Key In Lock Broken Off? 9 Solutions To Get Your Key Out Of The Lock
Is your key broken in the lock and you are looking for a solution? This is a much-discussed problem on the Internet. Therefore, on this page we have listed 9 useful tips with the pros and cons of these methods.
The tips found on this page are tips mentioned on the Internet. In many cases, they do not provide a satisfactory solution. We warn you that applying the aforementioned tips may cause damage to your door, your lock or yourself.
Contact Locksmith 365 when you want to be helped in a professional manner!
Bonus solution: let a professional help you!
Trying out the various tips takes a lot of time and effort. The best and fastest tip is the following: Contact Locksmith 365 and let a professional help you! We will quickly remove the broken key from the lock and reopen your door.
We come to you in the following places
Amsterdam and surroundings by calling 020 241 6195
Due to success, we are now also active in The Hague: 070 808 0251
and Rotterdam 010 808 1375 with our locksmith team.
Requesting a quote? Email your question to info@slotenmaker365-amsterdam.nl. You will receive a response within 4 hours. Our prices are according to our terms and conditions.
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9 solutions
1. Key out of lock with glue
2. Using pincers to pull out the key
3. Pushing broken key out of lock
4. Using a magnet to remove the key from the lock
5. Using a jigsaw to remove the key from the lock
6. Using a key remover
7. Drilling broken key out of lock
8. Remove cylinder from door
9. Using brute force
Key out of lock with glue
Glue
How do you get your broken key out of the lock? Below are some answers to that question we found on forums:
Apply a small layer of 10-second glue to the broken key, then gently insert it into the lock. Waiting 10 seconds, now try to quietly remove the key from the lock.
Above all, do not put too much glue on the key as you run the risk of gluing other pallets and springs as well, but a little is enough. And will not cause any problems because inside the cylinder there is often the necessary grease and debris anyway, so the glue does not pick up as quickly.
I cannot place the answer “with component glue” in the sense that you run the risk of rendering the lock completely unusable because then all of the “little pallets” can be glued together.
Rather do not use super glue, this is difficult to dispense, you run a high risk that the key will never be removable.
In my opinion, that is an urban legend. That super glue always crawls between everything and preferentially glues what should not be glued. So in this case, the key is permanently stuck in the lock.
Adhesives
By gluing the two halves of the key back together in the lock, you can turn the key and get back in. Use component or super glue.
Advantages This method is inexpensive because you only have to pay for the glue. Moreover, gluing takes little time.
Disadvantages There is a good chance that glue will get stuck not only to the key halves but also in the lock. Different parts of the lock stick together. Your lock is broken and you will a new lock.
Gluing is not a very convenient method of opening your lock if your key is broken off. The risk of damaging your lock is too great. It is more convenient to call a locksmith. A locksmith will open your lock quickly, without damaging your lock.
Locksmith 365 is available 24/7 in within 30 minutes with you. Call us immediately:
Amsterdam and surroundings by calling 020 241 6195
Due to success, we are now also active in The Hague: 070 808 0251
and Rotterdam 010 808 1375 with our locksmith team.
Requesting a quote? Email your question to info@slotenmaker365-amsterdam.nl. You will receive a response within 4 hours. Our prices are according to our terms and conditions.
Using pincers, pull out the key
pincers
Has your key broken off in your lock and a piece is still sticking out? So how do you get in? On a forum we got an answer to this question:
Spray a lot of lubricating oil into it, and then you can use a pair of pliers to pull the key out by the bit that still sticks out.
Benefits It is a quick method of getting a broken key out of the lock. Moreover, it is inexpensive and you do not need to hire a locksmith. Especially if a whole piece of the key is sticking out of the lock, it is easy to take out the broken key with the pincers.
Disadvantages You do need to have a pair of pincers. If you can’t enter your front door, you often can’t enter your garage or your shed either. You must then buy or borrow a pair of pincers. If the key protrudes just a little bit from the lock, it is difficult to pull the key out. Be careful not to accidentally put the key further in, as it will be impossible to get it out with the pincers.
Extract
Do you want to get back inside quickly? If you try to pull the key out with pincers, it often takes quite a while to succeed. If at all. Call a locksmith and he will come to you right away. With professional tools, door is open again in no time.
Pushing broken key out of lock
Is your key broken in the lock? That’s very annoying. Fortunately, there are several solutions to your problem on forums:
What I managed to do once; take a piece of welding wire as used in MIG welding, (the thinnest kind) Bend a hooked piece on it very sharply (very short) and try to get through a slot on the side of the lock. Then with some twisting, wriggle the heel under the key and chances are it will work. This can also be done with a partially bent paper clip to push out the broken key from the other side.
