Comments on: I just broke my key in half in the key hole? http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/ All About Locksmith here. Find answers to your questions. Sun, 06 Jun 2010 12:45:10 +0000 hourly 1 By: James M http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2392 James M Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:12:37 +0000 http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2392 I used an INSTANT SETTING EPOXY from Lowes and glued the half key right onto the other half in the lock when mine broke off. That epoxy of that type sets in minutes to a high strength. Be sure to get that 'instand set' epoxy. My key was even at half turn and i turned it back and removed it. The whole thing took less than 5 minutes to get out. I used an INSTANT SETTING EPOXY from Lowes and glued the half key right onto the other half in the lock when mine broke off. That epoxy of that type sets in minutes to a high strength.

Be sure to get that ‘instand set’ epoxy. My key was even at half turn and i turned it back and removed it. The whole thing took less than 5 minutes to get out.

]]> By: answerma'am http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2391 answerma'am Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:08:14 +0000 http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2391 If you can get your hands on a thin scrollsaw blade, you should be able to tease the key out by sliding the blade into the lock alongside the ridges of the broken key. Do this with the blade teeth facing up and toward you. I tried this on the trunk of my car about a year back, and the key came out in seconds. Scrollsaw blades are sold in the tool section of big box hardware stores, if you don't know anyone who has some. Get the flat-looking, plain end type, not pin-end. They're about as thick as a bobby pin, and about 6" long. If you can get your hands on a thin scrollsaw blade, you should be able to tease the key out by sliding the blade into the lock alongside the ridges of the broken key. Do this with the blade teeth facing up and toward you. I tried this on the trunk of my car about a year back, and the key came out in seconds.

Scrollsaw blades are sold in the tool section of big box hardware stores, if you don’t know anyone who has some. Get the flat-looking, plain end type, not pin-end. They’re about as thick as a bobby pin, and about 6″ long.

]]> By: Jimbo http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2390 Jimbo Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:51:55 +0000 http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2390 A magnet won't work. Keys are made of brass and magnets don't stick to brass. First try grabbing the broken section with tweezers or pliers. If you can't, you'll need to take the lock apart. There two screws on the back. Take it apart until you are down to the cylinder / tumbler where the key is stuck. If there's a hole in the back, you're in luck. Get a paper clip, straighten it out and push the broken section out from the back. If not, you'll need to take the tumbler to a locksmith. They can get it out and will only charge you a few bucks. This is much cheaper than the locksmith making a house call. Take the tumbler home and put it all back together. It's a little tricky, but you'll figure it out. It's easier with a second person holding one side of the lock while you screw it together from the other side. The lions share of the cost of a house call is in the drive out to your house. You're paying for their time driving. I am sure you can do this. I have six exterior locks in my house. I took them all apart and took all the tumblers to the locksmith for re-keying. A magnet won’t work. Keys are made of brass and magnets don’t stick to brass.

First try grabbing the broken section with tweezers or pliers. If you can’t, you’ll need to take the lock apart. There two screws on the back. Take it apart until you are down to the cylinder / tumbler where the key is stuck.

If there’s a hole in the back, you’re in luck. Get a paper clip, straighten it out and push the broken section out from the back. If not, you’ll need to take the tumbler to a locksmith. They can get it out and will only charge you a few bucks. This is much cheaper than the locksmith making a house call.

Take the tumbler home and put it all back together. It’s a little tricky, but you’ll figure it out. It’s easier with a second person holding one side of the lock while you screw it together from the other side.

The lions share of the cost of a house call is in the drive out to your house. You’re paying for their time driving.

I am sure you can do this. I have six exterior locks in my house. I took them all apart and took all the tumblers to the locksmith for re-keying.

]]> By: marty85_04 http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2389 marty85_04 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:28:15 +0000 http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2389 Wow, that sucks:) Wow, that sucks:)

]]> By: KDC23 http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2388 KDC23 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:16:19 +0000 http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2388 Magnet should do the trick. Auto supply stores have fairly strong magnets mechanics use that extend to pickup dropped bolts or lugnuts inside an engine as they work on cars. I picked one up for just a few bucks and it picks up my pair of fairly heavy needle nose pliers with no problem. If you need to get into this spot right away, just unscrew the door knob and you will see the latch mechanism. Use a screw driver to push the latch inward and it will unlock. If no screws on the side you need to get into... well, a hammer always does the trick. :o) Like duct tape... its practical for almost anything! :o) Good luck! Magnet should do the trick. Auto supply stores have fairly strong magnets mechanics use that extend to pickup dropped bolts or lugnuts inside an engine as they work on cars. I picked one up for just a few bucks and it picks up my pair of fairly heavy needle nose pliers with no problem. If you need to get into this spot right away, just unscrew the door knob and you will see the latch mechanism. Use a screw driver to push the latch inward and it will unlock. If no screws on the side you need to get into… well, a hammer always does the trick. :o ) Like duct tape… its practical for almost anything! :o ) Good luck!

