Here's how to remove a broken key from a lock: no need for a locksmith Here's how you can save your broken key Play locksmith for a...
Here's how to remove a broken key from a lock: no need for a locksmith
Play locksmith for a day.
Have you ever experienced this? Your key is stuck in the lock. You apply a bit of pressure and wiggle the key back and forth a bit, only to break it off and you'll end up with half a key in your hand and half a key in the lock. What should you do next? You could call a locksmith, but these are often very expensive and not always necessary. You can also follow our advice and remove the broken key from the lock yourself!
Locksmith
A locksmith is not our best friend per se. Of course, they can solve the problem at hand in minutes, but they also cost a lot of money. Especially at night, on weekends or during holidays, they can charge you up to a few hundred euros. And, of course, your key decided to break at the most inopportune moment. Fortunately, we have a bunch of tips that will save you a hefty bill.
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broken key
Can you spot a piece of the key sticking out of the lock? Use a little oil or WD-40 to grease the lock. WD-40 is the best option because you can use the long, thin nozzle to spray as close to the key as possible. Carefully spray the oil into the lock, between the key and the cylinder. Don't be afraid to be generous with the oil. Then use a pair of pliers to remove the broken key.
Too profound
Did the key break inside the lock and are you unable to reach it? Don't despair, because you can always fix it easily with a few tools. For example, you could use a strong magnet to remove the rest of the key. Of course, not everyone has a strong magnet, and the key may be too stuck for this trick to work. You can also use tweezers or a straightened paper clip. If all that doesn't work, you might consider putting some glue on the other half of the key and then putting it back in the lock, directly over the stuck piece of key. Once the glue is dry, you can remove the entire key.
Having no success with these methods? Go to the next page to learn more about the ultimate method that is definitely foolproof!
Saw blade
This method is sure to work. You will need a small jigsaw blade like the one in the picture below. If you can, opt for a hacksaw blade. The blade should be very thin with very fine teeth. Use a pair of pliers to cut the saw blade, so that the end has teeth and is not smooth. Make sure there is a large tooth at the end of the blade.
How does it work?
Push the saw blade into the lock with the teeth facing you. This way you have something like a small fishing rod that you can use to angle the key. Move the saw blade up and down to try to extract the key. It may take you a few tries, but the broken key will pop out of the lock.
I fixed it
Did you manage to get the key out of the lock? Great ! All you have to do now is get a spare key from the neighbor or a family member or friend who has one. Don't have a spare key? The local locksmith will then be able to copy the key, but only if the key is broken into two clean parts. If that doesn't work, all that remains is to replace the lock...
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