Locksmithing Tip: Miscut Transponder Keys? How to Remove the Chips Without Damage!

Miscut transponder keys - It's a reality that we all must live with. I know, I've done my fair share of them, and the question that we must answer is what's the best way to extract the chips out of these keys. I think it's like a two-sided thing we have to worry about. One will be speed, how quickly we can get the chips out, and the other part is, how gentle can we be? Some methods are quick, but they could also damage the chip, especially a glass chip. On the other end, we can take too much time trying to get the chip out that it's not worth harvesting the chip unless it's an emergency. So, I want to go over a method I found using the Lock Tech Transponder Chip Extractor. It that kind of balances out the two, you'll see that it's a method that's not going to damage the chip. At the same time, you can get it out promptly.

Before we start using the lock tech transponder chip extractor, I want to cover and make sure that you're looking out for keys like the Ilco H72

It has this transponder sleeve put in just like this; you can see this little top piece. In this case, you wouldn't want to use the chip extractor. You want to take an icepick, dig out the corner, pry it up and get the chip out.

Or the JMA circle plus key B111.

It has the same thing right up top, but the JMA has a little hole at the bottom. All you must do is take a paperclip, stick it in there, push, just like that, and you can get that chip out.

If you see that, don't use any method; instead, use a paperclip or an ice pick.

GETTING THE CHIP OUT USING THE LOCK TECH TRANSPONDER CHIP EXTRACTOR

Start the method by drawing a line underneath the keyring slot. This mark will serve as where we want to cut off the head of the key. It is because we want to expose the inner jacket that's holding the chip. Use a bolt cutter to cut it.

Remember to err on the side of not going too far down because we don't want to damage the chip and, at the same time, expose the jacket.

Open the bolt cutter and align the mark, then crimp down.

Once we've exposed that jacket, we want to make the distance between the head of the key remaining is the same distance as the blade. Otherwise, when you use the tool, it's going to pop up the blade, and it's not going to work.

Use a marker to mark the same distance.

Again use your bolt cutter and cut it.

We have that the inner jacket exposed, and we have this key cut down, so it's not going to bend.

So we're going to take our tool, stick the transponder key in, and we're going to put the blade right in this hole then clamp it down nice and tight.

Lock Tech Transponder Chip Extractor has some holes at the bottom that you can mount to a bench if you need.

Once the transponder key is set, turn the elbow grease. In this process, the outer transponder key will start getting stuck on different levels then the jacket will come out so we can grab the chip.

Continue turning until the chip is entirely out.           

Once the chip is out, turn the elbow grease in reverse, then unclamp the transponder key. Take a screwdriver and pry the chip.

When the chip is exposed, we can get in there and get it.

But for this method, use a little bolt cutter, get in there close to the chip then cut it. This way, we can easily pry the chip out.

GETTING THE CHIP OUT OF H92 USING THE LOCK TECH TRANSPONDER CHIP EXTRACTOR

Grab a marker and put a mark right beneath where the keyring big hole is. Once again, I'm going to err on the side of cutting too little instead of too much because we don't want to damage the chip, but we can easily take off a little more. Cut the key using the bolt cutter.

Once the whole jacket is exposed, we're going to do the same thing on the keyblade. So once again, grab a marker and estimate the exact distance between where we cut. Get that blade cutter and cut it off, just like that.

Now we got our key ready to put into the chip extractor.

Take the key and get it in and straight, then clamp it down. Grab the elbow grease and start turning it. The farther you go, the more challenging it gets. Stop when the jacket is out

Take the H92 key out of the extractor. Pry the jacket out using the screwdriver; make sure not to damage the chip.

Once the jacket is extracted, you use the screwdriver to get the chip out, but the safest way to do it is to use a bolt cutter.

That is how you use the Lock Tech Transponder Chip Extractor. I think it's the perfect balance between efficiency, speed, and not damaging the chip. I want to point out one last thing: if you encounter a key, like a Jeep, like a Y160, where the whole head of the key underneath the plastic has metal on it. You're going to want to do the same thing, but you're not going to remove the plastic housing around the top of the key, so you have to view the metal key embedded into the plastic as that chip insert. So, you cut around it.

That's the one other exception you want to keep an eye out for, but outside of that, I think you'll find a tool friendly and easy to use, and you'll be able to save those chips. Thank you, guys, and we'll see you next time!