How To Get A Broken Key Out Of A Lock

Why Do Keys Break in Locks?

A key might break in a lock for several reasons. One reason may be that the key itself has been weakened over time, making it more likely to snap when being turned. It may also be due to the fact that the lock is faulty, or its mechanism has become clogged up with debris.

What Are Keys Made Out Of?

Keys are usually made from brass, which is a soft metal that isn’t as strong as we might think it is. As it's made from a soft metal, it means you’re much less likely to damage the door lock as you insert it, although as mentioned previously, this can happen.

Door Locks Weaken Over Time

Locks will typically weaken over time due to a variety of different reasons. These may include poor installation from a previous contractor, extreme temperature changes, a build-up of debris in the internal mechanisms and rough key handling. To make sure that your locks are operating smoothly, we’d recommend lubricating them at least once a year.

How to Get a Broken Key Out

If your key has broken inside your door lock, there are some simple household items you may be able to use to retrieve the broken key yourself. However, we always recommend calling one of our expert locksmiths, especially if the key is extremely jammed or you don’t have these items at your disposal. You can easily damage your lock, causing more damage, which could be costly to fix.

You can try to spray the lock with a solvent like WD-40, which will help make the process of removing the key a lot easier, as it will be more slippery. After you’ve sprayed the key in the lock, slip a thin tool such as a jigsaw or hacksaw inside and pull the broken key out. But be careful, you might damage the lock! If you don’t have a jigsaw or hacksaw in your garage, simple household items such as tweezers, safety pins, paper clips or a Swiss army knife could help do the trick.

However, if this method doesn’t work and the key is still clearly visible in the lock, you could try the superglue method as a last resort - although we do not recommend it. You could try to superglue a longer item to the exposed end of the key and use this as a handle to pull the key free from the lock once the glue has set.

Common Tools to Remove Broken Key from Lock

A locksmith might use the following tools to remove a broken key from a lock:

• A Broken Key Extractor: A broken key extractor tool is designed specifically to help remove broken keys.
• Precision Pliers: Useful for gripping and pulling out key pieces.
• Tweezers: Good quality tweezers are essential for retrieving small key fragments with precision.
• Lock Lubricant: Lubricant can help to ease the movement of the lock components.
• Professional Lock Pick Set: The tools in a lock pick set can assist in maneuvering a broken key piece.
• Key Decoder Tool: A decoder tool can assist a locksmith in identifying the specific cuts and shape of the key.
• Plug Spinner: Facilitates the return of the lock mechanism to its neutral position.
• Tension Wrench: Provides necessary tension to the lock mechanism during extraction.
• Specialist Magnet: A high powered magent used for the removal of metallic key fragments.

Broken Key Extraction with a LockRite Locksmith

With over 16 years of experience helping people get back into their homes, garages or offices, there’s no job too big or small that we can’t handle.

If you want to get a broken key out of a lock, but are unable to, we will send one of our many talented locksmiths to come and help you. They will remove all the guesswork and hassle from you trying to fix it yourself.

By choosing LockRite, you’re not only choosing a professional locksmithing company, but you’ve also decided that you want the best locksmith on the job.

We can ensure that our locksmiths will analyse the problem and fix your issue in a time and cost-effective manner.

So, if your key broke in a lock, please feel free to contact us on 0800 0612 677 for a free, no obligation quote.