A key snapping off a lock can be a major headache. Not only is your key ruined, even if you have a spare, but you also won’t be able to get it into the lock. You should call a locksmith, but there are a few things you could try instead. If this happens to your vehicle or business, you should skip over the homemade solutions and call a commercial locksmith or automotive locksmith. If you’re willing to risk it, you could try some unorthodox solutions to get a broken key out of the lock.
Call a Professional to Get a Broken Key Out of the Lock
The most reliable method to get your key out of a lock is to call in a qualified locksmith. Any locksmith will have the tools and knowhow to make quick work of a broken key. They use a dedicated tool fittingly called a key extractor. The tool works by hooking onto the teeth of the key. Once the tool has a grim grip, the key can be turned and removed. This can be tricky, but a residential locksmith will have had enough experience to do it quickly.
Homemade Extraction
If you’re deadest against calling in a professional, you can take a crack at removing t yourself. There are a few different methods you can try to get a broken key out of the lock. A thin piece of metal like a jigsaw blade could potentially be used to extract the key. Hopefully, the teeth of the saw will happen to hook the key, a sort of makeshift key extractor. This could be worth a try if you aren’t in any hurry.
Super Glue for Key Extraction
If you don’t have a jigsaw blade or some other slim piece of metal suitable for probing the key, you might want to try super glue. You should be warned that this is a risky technique that might leave you in worse shape than before. The idea is to glue something, a piece of wood or metal, to the key with super glue to get a better grip. If the key broke, so a bit is sticking out of or flush with the lock, you could apply super glue and press something against it. Hopefully, this will let you turn and pull the key out of the lock.
