Hear from Our Customers
You hand a key to your teenager and it works. Your parents visit and let themselves in without calling you to leave work early. The spare you keep in your wallet slides into the deadbolt like it’s supposed to.
That’s what happens when key duplication is done right. You’re not stuck on your porch at 9 PM because the copy from the hardware store won’t turn. You’re not paying $150 for an emergency locksmith to drill out a lock because a poorly cut key snapped off inside.
You’ve got working spares when you need them. And when someone loses a key—because someone always loses a key—you’re not scrambling.
McCausland Lock Service has been cutting keys since the late 1800s. Our shop in Prospect Park opened in 1981, and it’s still run by the same family—Tom McCausland and his daughter Chrissy, with Chuck semi-retired but still around.
That’s not a marketing line. That’s just how long we’ve been doing this work in Delaware County. Upland, Prospect Park, the surrounding towns—if you’ve lived here long enough, you’ve probably heard the name.
We’re not the cheapest option, and we’re fine with that. Cheap blanks wear out. Cheap cuts don’t seat properly. You end up back where you started, only now you’re frustrated and out the money you tried to save.
You bring in the key you want duplicated. Could be your front door, back door, side entrance, garage side door—whatever you need a spare of.
We check the key first. If it’s worn down or damaged, we’ll tell you before cutting, because copying a bad key just gives you two bad keys. Assuming your original is in good shape, we select the right blank from our inventory. We stock the common brands—Kwikset, Schlage, others—plus the oddball keys that hardware stores don’t carry.
The key gets cut on professional equipment. This isn’t a teenager running a machine in aisle seven. It’s someone who’s done this thousands of times and knows what a properly cut key looks and feels like. Most standard house keys are ready in five to ten minutes.
Before you leave, test it. If it doesn’t work perfectly, we’ll recut it. You’re not paying twice. You’re not leaving with something that might work.
Ready to get started?
You’re getting a duplicate key that matches your original down to the grooves and cuts that make your lock work. Standard house keys, double-sided keys, decorative keys if that’s your thing. High-security keys that require authorization. Keys the big box stores won’t touch because they don’t have the blank or the equipment.
In Upland and the rest of Delaware County, a lot of homes were built decades ago. Older locks, discontinued key types, odd configurations that don’t fit the standard rack at Home Depot. We keep a wider inventory specifically for these situations. We’ve seen the “challenge keys” before.
You’re also getting someone who knows the difference between a key that technically works and a key that works smoothly. One binds in the lock. One turns without resistance. That gap matters when it’s January and your hands are cold and you just want to get inside your house.
Pricing is straightforward. Basic residential keys run a few dollars. More complex keys cost more, but we’ll tell you the price before cutting. No surprise fees when you go to pay.
Most standard residential keys are cut and ready in five to ten minutes. You’re not dropping off and coming back later. You’re waiting while it’s done.
The time can stretch if you need a high-security key or something that requires special equipment or authorization. Those might take longer, or we might need to order a blank if it’s particularly unusual. But for the standard Kwikset or Schlage key that fits 90% of residential locks in Upland, you’re in and out quickly.
If there’s a line or we’re in the middle of another job, you might wait a bit longer. But you’re not talking about hours. You’re talking about the time it takes to grab a coffee.
Most house keys, yes. Standard keys, decorative keys, double-sided keys—those are all straightforward. High-security keys that are marked “Do Not Duplicate” can be copied, but you’ll need to show proof that you’re authorized to have that key made. Usually that means proving you own the property or have permission from whoever does.
Some older or discontinued keys require blanks that aren’t common anymore. We stock a wider range than most places, so there’s a good chance we’ll have what you need. If we don’t, we can usually track it down, though that takes more time.
The keys we can’t duplicate are the ones that are too worn down to copy accurately. If your original key is ground smooth or broken, there’s not enough information left to make a working duplicate. In that case, you’re looking at rekeying the lock or replacing it entirely, which is a different conversation.
Equipment, experience, and inventory. Hardware stores use automated kiosks or have a store employee run a key machine between other tasks. Sometimes that works fine. Sometimes you get a key that binds, doesn’t turn smoothly, or won’t work at all.
We use professional-grade equipment and have locksmiths who’ve been cutting keys for years, not someone who got a ten-minute training session. We can also handle keys that hardware stores turn away—older blanks, high-security keys, unusual cuts.
The other difference is what happens if the key doesn’t work. At a hardware store, you’re usually out of luck unless you want to argue with a manager. Here, if the duplicate doesn’t function properly, we’ll make it right without charging you again. That’s the advantage of working with people who stake their reputation on the work, not a corporation running thousands of locations.
Basic house keys typically run between two and five dollars per key. That’s for standard residential keys—the ones that fit most front doors, back doors, deadbolts in homes around Upland and Delaware County.
Double-sided keys or keys with more complex cuts cost a bit more, usually in the four to eight dollar range. High-security keys that require special blanks or authorization can run ten to twenty dollars or higher, depending on the type.
If you’re duplicating multiple keys at once, ask about pricing. Sometimes there’s a small break when you’re making several copies. The price is set before we cut, so you’ll know what you’re paying before you commit. No surprises at checkout.
No. You can walk in during business hours with the key you want copied. For standard residential key duplication, there’s no appointment needed.
If you’re looking at something more involved—rekeying locks, installing new hardware, setting up a master key system—then calling ahead makes sense. But for straightforward key copying, just show up.
Our shop is located in Prospect Park, which is a short drive from Upland. Hours are weekdays, typically closing by early evening and closed on weekends. If you’re planning to stop by, double-check the current hours first, especially around holidays.
Bring the original key you want copied. That’s it. Make sure it’s the right key—sounds obvious, but people sometimes grab the wrong one off their keychain and don’t realize until they’re already here.
If you’re duplicating a high-security key or one marked “Do Not Duplicate,” bring identification and proof that you’re authorized to have that key made. That could be a deed, a lease, a letter from your landlord—something showing you have legitimate access to the property.
If your original key is damaged, worn down, or not working properly, mention that upfront. We can assess whether it’s still good enough to copy or if you need a different solution. Copying a bad key just gives you two keys that don’t work, which doesn’t help anyone.
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