You’re on your way out of the house for a busy day ahead, ready for all of the exciting hours ahead. As you go to lock the front door, however, your key snaps, and you’re now stuck with a tough situation in which you must remove the broken piece before being able to put your spare to use – hopefully, you have a spare to put to use.
Although frustrating, it’s very common for keys to eventually break due to overuse. Thankfully, there are a handful of ways to successfully remove the broken key from the lock to ensure that you can secure your home and get back on your way. This article is going to explore the various methods, alongside some important notes on broken key removal and questions our team gets asked frequently.
Important Notes on Removing Your Broken Key
Before attempting to remove your broken key, there are a few items you’ll first need to know:
Do Not Use Your Key Again
It can feel as though reinserting your key into the lock will be an effective way to resolve the issue at hand, but the reality is that it will only push the broken piece of key further into the lock, making recovery all the more difficult.
Lubricate Before Removal
If your hope is to remove the key with some sense of ease, you’re going to need to complete a few prep work items. To start, lubricate the keyway where your key snapped using a standard oil-based lubricant, like WD-40. Ensure that you’re only applying lubricant to the inside of the lock, and have a rag handy to capture any excess that spills over onto the lock.
Have Tools Handy
Because every lock break is different, the exact tools needed to successfully remove yours will vary. In order to ensure that you have the necessary support tools on hand to complete the job, try and keep a few of the following handy:
- Bobby pin, safety pin, button pin, rolling pin
- Metal hair clip, paper clip
- Swiss army knife, pocket knife,
- First aid kit, emergency kit
Methods for Removing Your Broken Key from a Lock
Now that you’ve diagnosed the break, have applied the proper lubrication, and have your tools handy, it’s time to approach the situation with one of the following primary tools – depending on the lock, the break, and other situational specifics.
1. Tweezers
For most, the go-to primary tool for solving a key break is tweezers. Although helpful for navigating the break and applying specific pressure points, tweezers are often inappropriately sized for most lock mechanisms. This can result in the key being pushed deeper into the space, and end up making the removal process much more difficult than it needs to be. If a portion of the broken key is protruding from the lock, tweezers will be a great way of getting it. Otherwise, lean towards one of the other solutions on this list.
2. Broken Key Extractor
A broken key extractor is going to be the only solution on this list actually designed to do the job at hand. It works by hooking the teeth of the keys onto the teeth of the extractor upon entry, and it’s an incredibly effective way to remove broken keys. If you’re looking for a professional tool that will make removal easy, pick yourself up a single-hooked or double-hooked extractor.
3. Hacksaw Blade
The hacksaw blade solution is effectively a DIY version of the broken key extractor mentioned above. Using a thin piece of metal, you’re going to create teeth that can slide into the lock mechanism and latch onto the teeth of the stuck key. Although a touch more tedious than other options on this list, the hacksaw blade is an affordable solution to key extraction that individuals have relied on for decades.
4. Super Glue
As one of the toughest key extraction methods to execute, you should save super glue for only the most difficult of situations. Only use this method if a portion of the broken key is accessible from outside the lock, and trying to use this on the inside of the mechanism is sure to result in disaster. To use the method, simply apply a touch of super glue to a small object – like a match or bobby pin – and stick it to the broken key. Let it dry, and pull out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to some of the most common questions we receive about broken key extraction:
What Is the Best Way to Remove a Broken Key From A Lock?
Although all of the above methods will work, the best way to successfully remove a key from a lock will be by calling a professional locksmith. They are equipped with the toolkit and knowledge necessary to ensure that extraction goes smoothly, that no additional damage occurs to the locking mechanism, and that you can get back to your day.
How Long Does It Take to Remove a Broken Key From A Lock?
With a professional locksmith on site, it won’t take more than a few minutes to successfully remove a broken key. Left to your own devices, the process can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.
Why Do Keys Break Inside of Locks?
Each time a key is rotated in a locking mechanism, it puts stress on the metal. Over years of use, this stress will eventually wear it down enough to cause breakage. Although they happen very infrequently, there never really is a good time to have a key break, and that’s why it’s important to be prepared for a fix when necessary.
Rapid Locksmith has been providing reliable locksmith service to customers throughout Ottawa and its surrounding areas for years. With 15-minute service arrival, expert technicians, and industry-leading pricing, we’re prepared to help you with all of your locksmith needs. To learn more about our company, services, or to request service, please contact us today!
