Broken Key Removal (Pin Tumbler Locks)

Article by: Roger Fischer

WHAT CAUSES KEYS TO BREAK

Most keys, even brass and nickle-plated keys, will eventually wear out and break along any of a key's cuts. But some conditions will speed up the process such as:

1. The key has one or more deep cuts which become the "weak point" of the key. After so much use (or just a little abuse) the key will break at these points. Having a deep cut as the first cut (next to the head of the key) can be real trouble but a deep cut in the middle of the key can cause big problems too;

2. The key is made of a light-weight material not suitable for everyday use. Keys cut on aluminum blanks are a prime example. They will also break at a deep-cut "weak point" only sooner. Identified by their light , Personal Safety Mindset weight and either grey in color , Your Guide To Buying Security Cameras or sometimes bright colors , Abatement Confirmation Key in Preventing Disaster such as red, green, , Home Security and Your Children blue , What is a Stun Gun or gold.

Usually before a key breaks, one or more tiny cracks will appear by the cut about to give way. You may want to check your keys right now - at least the ones that you use and depend on every day. If you see a tiny crack being formed by one of the cuts or if the key is bent or misshapen in any way, go to your nearest locksmith or key shop and get another one or two made. And just to be safe, , ty Alert! - All the Predators Come Out After Dark don't carelessly toss the old key away. A new key could be made from the pieces and used to access your property. , Home Security - Defend Your Home and Possessions Against Intruders!

BROKEN KEY REMOVAL TOOLS

We locksmiths have a variety of tools , Home Security - Protect Your Home with Dummy Security Cameras for removing broken keys from locks. , Abatement Confirmation Key in Preventing Disaster One of the more common tools , Abatement Confirmation Key in Preventing Disaster I use is made of springy steel that is 5" long, 5/16" wide at the handle and .022" thick. There is a small tapered barb at the end of this tool , Private Investigator Surveillance Techniques: Top 10 Tips that will dig or "bite" into the broken key piece so the piece can be pulled out.

It is not absolutely necessary to invest in a broken key extractor tool. , What Everyone Should Know About Reducing the Risk of Identity Theft As long as the tool , Abatement Confirmation Key in Preventing Disaster you use is made of sturdy metal, , Fire Safety Tips is narrow enough to enter the keyway, and has a barb to grab on to the broken key you will likely be successful. A scroll saw or jig saw blade should do the trick.

PROCEDURE #1 - Partial Key Broken Off In Lock

When a deep cut gets too weak somewhere in the middle of a key, you end up with the front part of the key in the lock , How To Successfully Use Home Security Cameras and the remainder in your hand. The good news is the lock , Tropical Hurricane Alberto Rings in the 2006 Tropical Hurricane Season as First Storm is probably in the proper position for key removal (more on that later).

FIRST - unless the lock , Protect Your Home With A Wireless Home Security System has been in good working order (with the key going in and out smoothly) prior to the key breaking off, I suggest spraying a lubricant such as WD-40 or Tri-Flow in the lock's keyway first. You want the broken key piece to slip out as easy as possible and a dry or gummy lock , Home Security Systems Provide a Safe Environment for Family Members will make the job harder.

SECOND - insert the removal tool , Smoke Detectors - Installation Tips For Your Home into the lock's keyway so that the barb (or teeth) can contact the cuts of the key piece to be removed. You should be able to tell how far to insert the tool , Home Security - Protect Your Home with Dummy Security Cameras based on how much of the key you still have in your hand.

THIRD - let the barb "bite" into one of the cuts of the broken key piece and give the tool , How to Make Your Apartment Safe a sharp tug towards you. The key piece should come flying out.

FOURTH - take the two pieces of the key to your local , How to Make Your Apartment Safe locksmith or key center and get another one or two made.

PROCEDURE #2 - All But Key's Head Broken Off In Lock

When the first cut in the key is deep and gets too weak, you end up with just the head of the key in your hand. Most of the time what remains in the lock , Home Security - Protect Your Home with Dummy Security Cameras is the operating part of the key. That is, all key cuts that are necessary to operate the lock , Pepper Spray: What is it and How Does It Work are stuck in the lock , Firearms And The Protection Of Family (if you are really lucky, enough of the key will be sticking out so a small pliers/tweezers are all you need to remove the broken piece-but that usually doesn't happen). You can test if the lock , Thinking About Home Protection? will operate by taking a small screwdriver and, using it like a key, try turning the lock , Smoke Detectors - Installation Tips For Your Home cylinder. If the lock , Fire Safety Tips cylinder does not turn follow procedure #1. If you can turn the cylinder more than a few degrees to the right or left you have to make sure the lock , Chicago Real Estate cylinder is positioned so the key can be removed. Let me explain...

Most locks , Covert Hidden Cameras: Put the Sneak in Sneaking have one position that a lock , What is a Stun Gun cylinder must be in for key removal. If you were to insert a key in most any pin tumbler lock , So You Got The Pepper Spray-Now What? and turn it, the key could not be removed until the lock , Protect Your Home With A Wireless Home Security System cylinder is back in the proper key removal position. The same is true when removing a broken key piece that still works the lock. , Tropical Hurricane Alberto Rings in the 2006 Tropical Hurricane Season as First Storm The key cylinder must be in its normal key removal position or you will be wasting your time trying to remove the broken piece.

FIRST - as in Procedure #1, we suggest spraying a lubricant such as WD-40 or Tri-Flow in the lock's keyway first.

SECOND - insert the removal tool , Five Top Tips for Disaster Planning For Your Family and Your Business - Everyone Needs to Know into the lock's keyway so that the barb (or teeth) can contact the cuts of the key piece to be removed. You should not have to insert the tool , Emergency Disaster Planning - Building a Reserve very far - just so it reaches the first or second cut of the key piece.

THIRD - let the barb "bite" into one of the cuts of the broken key piece and give the tool , Who Wants to Know What's Going On When You're Not There? a sharp tug towards you. The key piece should come flying out of the keyway.

FOURTH - take the two pieces of the key to your local , Why You Need Covert Listening Devices locksmith or key center and get another one or two made.

Now that you have read through this information, , Home Security - The Role of Hidden Cameras you should be ready to attempt removing a broken key on your own. Good Luck!

NOTE: This article (with pictures) can also be found on my web , Your Guide To Buying Security Cameras site www.GoldKeySelect.com/brokenkey.html

Roger J. Fischer is a security , Tropical Hurricane Alberto Rings in the 2006 Tropical Hurricane Season as First Storm professional with over 25 years of experience in providing security , Tropical Hurricane Leslie solutions for his customers. For more articles related to security, , Home and Your Children safety , How To Successfully Use Home Security Cameras and a variety of other topics visit http://www.GoldKeySelect.com

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