Service · 06

Key Cutting & Duplication

One of the deepest key blank inventories in the borough — house keys, mailbox keys, padlocks, and high-security keys cut on calibrated machines.

Licensed NYC DCA #0901322
Serving Staten Island since 1922
SI · Brooklyn · Northern NJ
4.9★ on Google · 600+ reviews

Hardware-store kiosks cut keys with worn cutters off generic blanks. We cut on calibrated machines from manufacturer-spec blanks, which is why our keys turn smoothly the first time, every time. Walk into the Forest Avenue shop with any key — house, mailbox, padlock, cabinet, antique, restricted, fob — and we will almost always have the blank.

Walk into the Forest Avenue shop and you'll see a wall of original key drawers from when Minkel first opened. We've kept that inventory going — house keys, mailbox keys, padlock keys, antique cabinet keys, and modern high-security blanks all cut on calibrated machines.

If your key cuts, we probably stock the blank. If we don't, we know where to get it.

Hardware-store kiosks are designed for speed, not precision. The cutter wheels wear out, the blanks are generic, and the staff is rotated weekly. The result is a copy that fits the lock but rides the wafers a little too rough — and over time, that key wears out the lock. We have rebuilt countless cylinders that died years before their time because the customer was duplicating off a kiosk copy of a copy of a copy.

We cut on professional, calibrated equipment from manufacturer-spec blanks, decoded directly from the original key when possible. The result is a key that turns smoothly the first time and does not damage the lock over its life. For high-security and restricted keyways, we are an authorized cutter for the major manufacturers and can supply keys that cannot be reproduced anywhere except in our shop.

Need key cutting service on Staten Island? Call 718-442-2626 or request a free estimate. We also serve commercial customers across Brooklyn & Northern New Jersey.

Standard keys from $3. Restricted, automotive, and transponder keys quoted in shop.

Why Minkel

What makes our key cutting service different.

Calibrated cutters

Our machines are tuned weekly so cuts stay within manufacturer tolerance — the reason keys fail at hardware stores.

Massive blank library

Hundreds of residential, commercial, automotive, and antique blanks in stock, including obsolete profiles.

Restricted-key authorization

Authorized to cut Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, ASSA, and other restricted keyways with proper ID.

Transponder & fob programming

We program automotive transponder keys and proximity fobs for most makes from 1996 onward.

Decode from a lock

Lost every key? We can decode the cylinder and cut a working key without disassembly in most cases.

Bulk pricing

Property managers and supers get tiered pricing on multi-key cuts and master-key updates.

Same-day turnaround

Most jobs walked in are walked out in under 10 minutes.

Quality guarantee

If a key does not turn smoothly, bring it back and we recut at no charge.

How it works

Our key cutting process, step by step.

  1. 01

    Bring the original

    Cutting from an original key — not a copy — gives the cleanest result.

  2. 02

    Blank match

    We pull the exact blank from inventory or order overnight if it is rare.

  3. 03

    Cut & deburr

    Cut on calibrated equipment, deburred, and tested on a working lock when possible.

  4. 04

    Guarantee

    If a key does not turn smoothly, bring it back — we recut at no charge.

  5. 05

    Tag & record

    For commercial accounts, every key cut is logged against your account for future re-orders and audits.

When to call us

Common situations we handle every week.

If your situation sounds like any of these, give us a call. Most can be quoted in a 30-second conversation.

  • New homeowner who wants spares for every family member
  • Property manager duplicating 50+ keys for a building turnover
  • Inherited antique furniture with a missing cabinet key
  • Driver who lost the second key fob and needs a backup programmed
  • Tenant whose super gave them one mailbox key that does not turn
  • Storage-unit padlock key that the kiosk could not cut
  • USPS cluster mailbox key replacement for a new resident
  • Sailboat or RV ignition key needing a backup before a season
  • Office that wants every staff member's key tagged and numbered
  • Estate cleanout with a drawer full of unknown keys to be identified
  • Vintage car owner needing original-style double-sided keys
Key types we cut

Everything we cut on Forest Avenue

Standard residential keys — Kwikset KW1, Schlage SC1, Weiser WR3, and dozens more.

Commercial keys — Schlage Everest, Sargent LA / LB, Corbin Russwin, Yale GA / GB, Best A / B / E.

High-security and restricted — Medeco (Original, Biaxial, M3, X4), Mul-T-Lock (Interactive, MT5+), ASSA (Twin 6000, Twin Maximum+).

Automotive — most domestic and import transponder keys 1996+, including chip cloning and on-board programming.

Padlock keys — Master, American, Abus, Mul-T-Lock, and obscure industrial padlocks.

Mailbox keys — USPS cluster boxes, NDCBU, old apartment-style locks, and private mailbox systems.

Antique — skeleton, bit, warded, Yale jenny, and double-sided antique automotive keys.

Safe-deposit and furniture — desk, file cabinet, cash box, jewelry box, and antique drawer keys.

Restricted keys explained

What 'restricted keyway' actually means for you

A restricted keyway is a patented key profile (the cross-section of the key) that only authorized dealers can stock and cut. Hardware stores cannot legally — or physically — cut a restricted key, which means an unauthorized person cannot walk in off the street with your key and walk out with a copy.

Restricted keys are the right answer for any building, business, or home where unauthorized copies would be a real risk — multi-tenant buildings, offices with turnover, divorced households, vacation rentals, and high-value properties.

Restricted-key systems also support master keying, audit trails, and re-pin events when staff or tenants change — all without re-keying the entire building.

Minkel is an authorized dealer and cutter for Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, ASSA, and Schlage Primus. Restricted keys are cut only with signed authorization from your designated person, photo ID, and your account on file.

Brands we work with

Manufacturers and hardware we stock & service.

MedecoMul-T-LockASSASchlage PrimusYaleKwiksetSargentCorbin RusswinBestArrowIlco (blanks)JMA (blanks)

Don't see your brand? We service nearly every major manufacturer — call 718-442-2626 and ask.

Questions, answered

Key Cutting FAQs.

Why do hardware-store keys often fail?

Worn cutters, generic blanks, and untrained staff. Cuts drift out of spec, and the resulting key wears the lock prematurely.

Can you copy a 'Do Not Duplicate' key?

We honor restricted-key restrictions. For non-restricted DND keys we duplicate with ID; for restricted keyways we need authorization from the keyholder on file.

Do you cut car keys and program fobs?

Yes — most makes from 1996 onward. Bring the vehicle and the working key if you have one.

How much does a house key cost?

Standard house key duplicates run $3–$8. High-security and restricted keys are more — quoted in shop.

What if I lost every key?

Bring the lock in or have us come to it. We can decode most cylinders and cut a working key without taking the lock apart.

Do you cut antique skeleton and bit keys?

Yes. We hand-fit skeleton and bit keys for antique cabinets, armoires, desks, and house doors from the 1800s and early 1900s.

Can you cut keys from a photograph?

We can identify a blank from a clear, in-focus photo with a scale reference, but we always prefer the physical key for an accurate cut.

Do you sell key tags, rings, and organizers?

Yes — color-coded tags, numbered rings, and key cabinets for businesses and property managers.

Can you cut a key to match a lock I am bringing in?

Yes. Bring the lock and we decode it on a sinner, cut a key to factory spec, and test it before you leave.

Do you do mail-order key cutting?

Yes for restricted-keyway accounts with us on file. We mail completed keys with tracking. Walk-in is faster for everything else.

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