How to get a broken key out of a lock: Keys wear out over time and the metal fatigues. Sometimes the break happens inside a lock cylinder while turning the key. How do you get the key out if that happens? You’ll find a variety of methods that work, and others that don’t. We will tell you what locksmiths do and have tested and confirmed that one online trick may work.
A broken key can be removed out of a lock with tools that you already own. If the key isn’t too far in the lock, you can pull it out with a pair of tweezers or small needle nose pliers. If it is further in, you can use small jigsaw blades or paperclips to rake the key out. You can also use a glue gun stick or sealer to pull the key out.
These are the easiest methods, to get a Broken Key out of a lock , but there are more complicated options. Below are details on various techniques for removing a damaged key. The red pins shown will lock the key in place when a working key is turned.
How to get a broken key out of a lock
Pins are located inside the cylinder. They correspond to the cuts made in the key. These pins allow the cylinder’s turning mechanism to work when the key is inserted. These pins can move freely in their chamber before the key is turned, thanks to a spring in the chamber.
The pins will not move up to allow the key to slide out if the key is broken by turning the cylinder. They are designed to keep the key in place and prevent its removal. To remove the broken key, the cylinder must be repositioned.
The correct key position to extract most home hardware is with the cut ends of the key pointed up. Some lock cylinders can be installed upside down, while the reverse is true. You should know how to insert the key normally. A paperclip or small screwdriver can be used to align the cylinder in a way that allows the pins and key to move freely.
The Lock is off!
You can often remove Schrage door hardware from your home to reveal the back side of the key. To push the key out, you can reach into the holes on the back of the cylinder. You can access the lock cylinder by removing the Broken Key out of a lock from the door. From the back, look at the piece you usually slide the key into (the lock cylinder). Is there a hole in the back? You can insert a small rod or paperclip into the hole in the back of the cylinder to push the key out.
Sometimes, you will need to remove the clip (or nut), from the back of your lock in order to access the access hole. If that is not something you feel comfortable doing, you can take the lock to a locksmith who will disassemble it and reassemble it for you. Kit set locks, and other brands, will not accept this method because the backs of these locks do not have any holes through which you could access the inside of the key cylinder.
Use a Key Extractor to Remove a Broken Key out of a lock
You don’t have to spend hours trying to figure out how to remove a Broken Key out of a lock. Instead, you can use the professional key extractor. Spiral Key extractors consist of very thin strips made from metal with grooves. These grooves can grip broken keys so they can be removed.
To use the key extractor, place it along the cut edge of your key. You should not push the key into the lock further. Push the extractor along its top edge, pushing the pins out so that the extractor can slide in. Gently pull the extractor out by twisting it. You may need to do this several times to get enough friction to allow the key to come out.
Hook extractors are another type of key extractor. The hook extractor is used to grab the first cut of the damaged key and then pull it out. Push the hook extractor down along the cut side and pull the key out. Pull. There are many types of key extractors on eBay.
To remove the key, use needle nose pliers
In some cases, to get a broken key out of a lock the key might not fit into the lock completely. You can also use tweezers, which are often very thin. You can use whatever tool you have. You should be careful not to push it in any further. Either enough key will be visible to grab the edge, or not. You’ll know very quickly which one it is.
Use a small jigsaw blade or a paper clip
This is a similar method how to get a broken key out of a lock. You’re not a locksmith, so what are your chances of having a key extractor? This is the “try everything” approach. Use whatever small bumpy or rounded object you have.
If there is enough room in the lock cylinder, some paper clips can be used as a spiral extractor. You can also use a few very small jigsaw knives to extract hooks. A pumpkin carving set I purchased at Halloween had a small, very useful jigsaw that I keep in my toolbox.
Glue Gun Stick Online Hack That Actually Works
A lot of people have been discussing “life hacks” online. They use glue sticks from glue guns to fix Broken Keys out of a lock like these glue sticks on Amazon. This worked for us! You should soften the tip and press it into your key hole. It can be removed if the glue has melted enough to mold to the key.
Although it can be done, it is not easy as the online videos make clear. It worked, but we learned many things along the way. The key may have a metal edge that the glue can stick to during extraction, depending on how it was broken. We discovered that the glue stick is also removed from the edge of the key by pulling it off the flat end of the key cylinder.
This will help you to trim the edge of the glue stick so that it is pointy and push it into the key hole. Slowly move the glue stick from one side to the other so that the face of each cylinder is broken off. Then pull on the glue stick. This will allow for a gentler pull so that the glue stick remains on the edge. Although it took a few attempts before the glue stick managed to pull the key out, it was sufficient so that I could use needle nosepliers to grab it.
How to get a broken key out of a lock by using a glue stick?
A glue stick is a great way to fix a broken key. I was curious. This is possible, I thought. You Should Never Remove a Key Using an Online Tip. You might have read some advice online to use super glue to get rid of the key. !?!? Are you serious?
This is where super glue should be applied to the tip of the key. You must do this without gluing any other parts of the key. If you do, the key will be glued into the lock cylinder. None of the methods discussed here will work and you will have to replace the lock.
Once you have applied the super glue to the tip of your Broken Key out of a lock, add another small object (such as a paperclip) to the glue. Wait for the glue to dry. Slowly pull the key out. This is something I’m sure some people will want to do. After you have glued the key in the lock, you will need to remove the lock from the case and soak it in finger nail polish remover. Then, go back and try the other methods that we discussed to get the key out.
What if you can’t get the broken key out of a lock?
You can remove the lock from your door and give it to your locksmith if you have tried everything except glue. The cost of a new lock will be less than what they charge to get a broken key out of a lock. If you ignore my warning and glue the key in, then throw it away and get another one. Instead, get the lock replaced by your local locksmith. They will not only get you a great price, but they will also key your existing house key for free.
ACME Locksmith will make your keys for you. This key comes with a lifetime guarantee that it will not break, split, or crack. You can bring your key to any of our locations, and we will replace it for free if it does.
