With each person, a situation can happen when, in the process of closing or opening the lock, the key suddenly breaks and remains inside. How to get a broken key out of the lock, most people do not know, so this becomes a real problem. The situation is really not pleasant, but you should not panic - if you correctly and calmly approach this issue, then you can extract a chip and any losses. If the case is very difficult, then with the right approach, only the larva changes, but not the whole castle.
Why do keys break?
There are several reasons why keys break inside an element. The first is the worn out internal mechanisms of the lock, as well as the worn out key. Nothing can be done with this - it is natural during operation. The keys also break due to dirt and debris entering the secret lock mechanism. Often various foreign objects penetrate there. Often the key can break if they try to open the lock incorrectly - for example, it is not fully inserted into the well, or by mistake they try to open the lock with another key.
Often a part can jam in the lock, and they try to crank it by force, using an improvised tool. Naturally, metal breaks under the influence of pliers, hammers or steel pins. And finally, the keys can be made of low-quality materials. Manufacturers often save using inexpensive raw materials.
Soft methods
So, we have a broken key in the lock and you need to somehow remove it. There are two ways to solve this problem - radical methods and more gentle methods. Often the keys break due to dirt - the lock mechanism is literally clogged with garbage.
In this case, you can clean the mechanism from dust, as well as lubricate the lock. For this, any grease available is suitable. You can use the popular WD-40, engine oils, silicone, lithol, anything at hand. In extreme cases, even sunflower oil will do.
It is convenient to grease the locks with a syringe. Rinse the core. You may have to do this more than once until all the dirt comes out. Further, without sudden movements, you need to try to pull the chip at yourself with your hands or an improvised tool (for example, pliers).
We use oil
How to remove a broken key from the lock with oil? The mechanism is abundantly lubricated, and then with the help of tweezers or pliers, the protruding chip easily and safely gets out. But this is true if part of the key sticks out of the lock, which you can grab onto.
Jigsaws
When solving such problems, this tool is considered one of the most effective and popular. In the process, you will need not a whole jigsaw, but only the cutting part. The jigsaw blade must be inserted inside the larva or core of the lock under the key. Next, the tool is carefully rotated so that its teeth are at the top. So you can pick up a piece of the key and, using its contact with the teeth, pull it out of the mechanism.
Screws
If a jigsaw is not at hand, then you can use self-tapping screws. Finding them is much easier. But this method is only suitable for fairly thick debris. With the help of an electric or hand drill, a small hole is drilled in the key at the site of the break. Then a screw is screwed into it. Then, after a little effort, the key can be pulled out.
Vibrations
Here's how to get a broken key out of the lock by vibration.
But it is effective only for disk locks. First of all, the lock pins need to be lubricated and then move them into one position with a broken key. Further, on the other hand, they knock down the lock with a hammer - due to vibration, a key fragment can come out. It remains only to grab it with any suitable tool and pull it out completely.
Awl
Experts recommend a tool like an awl. Locks are different, but the keys to them are different, but in most cases it is still possible to put two awls of small thickness into the gap between the key fragment and the well. Then, by swaying, a stuck piece can be removed.
Levers
But how to get a broken key out of a level lock? The keys to these elements are usually a cylindrical pin with various barbs. The chip can be removed using a tube made of brass or copper. The most important thing is the diameter of the tube. It should be like that. The length is selected based on the part of the key that remained in the hands. The diameter of the tube must be such that it is difficult to put on the lock pin.
Having expanded the end of the pipe by heating in any way possible, it is put on the chip with effort. When the part cools down, you can try to get it out of the castle well.
Neodymium magnets
Today, these products have become very popular. They are very actively sold. Of course, the effectiveness of this method is small. But the power of the neodymium magnet is enough to remove the broken key from the larva.
What to do with padlocks?
They break more often than their internal counterparts. This can easily be explained by the fact that the mechanisms are constantly in contact with an aggressive external environment. In addition, various vandals and hooligans have access to them. Let's see how to get a broken key out of a padlock.
The first thing to do is knock on the castle, but it’s important not to touch the temples. Through vibrations, jammed parts can start moving again and the key will fall out. It is also possible to sew in oil slots. Due to this, friction will decrease, and rust will not interfere with the mechanism so much. Also, due to lubrication, the springs can straighten out if they have been compressed. Sometimes corrosion can penetrate every element of the mechanism and the risk of breaking the key becomes especially high.
You can also dip the castle in a bath with any active chemistry. Some use gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, acetone, weak acid solutions, vinegar essence, Coca-Cola, sprite. All of these substances can affect corrosion products. But you need to remember that it is impossible to get the result right away - it takes time. Sometimes the process can last from several hours to a day or more.
In most cases, after exposure to chemistry, such a problem as pulling a broken key out of the lock cylinder does not occur. The castle will give the chip. But if the mechanism does not want to give in, then it is worth trying heating. If the product is made of stainless steel alloys or coated with nickel, then even an open flame will do. If the part is coated with polymer or painted, you can not heat it with fire - it must be treated with boiling water.
It acts radically
We considered soft and gentle methods for extracting a key chip. Now let's see how to get the broken key out of the door lock if nothing helps. It is necessary to get the key along with the larva. If the door is still open, then everything can be done quickly and accurately. It is enough to unscrew the bolts of the lock at the end and pull it out. If the lock is a cylinder, which consists of a block and a base - a cylinder, then the larva is simply released. And to replace it, a new one for a castle of this type is acquired.
Next, the larva can be drilled. These products are made of soft and light alloys and simply fall apart under the influence of a drill and a drill. Then it is important to completely remove the remnants of the key fragment and the larva from the lock. This is convenient to do with screwdrivers or wire hooks. After all this, it is recommended to completely disassemble the lock for thoroughly cleaning it and replacing the larva.
Here's how to get a broken key out of a door lock using more barbaric methods. But even if the autopsy professionals work, the element will still have to be changed. They use the same tools - drills, screwdrivers and the like.
Prevention
In order not to get into unpleasant situations when the keys break and remain in the locks, it is necessary to carry out certain actions. The element is cleaned at least once a year with washing with gasoline, kerosene. Also, do not forget to lubricate the locks with silicone greases - it will not only reliably protect the metal from corrosion, but also will not collect dust.
A special protective cover can be made above the larva. If the lock began to jam, it is best to replace it until the key starts to get stuck in it. If the mechanism even jams slightly, this will continue further. And then you have to think how to get the broken key out of the lock.
The keys must be handled carefully. No need to use them as a bench tool. Do not slam the door. Also, to secure, you can install a second lock. Duplicates are recommended only in trusted workshops.
So, we found out how to get a key fragment from the lock using different methods.