Why Is My Key Stuck?

What's worse than having a key stuck in a lock?  Getting half a key stuck in a lock!  But let's be serious, this could leave you locked out in the cold or late for work.  When your key is stuck or at worst broken in the lock then it's a reminder about how complex these essential components are!  Inside a cylinder lock there will be at least 5 or 6 tiny two-part pins, each with a corresponding spring within a rotating 'plug' which is machined to exactly match the basic shape of the key while the pins are arranged to a unique pattern that matches the bumpy 'bitting' on the blade of your key.  If these little pieces and machined surfaces start to wear, get damaged or weren't right in the first place, then you're in for some lock trouble!  Contact a skilled locksmith who will easily sort this for you: call us now on 07548989151 ; email service@craftlock.co.uk  or alternatively read through our handy bullet points to understand things a bit more!

PREVENTION OF KEY PROBLEMS:

• Lubricate your lock barrel.  This reduces wear and tear to all the components and allows the key to slide easily in and out.
• If your key requires a 'knack' to operate, it may be worn - get new keys copied from a good original or else get a new lock before you have an emergency!
• Take friction away from the key movement by pulling or pushing the door into a better position versus the frame.
• If you have multiple users of a building who may not be familiar with the locks, make sure they know what they are doing and mark up the keys properly.

CAUSES:

• Lack of lubrication.
• Forcing the key!
• Badly cut key!
• Worn out key.
• Wrong key!
• Door frame causing friction upon bolt due to poor fitting or adjustment state of door.
• Worn out lock barrel.

SOLUTIONS:

• If you're not in a hurry you will have some chance of removing a key or prising out the remains, but often these are very difficult situations requiring professional locksmith help.
• Ensure the door is adjusted correctly so that it does not take force to operate the key in future.
• As above, if you manage to get the bits out, it's worth throwing away that key and getting a copy from another good original key if you have one. We often find that this was the customer's only key and the most sensible solution is to replace the lock and leave the customer with three new keys.
• Many of the problems originate from components that are way beyond their service life or else damaged in some way - having a locksmith replace your lock barrel will on many occasions be the safest thing for you in the long term.
• It's a good opportunity to ask the locksmith about what improvements can be made to your security - if you didn't have one already you will be safer to replace your old lock barrel with a Sold-Secure Diamond Standard anti-snap lock.  If you have a wooden door with a mortice lock however, you are not affected by lock snapping.  You should just ensure it is a British Standard BS3621 mortice lock.  You can ask about extra door hardware to reinforce this if you are concerned about security.

Call now on 07548989151 ; email service@craftlock.co.uk for help from a professional locksmith in Solihull and Birmingham.

Bonus info: mortice locks generally have bigger chunkier components but the tolerances are still very fine.  For mortice locks and cylinder locks, keys are for practical purposes unique, however the locks and keys will be made in a manner to create, for example, 2000 individual designs of which there may be many exact copies.