Bauer key question....maybe a little rant too.

[muckinfuss]

Has anyone found a replacement key blank without the plastic egg shaped head that actually work in the Bauer lock?

I used search to no result so......Bauer makes a decent lock set and I'm OK with what I have, However, the stupid egg shaped plastic key heads drive me nuts. I'm sure some product manager got a raise over the cool factor they came up with but it's a stupid design. You can't just wipe them off with a wire wheel since they don't have a metal core that the plastic goes onto. They don't sit on a key ring properly as is and I want a replacement with the plain old flat metal key blank. Bauer tells me they don't exist. I don't believe them. They just don't know who has them. Do you?

[ARoamer]

Originally Posted by muckinfuss

Has anyone found a replacement key blank without the plastic egg shaped head that actually work in the Bauer lock?

I used search to no result so......Bauer makes a decent lock set and I'm OK with what I have, However, the stupid egg shaped plastic key heads drive me nuts. I'm sure some product manager got a raise over the cool factor they came up with but it's a stupid design. You can't just wipe them off with a wire wheel since they don't have a metal core that the plastic goes onto. They don't sit on a key ring properly as is and I want a replacement with the plain old flat metal key blank. Bauer tells me they don't exist. I don't believe them. They just don't know who has them. Do you?

Not enough info in your post, don't post your key code, but this may work. Check this site for a BAU3 blank.
https://mysecuritypro.com/BauerBAU3KeyBlanks.aspx

[TomC_AZ]

I think it depends on the code/series of key that you have. Bauer sells the keys alone, and at decent price with quick turnaround.
https://bauerproducts.com/product-ca...lacement-keys/

[RogerR]

Amazon has pre cut Bauer keys 2 for 7.99.
Log in and search Bauer rv keys and several sites will pop up.
I got extras when I dropped one of mine and did want to camp with only one for both of us.

[muckinfuss]

thanks, but I don't want a Bauer key with the plastic head on it. I have those and hate them. That's all that is on the sites you guys are recommending. Here's what I know...the egg shaped plastic keys are made in two series...300 and 700. The difference is that the 300 is one sided and the 700 is two sided. I sent off to Hillman to get some more clarification of the BAU3 key...it says universal two sided on line, but doesn't state which Bauers it will replace. All those other keys in the first post have nothing to do with either of those two series and they are all tumbler series used in a variety of industries not related to RVing. The plastic egg head shape identifies a lockset that isn't tumbler based according to my local locksmith who tried and failed.

This why I was asking for someone with experience who successfully found a resource that made a key that didn't have the plastic head on it, but worked.

[TomC_AZ]

I dont have any of those keys, mine are the all metal type. Hopefully this is not a stupid question but have you tried using a Dremel or knife to cut the plastic off and see if there is metal under it?

[muckinfuss]

yes....I used a wire wheel on one of our 3/4 hp bench grinders. All that's under the egg is a stub of metal that locks the two parts together. Not enough room to even drill a hole without interfering with the shoulder. Believe it or not, there are blanks with just the metal head (still in the egg shape tho) for the single sided 300 series keys. (bau2 1648) Go figure.

[Old and soft]

Bet a locksmith has several walls full of key blanks. Some times you just have to shop local.

[muckinfuss]

Originally Posted by muckinfuss

== > The plastic egg head shape identifies a lockset that isn't tumbler based according to my local locksmith who tried and failed.

This why I was asking for someone with experience who successfully found a resource that made a key that didn't have the plastic head on it, but worked.

Not sure what you were willing to bet, but I would have taken your bet and your money too. You missed that in my post. He's twenty five years in biz....and local with a wall full of keys. He does all of our property changes as tenants come and go.

[Marcm157]

I bought several 963 Bauer keys from eTrailer without the plastic head. Not sure if the code changes anything. I actually wanted the plastic but couldn't find any in my case..

[muckinfuss]

On to the next problem since this one won't be solved anytime soon if ever.

I just got off the phone with one of the largest multi brand key blank distributors and they have never found a non plastic headed version of Bauer series 700 which is widely in use and fairly common across more than just Jayco. Its appeal is the one key fits all locks and I'm sure the price is right since it's not a tumbler lock (cheaper to build).

[JaycoMLOK]

I not sure what series I have but the OEM key is egg shape and double sided all metal. Not more than a month after we bought our 2019 Jayco had our friend and local locksmith make me 2 extra keys for it and they are just the standard round head metal key.
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