How to Create a Spare Payphone Key

If you are the owner of a pay phone, you may want to keep a few copies of your keys on hand.

Pay phones work by allowing the user to make a phone call when a certain amount of money is inserted into the coin slot. This money is typically accessed by the owner of the phone, who has a key to get inside the phone's coin holder. You may wish to make a copy of the key if you are the pay phone's owner. Many hardware stores, and some grocery stores, have key cutting equipment that allows you to make a copy of your key.

Things You'll Need

• Original key

Instructions

1. Obtain the original key for the pay phone.

2. Locate a nearby hardware store or grocery store that offers a key cutting service. Large stores such as Lowe's or The Home Depot almost always have key cutting equipment.

3. Take the original key to the store and find a worker in charge of key cutting. Some key cutting stations are behind customer service counters at the front of stores. In other stores, the equipment is in an aisle with door knobs and other locking equipment.

4. Notify the worker that you need the pay phone key copied. If the store has a key template that matches yours, the key can be copied.

Tips & Warnings

• If you cannot find a store that is able to copy your key, try a specialist locksmith. Often, locksmiths are able to copy unusual keys.

References

• Complete Locksmith: Key Cutting Machines

Resources

• ACE: Store Locator
• Lowes: Find a Store
• The Home Depot: Store Finder
• Timpson: Key Cutting