You're just leaving the house and you turn to lock the door, or you're running late and jump into your car and twist the key. All that turns with your hand is the head of the key while the shaft is stuck in the lock. Call a locksmith and figure on a couple of hundred dollars and possibly an hour of time for a service call? Phone a tow truck to take your car to the dealer where you'll probably be looking at a few hundred dollars to get your ignition working again? You just might have another option; with patience and some contrived tools, you may be able to get that broken key shaft out of the lock yourself. Note: Take care using these methods as you do run the risk of damaging your locks while trying to extract the broken key. The concept is quite simple. First, you want to slide a strong, thin piece of metal in beside your key shaft to hook and pull it back out of the lock. Once you've got the end sticking out, you will grab the protruding piece of the key and pull it out the rest of the way.
The piece of a coping saw blade (or other thin saw blade) is good for getting the key started, since the teeth on a saw blade all point in one direction and can grab the key shaft. Start by giving the lock a quick spray of lubricant like WD-40 to make it as easy as possible for the key shaft to slide out. Now insert the piece of saw blade into the keyway (making sure the teeth on the blade are pointing towards the back of the lock). Take a look at a key right now. There are probably some grooves running the length of the shaft and some teeth sticking up. On one side of the teeth the key shaft is thinner or cut back—you want to slide your saw blade in along this area. Car keys that can be inserted either side up also have a thin side on each edge of the key. Grab onto the key shaft by twisting your saw blade a little. When it gets a grip, try to slide the shaft out of the lock. Once you've got a bit of the key shaft protruding from the lock, use needle nose pliers, tweezers, or even a set of nail clippers to grab on to the shaft and pull it all the way out.
If the broken key shaft won't budge, the lock may not be in a "neutral" position, the tumblers inside the lock still holding onto the broken piece. If the lock isn't in a neutral position, you can probably get it aligned by turning it with your saw blade in the lock. Once you get the broken piece out, don't just throw it away. A locksmith can usually make a new key from the two pieces of the old key. The old saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" certainly applies here. Take a look at the keys you use every day. Keys will start to weaken and crack where the shaft joins the head just from regular use. If you can see any tiny cracks in your keys, get new ones cut and get rid of these old ones. Keys made from soft metal like aluminum are particularly prone to breaking. Additionally, lubricating your locks on a regular basis (with a proper lock lubricant) will make sure they turn easily. On another note, hardware stores used to sell lock picks made with a tiny hook on the end;
some may still do so. Need to install a key in a knob lock? Murray Anderson is an experienced freelance writer with numerous articles published on the web as well as in print magazines and newspapers in both the United States and Canada. To find a locksmith near you to change, fit or replace your door locks Please enter your postcode or location in the search box below. If you are thinking about changing or replacing door locks ( or window ) on your house/apartment/flat/bungalow or new business premises than a MLA approved locksmith will be able to assist you in fitting a replacement lock. Should you have just moved in a new home the first thing you should do is change your door locks. You may also want to upgrade your locks to comply with insurance standards or need to replace the locks due to damage. A locksmith will be able to help replace your homes locks, the most common reasons a new locks will need to be fitted range from the following: Moved into a new home/flat/apartment or changed business address and need to retain key authority.
Locks require upgrading for insurance reasons (for example your insurance may stipulate that locks have to be British Standard 3621) or for peace of mind. Lost key or someone has a key that should not. Lock is beginning to be unreliable and can be difficult to operate. (Usually either worn or faulty.) The most common lock types usually found on residential/commercial properties are the below three types of door locks: For this type of door lock, even though there are many different types of nightlatch, and different back sets / dimensions, the same principal in most cases applies. Pull or ‘slam’ door shut (door is latch locked) and requires a key to open from outside On the inside the latch part of the lock is retracted usually by operating a small lever or handle. Used on front/back and other entrance doors Leading manufacturers of Nightlatch locks: This type of lock is normally fitted into the door and is usually operated by a longer brass or silver flag type key with teeth on the end in a symmetrical pattern.
Ranges in security usually ranging between 2 lever and 5 lever British Standard. This standard is preferred by insurance companies as it means the lock has been tested against popular types of attack for a certain period of time. Which should ensure your property or business is secure if attacked. If you have handles on your mortice style lock this lock type is referred to as a sash lock, the handles operate the latch on the lock which keeps the door shut when pushed or pulled closed) A deadlock does not have a handle and is always operated by a key, opened from one of both sides by key. Leading manufacturers of Mortice locks: This type of lock is extremely popular and found on many different types of door locks and security applications. Common door types a euro lock cylinder is found on: Aluminium shop front doors Timber multipoint door locks Key switches that operate roller shutters on business premises Euro locks come in an array of sizes and security levels and different finishes to suit application and hardware fitted or required.
Advantages of Euro profile cylinder locks The sometimes have a thumbturn on the inside so exiting the property in a emergency is easy and can be done without a key. These locks can also be keyed alike to suit (1 key works all locks if required.) Leading manufacturers of Euro locks: Fitting and changing any type of lock yourself is a risky thing to do, especially as you could inadvertently be putting your property at risk of burglary if you fit the wrong lock or fit the right lock incorrectly. There any many standards of locks ( EN1303, BS3621, BS8621, BS10621, TS0071 & 3 star, Kitemark, PAS3621, SS312 Diamond ) – so you need to know what these means, what minimum requirement your insurance requires and whether or not you want to go for a higher level for peace of mind There are many different sizes of locks, fitting an incorrectly sized euro cylinder can lead to point 3 below. Fitting a Euro Cylinder incorrectly can lead to your lock being vulnerable to ‘lock snapping’.