Once in a while you might find yourself with a simple but aggravating situation that will have you wishing that you knew how to fix a broken key in a lock. You turn the key in a lock and the key breaks! This often happens with a thin, replacement key or a duplicate key you made at a local hardware store.
Now you have two problems: you can’t get past the locked door; and the lock itself is unusable. Before you call a locksmith try these first few steps to save time and some money.
Let’s learn how to fix a broken key in a lock.
How to fix a broken key in a lock?
The obvious first step is to remove the fragment of the key that has broken in the lock. However, start by checking where the key has snapped. If the key is broken halfway, it’s technically impossible to open it without proper tools. But, if all the key cuts are still in the lock, then it might be possible to open the lock using just a screwdriver.
Presto! Job done!
How does a key break into a lock?
Here are some reasons why a key breaks in a lock. The most common reason is the use of uneven pressure that shears the key which causes it to snap. This is especially true of sticky locks or locks that have rusted out or have not been used for a while.
Often the wrong key fits the lock but jams when you are trying to take it out. At this point, often with frustration, the user tries to forcibly turn the key in the lock hoping it will pry the key lose.
Finally, if your key is lower quality – often the case with using a thinner key blank – the key could snap in the lock or get stuck because the tolerances are not right.
How to make a new key?
While considering making a new key, the most common problem does not have a model that you can follow. In this type of situation, the easiest way is to cut the key by code. Every original key has a code. So, if your key breaks or you lose the key, you can recreate a new one using that code. All you need to do is input the code into a key cutting machine. If the code is encrypted, you need the code to run through some software to get the code you can use.
How to fix your lock?
Start with the basics to fix your lock. Once you rule out the easy to fix first steps you can invest in more extensive checks.
- check the bolts
- fix the alignment
- lubricate your lock
How to lubricate a lock properly?
Lubricating a lock is so easy – you might as well do it first. You can lubricate your lock by following these three steps:
- Blow the dust- Before applying the lubricant, you need to get all the dust off the inner workings of the lock so that it doesn’t stick into the lock and make it difficult to open or close it. You might use an air compressor to blow the dust away.
- Spray cleaner-Spray cleaner is a great tool to use for cleaning the cylinder of a lock. It’s better to use a good spray cleaner and clean the keyhole using it.
- Lube the lock. To avoid attracting more dust, it’s better to use a dry lubricant. Dry lubricants will help you to make your lock smooth while not attracting any outer dust.
How can you rekey your door lock?
Well, if you want to solve the problem of your lock but don’t want to replace it, rekeying is the best solution for you. Rekeying is changing the pins and spring of the lock to pair it with the new key. In other words, you are changing the key for your lock so that nobody else can use the previous key to break into your house.