My key has snapped inside the lock
Do not try to pull it out with pliers or pincers: that is what most often turns a cheap problem into an expensive one, because it pushes the piece further in and then it cannot be extracted without destroying the cylinder. If the piece is sticking out, leave it alone. A locksmith gets it out with an extractor in a few minutes, and in most cases the lock is kept.
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- Leave the piece where it is and do not touch it
- Do not put anything else into the lock
- If you have another way in, use it and call without rushing
- Keep the other half of the key: it can be used to cut a copy later
Why keys break
They almost never break out of nowhere. A key snaps after months of being hard to turn and being compensated for with more force — the metal fatigues at the thinnest point, usually the first tooth.
If you had been noticing the lock was stiff lately, the key was not the problem: it was the warning.
What NOT to do
Pliers or pincers. They only work if a good part is sticking out, and if they slip you push the rest inwards. From that point on, extraction is no longer possible.
Glue. There is a trick doing the rounds about gluing the piece to a matchstick with superglue. What it usually achieves is gluing the fragment to the pins inside the cylinder: then it cannot come out at all and the cylinder has to be replaced.
Forcing the other half in. Pushing the rest of the key in to shove the fragment only drives it deeper.
How it gets out
With an extractor: a thin rod with a barb that catches a tooth of the fragment and pulls it. It is a matter of minutes as long as nobody has been at it first.
Afterwards it is worth checking why it broke. If the cylinder was worn, it will happen again with the next key.
Would you rather someone looked at it?
Esto entra dentro de door opening.Call and I will tell you the cost before I set off.
Frequently asked questions
Does the whole lock need replacing?
Usually not. The piece is extracted and the cylinder checked. It only gets replaced if the mechanism is damaged, or if someone has already tried to get it out and pushed it in.
Can I keep using the lock afterwards?
Yes, if the cylinder is sound. You will need a new key: a copy can be cut from the half you still have.
What if none of it is sticking out?
It can still be extracted in most cases. It takes longer, but the extractor goes in through the keyway itself.