in our shop.
This product is made in the USA
Need a little more space to organize? Try this key rack that holds 8 keys. It is easy to install. It Includes adhesive pads & screws. It comes with 8 keytags that have a removable paper that you can write on where the key(s) go.
This product is available at Steve’s Lock Out online store and in our shop.
This product is made in the USA
Need something a little more secure? Try out key boxes. We have a Locking box and a Non-Locking box. Both boxes are easy to install (includes all mounting hardware). They both holds up to 24 keys. The locking box comes with 2 keys. The non-locking box snaps shut.
This product is made in the USA
It’s Kung Fu Panda
Saturday, October 31st, 2009Ok not really, but this little guy is cute! Out of all the painted house keys we have I think I would have to choose this one if I were to get a cool new house key. It’s available in the most common Schlage and Kwikset house keys. these make awesome stocking stuffers!
