7 Ways to Extract a Key Stuck in Door Lock

key stuck in door lock7 Ways to Extract a Key Stuck in Door Lock

It can be very frustrating to leave in the morning and feel your key breaking in the lock just before you head off to work. As a matter of fact, it’s most people’s worst nightmare, especially if you own a home or business.

However, there is no need to worry. We’ve assembled 7 ways to extract your key stuck in door lock without having to call a locksmith right away.

So if you have the time and patience to stick with what we’re about to show you, you’re in luck.

Extracting a key stuck in door lock will depend on a few things: how far it’s lodged in the cylinder, what tools you have on hand, and how much time you ultimately have to solve this problem.

  1. Try using your hands first

    • Assuming there’s enough of the key still sticking out of the lock, try and pry it out the best you can.

  2. Use a flathead screwdriver to try to pry the key out

    • This method works best when the key isn’t sticking out of the lock.

  3. Use Needle Nose Pliers

    • If you have a swiss army knife or something like it on hand, you can use this tool to grip the edges of the broken key and pull it out slowly but surely. You can also use needle nose pliers to turn the lock itself if the key is too hard to extract.

  4. Use an Extractor Tool

    • For this method, you will want to first spray the lock with a lubricant to help the key slide out easily. Next, you’ll want to align the cylinder to either a locked or unlocked position. After that, you’ll want to locate the large groove on the side of the key and find the best spot for the extractor tool to fit. Next, insert the proper extractor tool until it hooks the bitting, or the groove, of the key fragment. Then, twist it slightly, and pull. It might take a few times, but once you get used to the motion, the key should come out eventually.

  5. Push the key

    • Sometimes, locks have removable cylinders that let you repair the lock mechanism if it’s starting to grind and get old. If this is the case, you can simply push the key out from the back after removing the cylinder from the lock.

  6.  Make a Mini Saw Blade

    • Make your own broken key extractor tool by buying a mini jigsaw blade from a nearby hardware store. You’ll want to break off the end of one of these blades so that it will fit into the lock. Make sure to cover up the other end with duct tape or some other adhesive to protect your hand. After the lock is lubricated, insert the saw blade into the cylinder with the teeth facing up. Wiggle it around until you hook one of the grooves on the key. Then twist it just like you would with the extractor tool, and pull the key out. This will take some practice, but be persistent, and your key will rear its pretty head soon enough.

  7. Tapping the Lock

    • The key cylinder is just like any other metal object, so you may be able to get the key to fall out of the cylinder by just tapping the lock a few times against the edge of a hard surface. Just make sure to keep the keyhole open so that the key can slide out. Even if it doesn’t come all the way out, you can eventually pull the sucker out with some needle nose pliers as the key is bound to move a bit after a few hits.

Hopefully, you’ve been able to extract your key stuck in door lock by the end of this post. But if you’re still having some trouble, try giving your local locksmith a call. They have the tools and resources needed to get you unstuck fast and save you a ton of time.

Northridge Lock and Safe has a decade of experience extracting locks of all sizes for clients all over the Valley. Therefore, if you are still having problems with your key, don’t hesitate to give us a call right away. We are local and right around the corner from you in most cases. Additionally, we offer affordable prices for the broken key extraction and can meet you at your location in less than 20 minutes. We guarantee you will be 100% satisfied with our work, so call (818) 296-1032 today!