Broken Key Extraction

Broken key extraction can be a very stressful experience at times, especially on most foreign makes and models. The following method I am about to describe, I've learned from a fellow locksmith technician who had more experience with broken key extraction than I had. The first time I tried using this process was on a customer vehicle's door lock who just wanted the broken piece out so he can use his spare key to open the door. Ever since, I had only success using that same method in order to extract broken keys from foreign vehicles.

The only things a locksmith technician needs in order to execute this method is a power drill, spiral extractor, and steady hands. At a point where it is determined that the standard key extraction method will not work, use a 3/64 bit with the power drill and drill a small hole in the larger part of the broken key piece that is stuck inside the lock. Next, the spiral extractor will need to be used on the hole drilled. The extractor will be used the same way as you would usually use it with the exception of using of using pulling pressure instead of turning pressure in order to remove the broken key piece.
It could be a situation where the wafers or pins will prevent from removing the broken key piece out of the key-way. In such case, you could use a curved pick in order to lift each wafer or pin out of the way.

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Key Extraction For GEO

We had a job coming one night of a customer that accidentally broke off the tip of the key to her 95 Geo Metro. Although there is not a specific procedure that most locksmith technicians do to take care of the problem, this is what I came up with:

First what I did was to use a blank key and broke the tip of approximately as far back as hers had broken off(if the customer has the remainder of their key, you can use it for this next part) and inserted it into the ignition. This gets the tumblers out of the way. 

Next, I threaded a spiral extractor down each side of the key, using the millings on the key to guide the extractors. 

Then I clamped the key and the extractors together with vice grips, placed as closely to the face of the ignition as I can get them. The key and the extractors should be virtually "welded" together and by the vice-grips. Once that was done, I used a screwdriver handle between the housing and vice grips in leveraged the key and extractors out of the ignition. The tip of the broken key came right along with them.

If you need similar service around Portland area, don't hesitate to call NorthWest Locksmith.