If you’ve ever lost your car key or broken it, you know just how frustrating and stressful it can be to get back into your vehicle. It can even be worse if you haven’t got a spare key to use in the meantime.
Fortunately, you can remove a broken car key with a few simple household tools. It’s just a matter of finding them and learning how to use them properly!
Needle Nose Pliers
Needle nose pliers are a versatile tool that can be used to grip, bend and cut small gauge wires. They are often used in jewelry making and are a useful piece of equipment to have on hand when you need to work in confined areas that are hard to reach with other types of pliers.
A key extractor tool, also known as a breakaway tool, can be an invaluable addition to your arsenal of car lockout tools. These long and thin tools slip into the ignition around the broken key fragment and hook onto it.
Once you have hooked the key extractor tool to a piece of broken key, slowly pull it toward you. Then, try to catch the hook on a key tooth and pull it out of the cylinder until you can pull the whole broken key out.
If you’ve tried these techniques and can’t get the key out of the ignition, you may want to consider calling a locksmith technician. A locksmith will be able to help you remove the broken key from your ignition and replace it with a new one.
Hemisphere Pliers
One of the most useful tools for broken car key extractions is a hemisphere plier. These tools are designed to look like a hacksaw blade or mini jigsaw and are great for prying open the lock from the inside.
To use them you need to position the tip of the plier near the center of the keyhole. Once you have inserted the pliers into the lock, it’s time to twist them to grab the broken piece of key.
These pliers are also a good way to pull the key out of the lock if it’s stuck in the keyhole too far. However, it is important to note that this tool does not have the same pulling power as the tweezers or the needle nose pliers.
Finally, the smallest of the lot is a slick little pair of diagonal cutters that can easily cut through wires and zip-ties. They also have a biting edge that can help you remove the more difficult to reach parts of a lock.
Magnets
A broken car key can be a frustrating and inconvenient occurrence. It can also drain the battery fast if left in place for too long, so it’s a good idea to get that key extracted as soon as possible. The best way to do this is with the help of a quality set of tools from Lock Pick Shop. From tubular key extractors to single tools, educational materials and a full array of kits, we’ve got all the equipment you need to take on the big job.
For example, the best tool for the job is a set of ice tongs with a biting edge topped off with a sturdy dipped handle. This gizmo is also the smallest and most lightweight of our collection, so it can be stowed away unnoticed in the trunk of your car or in your pocket while you’re on the go. The best part is that you can do this without having to buy a new key for your prized possession.
Paper Clips
If you’re looking for a good way to get a broken key out of your ignition or lock, look no further than paper clips. They’re available almost everywhere and can be shaped into useful tools like tweezers or probes.
First, find a paper clip that’s straight and insert it into the keyhole slightly above the broken key fragment. When it’s far enough into the lock, twist it down to catch on the broken bit and pull it out.
This is the quickest and most effective way to remove a broken key from a lock. But it’s not a perfect solution. It can damage the lock, so use it only if you’re sure you have enough of the broken key sticking out to grab.