What to do if the key is broken in the door lock, how to remove it and open it with your own hands
A huge number of people are faced with the fact that when opening or closing the front doors of an apartment in the lock, the key may break. This is a pretty serious problem that you will have to fix yourself. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself in advance with what to do if the key is broken in the door lock.
Why does the key break in the front door lock?
Before proceeding with the repair of a broken lock, you should familiarize yourself with the main reasons for the occurrence of breakdowns. These include in particular the following:
- Failure of the internal mechanism of the structure. Often, after prolonged use of the lock structure, its mechanism inside ceases to work properly.
- Ingress of debris or foreign bodies. If door locks are left unmaintained, they will begin to accumulate a large amount of dirt and foreign debris.
- Make mistakes opening the door. Sometimes people open the door the wrong way. For example, they don't fully insert the key, leaving it in the keyhole.
- Use of foreign tools when opening the lock. If the key gets stuck, some try to twist it with pliers. Do not do this, as the stuck object may break.
- Poor lock. Sometimes such structures are created from cheap materials that quickly decay.
Types of locks
There are three types of locks, each of which has certain characteristics. It is recommended to familiarize yourself with their characteristics before proceeding with the installation or repair of the lock structure.
Hinge
A padlock is a mechanical or electronic device that can be used to securely lock entrance doors in the closed position. The most common are products of the open type, in which the mechanism is located in the internal part of the product. These structures differ in shape and size.
Their advantages are versatility, since they can be installed both on the gate and on the door.
Mushroom-shaped locks are also popular. Among the advantages of these models is that they are much more difficult to break. There are also semi-closed models, in which a metal pin is used instead of a bow.
Air
Suspended models are installed directly inside the door leaf. Thanks to this, the mechanism installed inside is located at a considerable distance from the outer surface of the door. Suspended locks are considered universal, since they can be installed on metal and wooden doors.
Among the advantages of these products are the following:
- ease of installation, due to which each person can independently install the structure;
- simple repairs, during which the integrity of the door will not be violated;
- the possibility of using as an additional means to lock the door.
Mortise
The most common locks, which are often installed on the entrance doors, are mortise structures. They are installed inside the canvas and therefore do not affect its appearance in any way. Most often, mortise locks are used for installation in metal doors. Such a locking mechanism is located near the outer surface of the door, which facilitates its opening. However, some models of mortise products are equipped with additional metal plates that complicate the burglary process.
Most mortise locks belong to the fourth class of durability. This means that such a product can be hacked in 30-40 minutes.
Ways to solve the problem
There are five main ways to help restore a broken key structure with a key stuck in it.
If you successfully collapse
Sometimes keys in keyholes break successfully. In this case, part of the product protrudes by 5-6 millimeters. This is enough to remove it with tweezers or small pliers.
To extract such a key, it is necessary to pour any lubricating fluid into the well.
Experts recommend using WD-40, as it is the most suitable tool. However, if it is not at hand, you can use grease, gasoline and/or engine oil. The solution is left in the sluice for half an hour so that it penetrates deep into the structure. Then you need to carefully lift the key with pliers and pull it towards you. This must be done very carefully so as not to break it.
With super glue
There are other easy ways to break a product in the lock. The easiest method is to use super glue. This method is considered effective, as it can be used to extract the key that is stuck deep inside.
When using this technique, it is necessary to carefully treat both parts of the broken key with glue. In this case, it is necessary to follow the instructions for use of the adhesive. When the pieces stick together, you must try to turn the key. This must be done slowly and carefully so as not to break it again. If it breaks, you will have to repeat the procedure or use other methods to remove the keys from the door.
Use a jigsaw
A jigsaw is a common tool in the construction industry, which consists of a frame and a saw. Many people think it is only used for sawing wood, but that is not the case. This tool can also be used to remove a stuck key from the keyhole.
To work with the interlocking structures, you only need a jigsaw blade and therefore must be unscrewed from the frame beforehand. The removed blade is installed in the keyhole so that the teeth of the file point upwards. Then the installed fork is turned so as to hook the stuck key. After that, the file is carefully removed from the well with the object stuck in it.
Magnet
Sometimes people don't have a jigsaw or super glue at hand, with which they could restore the working of the lock. In this case, you can use an ordinary magnet. However, before using it, you need to remove the stuck part of the product using a thin needle.Then a magnet is applied to it, which removes the key. It should be remembered that it is far from always possible to magnetize metal products. Experts recommend using neodymium magnets, which are able to magnetize all types of metals.
Self-tapping screw
Some wrenches have a wide cross-section, allowing for unusual ways to retrieve stuck parts. For example, for this you can use ordinary self-tapping screws, which will need to be screwed into the broken part of the key. However, before screwing it on, you need to drill a special hole. Then a metal screw is inserted into it. When it is securely fixed inside, it is carefully removed from the well with the help of pliers.
A radical solution to the problem
If the above methods did not help to extract the key from the door lock, you will have to use more drastic methods.
Extraction of the larva from the castle
Sometimes it is not possible to jam the key inside and because of this it is necessary to completely remove the cylinder from the lock. First of all, you need to unscrew from the structure all the protective panels and other elements that will interfere with the removal of the larva. Then you need to unscrew the lock cover, if any. When all the elements are unscrewed, you can remove the larva from the door leaf. To do this, it is carefully knocked out of the mounting grooves with a hammer. If you can't knock it out with a hammer, you can use a metal chisel.
How to cut lock bolts with a hacksaw
If you cannot remove the lock cylinder, you will need to cut the crossbar. For this, any tool used for sawing metal products is suitable.
In which cases it is worth contacting specialists
Some people try to repair the lock on the door themselves and get rid of the keys stuck in it. However, sometimes the door does not open by itself. In these cases, it is recommended to seek help from specialists who will quickly help you open the front door.
Additional tips and tricks
There are several recommendations that will help you remove stuck keys from a metal larva:
- first of all, it is recommended to use gentle methods for extracting parts from the well;
- work must be carried out carefully so as not to accidentally damage the lock;
- you should not attempt to obtain the key yourself if you haven't already.
Conclusion
Sometimes, if you use the lock carelessly, the key can get stuck inside. Before extracting it, you need to familiarize yourself with the main ways that will help you do it correctly.