First try using a thin rod to push the key back from the other side, with some locks this is possible others are not.
Express
paperclip
This technique is not often used, but it can be effective. If the key is not straight in the lock, it is not possible to open the door using this method.
For this method, you will need a piece of welding wire or a paper clip. If you use a paper clip, bend it completely straight. Bend a small hook on the welding wire or paper clip. Push the welding wire or paper clip into the slot where you normally insert the key. Twist the wire or paper clip so that the hook is behind the end of the key. Pull the part of the key out of the lock.
Benefits It takes little effort to try this technique once. Moreover, it is inexpensive. A piece of welding wire or a paper clip doesn’t cost much money.
Disadvantages It doesn’t work with every lock. You are very likely to spend a long time fiddling and still not get the door open. This is very annoying, especially when it is cold or raining.
When you remove your broken key from the lock, it is very annoying if you damage your lock in the process. Therefore, it is better not to try to get your key out of your lock with a paper clip or a piece of welding wire.
Locksmith 365 is available 24/7 in within 30 minutes with you. Call us immediately:
Amsterdam and surroundings by calling 020 241 6195
Due to success, we are now also active in The Hague: 070 808 0251
and Rotterdam 010 808 1375 with our locksmith team.
Requesting a quote? Email your question to info@slotenmaker365-amsterdam.nl. You will receive a response within 4 hours. Our prices are according to our terms and conditions.
Using a magnet to remove the key from the lock
Here is another answer to the question ‘How do I get my broken key out of the lock ‘ found on a forum:
With a strong magnet, you may be able to get the key out of the lock
Stretching with a magnet
magnet
This method is very simple. Using a strong magnet, pull the broken part of the key out of the lock.
Advantages You cannot damage the lock with this method. It is also another quick way is to get it the broken key out of the lock.
Disadvantages You need a magnet. If the magnet is not strong enough, it will not succeed in getting the broken key out of the lock.
This method certainly does not work with every lock. This is because the core of the lock is usually magnetic as well. And on the other hand, the key is usually not magnetic. Then you will not achieve any results with a magnet.
Do you want to get back inside quickly? Call a locksmith. In no time you will be back inside.
Using a jigsaw to remove the key from the lock
You are at the door and your key in the lock has broken off. How do you get inside? Here is a suggestions we found on a forum on how to get the broken part of the key out of the lock:
It seems it can also be done with a jigsaw if there is a little room. Saw in and make sure the key stays behind the teeth.
Jigsaw
jigsaw
Push a loose jigsaw into the keyhole next to the key. Make sure the teeth are facing you. Turn the saw and pull the saw out of the keyhole. If you are lucky, you will pull the key.
Advantages: Jigsaws can be purchased in any hardware store. They additionally are inexpensive and it is theoretically easy to remove the broken part of the key from the lock.
Disadvantages: In practice, it is still quite a job to remove the broken key from the lock with a jigsaw. This is because the serrations of the saw are only small and it is difficult to get the part of the key to hook exactly behind a serration. You often spend a long time before you succeed. You usually have to buy the jigsaw first, which also takes extra time.
If you call a locksmith, you’ll be back inside in no time. You won’t spend ages outside in the cold trying to get the broken piece of the key out of the lock.
Locksmith 365 is available 24/7 in within 30 minutes with you. Call us immediately:
Amsterdam and surroundings by calling 020 241 6195
Due to success, we are now also active in The Hague: 070 808 0251
and Rotterdam 010 808 1375 with our locksmith team.
Requesting a quote? Email your question to info@slotenmaker365-amsterdam.nl. You will receive a response within 4 hours. Our prices are according to our terms and conditions.
Using a key remover
key remover
There is a special tool for removing a broken key from the lock: a key remover.
Advantages: It is very easy to remove the broken key from the lock with a key remover. A key remover is also inexpensive in this regard.
Disadvantages: This tool is not available in a regular store. You will have to order it online. Of course, this is of no use to you if you are standing in front of a closed door and you want to get inside. Do you happen to already have a key remover? Then watch out for pushing the key even further in, because then you won’t be able to get it out and you will have to call a locksmith anyway.
Don’t have a key remover with you or have you accidentally pushed the key deeper into the lock with a key remover? Call a locksmith, because the locksmith will open your lock quickly.
Drilling broken key out of lock
Drill
Want to know how to get your broken key out of the lock? We found this suggestion on a forum:
Drilling out. Using a small drill bit, drill a few holes at the bottom of the slot. Repeat a few times until all pins and springs are out. You can then use a screwdriver to turn the lock around.