]]> By: cubbieswrigleyfield http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2387 cubbieswrigleyfield Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:57:13 +0000 http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2387 Im assuming your inside your house because your using your PC to submit the question. Chances are if you broke your key off in the doorknob or deadbolt your really drunk. (Just kidding, maybe) Anyway, if you broke your key off in the lock its probably bent at the point of the break, and unfortunately thats bad. The easiest thing to do would be to replace the doorknob, or the deadbolt. If your inside and the deadbolt is in the locked position all you have to do is tap out the bolts on the hinges and take the door off long enough to remove the lock from the door. *note - if you really are drunk (and inside for the night), leave the piece of key in the keyhole....brace the door with a chair.....and go to bed......it can wait until tomorrow. Hope this helps. Im assuming your inside your house because your using your PC to submit the question. Chances are if you broke your key off in the doorknob or deadbolt your really drunk. (Just kidding, maybe) Anyway, if you broke your key off in the lock its probably bent at the point of the break, and unfortunately thats bad. The easiest thing to do would be to replace the doorknob, or the deadbolt. If your inside and the deadbolt is in the locked position all you have to do is tap out the bolts on the hinges and take the door off long enough to remove the lock from the door.

*note – if you really are drunk (and inside for the night), leave the piece of key in the keyhole….brace the door with a chair…..and go to bed……it can wait until tomorrow.

Hope this helps.

]]> By: omissy2005 http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2386 omissy2005 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:29:23 +0000 http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2386 push another key from the other side or use a really strong hair pin ok and calmshell 19 said to use glue whatever you do DON'T you will then have to replace the lock because the whole key wil be stuck inside. push another key from the other side or use a really strong hair pin

ok and calmshell 19 said to use glue whatever you do DON’T you will then have to replace the lock because the whole key wil be stuck inside.

]]> By: Clamshell 19 http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2385 Clamshell 19 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:54:46 +0000 http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2385 Not too much please..... place a small amount of glue on the broken key, put it in the key hole and wait for about 2 minutes. It should stick long enough to get the key back out. If not, take the door knob apart. Not too much please…..
place a small amount of glue
on the broken key, put it in
the key hole and wait for
about 2 minutes. It should
stick long enough to get
the key back out. If not,
take the door knob apart.

]]> By: Ms Angie http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2384 Ms Angie Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:48:46 +0000 http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2384 I agree with big scary. I've broken a key into a lock and stuck the short broken half in it like i normally would and turned it and it worked. The other half fell out but i can't remember how, maybe snatching it back out fast kind've pulled it out a bit, enough for me to tweeze it out. But I do know whenever you do get it out, you can take the two halves to home depot (or any hardware store) and they can combine the ends and create a new key without you having to get a new lock. I agree with big scary. I’ve broken a key into a lock and stuck the short broken half in it like i normally would and turned it and it worked. The other half fell out but i can’t remember how, maybe snatching it back out fast kind’ve pulled it out a bit, enough for me to tweeze it out. But I do know whenever you do get it out, you can take the two halves to home depot (or any hardware store) and they can combine the ends and create a new key without you having to get a new lock.

]]> By: lightpulse http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2383 lightpulse Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:48:04 +0000 http://www.locksmith-answers.com/i-just-broke-my-key-in-half-in-the-key-hole/#comment-2383 There are two screws on the inside knob. When you unscrew it, that will separate the inside/outside halves of the door knob. Carefully pull the two halves apart. Then you can push out the broken key from the inside out on the outside half of the door knob. There are two screws on the inside knob. When you unscrew it, that will separate the inside/outside halves of the door knob. Carefully pull the two halves apart. Then you can push out the broken key from the inside out on the outside half of the door knob.

]]>