Question about Ferrari key cutting...

interesting. I wonder how many other older car owners don't have an original set....

 

I would contact the nearest Ferrari dealer and get their advice. I'm sure they could cut it from your copy or maybe help you find the key code.

 

Go find a local, old-school locksmith. The gentleman who cut my key filed it by hand and by simply glancing at the original, and it worked first shot. He said it wasn't a hard key to make.

 

I have the same problem around here. Fortunately I found a off brand key blank that a locksmith coud make a copy of my OEM key but I also have another OEM blank that no one will copy. The stock keys don't fit in the Home Depot machines and the locksmiths won't touch a STEEL OEM key on their machines due to blade wear. So I'm looking at a small hardware store to cut the key. Either that or I'll need to find a locksmith who has a cutter for steel keys. Good luck

 

Local hardware or locksmith should have the right tools/experience.

 

I had Ace hardware, cut an Enzo/CS key blank and a 360 Gray key for my 550 with no trouble.

John

 

Yes, they have to have a cutter for steel keys. Also, the cutter itself that Ferrari uses is different. If you look at a Ferrari cut key, you'll notice that the key has little 'V' grooves, not recessed areas with flat bottoms. A good cutter can cut a recessed area whose depth approximates the surface depth of the two sides at the point where the edges of the tumbler would fall. This actually makes for a better key. Ideally, you don't want a standard tumbler falling into a V groove. If the key wasn't made of steel, the sides of the V groove would quickly get worn down at the point where the edges of the tumbler would hit them over time. A standard, flat bottomed tumbler should fall until it hits a flat bottomed recess in the key. Even aluminum keys cut in this way last a long time because of the greater surface area of contact between the tumblers and the key. So, why does Ferrari cut their keys with a V shaped cutting wheel? Most likely because it's easy and very fast.

 

similar experience here. I only got one key of each type with my latest 308 last year. Bought some steel blanks on-line, but could not find anyone who would cut them. (Tried a half dozen hardware stores, etc.) But a locksmith 3 blocks away, here in Meriden CT, had blanks to match both engine and doors. I got two of each made. They work fine, just leaves the issue of originality.

 

The key shop at our local Sears has never had a problem cutting the steel Ferrari keys. Of course it's manned by a neat old guy, a retired locksmith, not some high schooler.

 

It's not rocket surgery, or brain science. Heck, even Rob Lay used to cut keys when he was a high school clerk at the drugstore!

Seriously, it's not difficult. Call a real locksmith; tell them you have a steel key. If they cut it too shallow, they can probably deepen the cut until it works perfectly in your car. Just make sure they don't make a copy for themselves!

 

Get a couple of cheap blanks, and a dremel tool with cutting disks.

Make your own blank from your existing key with the Dremel and one cutting disk. I made my Dino keys from copies that way. You just have to take your time.

Since you are nervous about how your existing key fits, cut the new one a little proud (fat) and try it. If it won't turn at all, take a hair off. Work slowly and carefully until you have a key the works perfectly. Eyeballing it does work.

Now you have your template to make the key you need from your expensive blank. Use the newly cut, perfectly fitting key.

Use the same process to make your expensive key fit perfectly. Use the dremel, with a cutting disk, make it a little fat, try it, work it down until it works perfectly.

This is exactly what I did. Took me about 30 minutes to make the 1st one, about 10 to make the second one.

Dave M.

 

I too had Ace hardware successfully cut an OEM blank for me. I warned the technician that I heard because of the steel, it is likely to be "undercut" He knew what I was talking about and was sure to compare, then tweak based on comparisons to the original and now I have a perfect copy.

I'm wondering if your copy is actually slightly undercut as it is which could explain why you need to "convince" it.

Good Luck!