Drilling out
We don’t understand exactly what is meant by the suggestion. However, drilling into your lock is never convenient because it will break your lock. It is better to call in a locksmith. A locksmith will open your door with professional tools, leaving your lock intact.
Locksmith 365 is available 24/7 in within 30 minutes with you. Call us immediately:
Amsterdam and surroundings by calling 020 241 6195
Due to success, we are now also active in The Hague: 070 808 0251
and Rotterdam 010 808 1375 with our locksmith team.
Requesting a quote? Email your question to info@slotenmaker365-amsterdam.nl. You will receive a response within 4 hours. Our prices are according to our terms and conditions.
Removing cylinder from door
Drilling out the cylinder
If you search on forums, you will find, among other things, this answer to the question ‘How do I get my broken key out of the lock ‘:
ls the key in the lock is broken it is worthwhile to remove the cylinder from the door, this is done by loosening the screw with which the cylinder is mounted, then turn the key position with a small screwdriver until you can take the cylinder out, then turn the key to the starting position and if necessary put some penetrating oil in the lock now you can by carefully knocking with the side with the broken key under against an object until the key comes out a little, you can then remove it with pliers from the cylinder reassemble everything and lock the door again with the spare key.
Cylinder removal
This method will not work if you have an SKG lock with 3 stars (a security lock). You have the following tools to drill out a cylinder:
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- Flat screwdriver
- Powerful drill with adjustable speed
- Hammer
- Drills of different thicknesses
- Center punch
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Grab a hammer and center punch. Place the center punch just above the keyhole and hit the center punch with a hammer. In this way, you are already creating a dent that will allow you to drill easily at that point.
Take the drill and put in a 3-millimeter drill bit. It is important that you keep the drill straight, otherwise you may drill away pieces of the lock and damage the entire lock. Drill slowly, otherwise there is a good chance that the drill will jam or break itself.
Locks usually have 5 pins that you have to drill through. Sometimes, however, there are more. If you encounter a marker, you will feel a little more resistance. Once you have drilled through all the pins, take a 6-millimeter drill bit and drill through the same hole again.
Next, take a flathead screwdriver and insert it into the hole. Turn the screwdriver to the same side as you would normally turn the key.
Unfortunately, if the lock does not turn, you will have to drill out the entire cylinder lock. To do this, attach a 19-millimeter drill bit to your drill and drill through the entire cylinder.
Advantage You do not need to hire a locksmith.
Disadvantages Do you have a security lock? Then you can’t drill the cylinder out at all. You will need many tools in the process. Unfortunately, you usually cannot get into the garage or shed if your key is broken in the lock.
By drilling out the cylinder, you destroy the cylinder. If you are unlucky, even your entire lock is broken. You will have to buy a new cylinder at best and a new lock at worst.
It takes a lot of time to drill out a cylinder. It is also very complicated. Imagine it is cold or raining. If so, you will have no desire at all to spend at least an hour getting inside.
Tip: Call in a locksmith. You are back in much faster and it takes much less time and effort. A locksmith will also open your lock without damaging the lock.
Locksmith 365 is available 24/7 in within 30 minutes with you. Call us immediately:
Amsterdam and surroundings by calling 020 241 6195
Due to success, we are now also active in The Hague: 070 808 0251
and Rotterdam 010 808 1375 with our locksmith team.
Requesting a quote? Email your question to info@slotenmaker365-amsterdam.nl. You will receive a response within 4 hours. Our prices are according to our terms and conditions.
Using brute force
brute force
The quickest way is to smash a window with your fist or an object (for example, a rock or a stick). You then crawl through the window or put your arm through the window and open the window or door lock if you can reach it.
Benefits Fast and initially inexpensive.
Disadvantages: Afterwards, you will lose a lot of money because you have to buy a new window and have it installed. Glass is very dangerous. You must be careful not to let yourself or anyone else step in. When crawling through the window, you also have to be very careful about sharp pieces of glass that you can injure yourself on.
A locksmith will open your door without damaging your door, window or lock. In the end, it will cost you less money and save you from injuring yourself or others from broken glass.
Tip
None of these methods always works. Often you spend a lot of time and effort for nothing. It is easier and faster to call a locksmith.
Locksmith 365 is available 24/7 in within 30 minutes with you. Call us immediately:
Amsterdam and surroundings by calling 020 241 6195
Due to success, we are now also active in The Hague: 070 808 0251
and Rotterdam 010 808 1375 with our locksmith team.
Requesting a quote? Email your question to info@slotenmaker365-amsterdam.nl. You will receive a response within 4 hours. Our prices are according to our terms and conditions.
