Ask Lemmy

Locksmith here. In a pinch, I've ground the back of a jigsaw blade down, leaving just the teeth on the blade (short enough to fit above the key). Jigsaw blades, especially those intended for metal, are hardened and will easily bite into just about any key, giving enough leverage to pull out the broken piece.

I've had luck melting a hot glue stick and pressing it on the head, letting it cool, and pulling it out, but you would also be best replacing the lock since you can open the door

I would remove it from the door, apply sewing machine oil and then slam it onto a surface until a part appears that I can grab with pliers.

I have never done this and it might not work but destroy your lock.

Main problem seems solved but I just want to point out that this is not a super secure or modern lock.

Very unlikely anyone will ever actually try picking the lock on your house, BUT if they did, this lock won't do an incredible amount to stop them.

There's a pretty good chance that you can get a bit of wire or a fine pick and push the key through from the other side, I'd be trying that first.

Aside from that the next easiest solution is likely to just disassemble the lock and replace the cylinder as others have suggested.

While an ignorant rober is trying his luck at trying to open your door a smart one is already gone with your stuff and the police already blasted your door open. I would just get a normal key.

Hot glue gun glue stick. Melt end, attach, wait a few, pull.

Unlock the door and remove those screws holding the latch in the door.

Once you’ve removed the lock you should be able to disassemble it and push the stuck key out or worst case, replace the lock cylinder.

Dental pick, like the kind that your hygienist uses to give you PTSD should do the trick.

Use a broken key extractor.

https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=broken+key+extractor

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/387398979050

Dimple lock. The pins move sideways instead of up and down. Not familiar with the brand.

You could try and straighten a small fish hook to remove the broken key.

Why wouldn't you just replace the whole lock?

Any time I've had a key stuck like this I've used something sharp and just stabbed it down into the top of the key and leveraged it against the lock itself. Keys are way softer than people think.

I got a key out of a similar situation in the folks RV the other day using a small flat screw driver and a knife to pinch the key and pull it out...

Superglue the key back together, let it set, and pull it out.

Be careful not to use too much glue and br sure it's set before you pull.

Alternatively, try needle nose pliers or a hook if you can get any purchase on the key remains.

They also sell extractors but the above suggestions will probably work.

If all else fails, call a locksmith.

Strong magnet maybe?

I'd drill into the thickest part with a small drill, then tilt it and gently pull it out with the key.

Some superglue on the broken part of the key and reattach it, or alternatively superglue a few paper clips or other thin metal objects to the key in the door. Using more than one will spread out the force used to pull.

superglue.

This looks like a similar setup to some security doors I've messed with.

Edit: what about using a unfolded paperclip and push from the other side. The plan I had when I started writing this probably won't work as accessing the key cylinder will only likely get access the keyhole.

Edit2 id also hit it with a spray from a can of WD-40 (lubricant) and hope that helps work things loose.

Below is probably useless but it was my train if thought initially.

They have a removable part so the locks can be rekeyed easily by a locksmith by replacing some pins on the inside to match the keys.

Edit 3 if removing fails and you need to replace a part, you probably could get away with just replacing the locking part and not the whole handle mechanism.

In the ones Ive used a screw on the door matches up holding the locking cylinder component. Probably the one just above the deadbolt.

Try unscrewing this to see if the cylinder the key is stuck in can be removed.

Go very carefully as I don't know what is actually holding the stack of pins which match your key and if these pins fall out, finding which go where will be very hard and very fiddly.

A neodymium magnet could work, maybe even a fake one from Amazon