Broken Key Extraction in Trenton, NJ

Where keys break in Trenton

A key that snaps has usually been forced. Three Trenton settings put extra strain on keys:

• Shared entrance doors. A broken key in a shared entrance cylinder can leave residents' keys useless at that door, so tell the owner or manager. In a building with three or more units, N.J.A.C. 5:10-19.2 calls for heavy-duty dead-latching locksets on those doors, and every resident's key goes through the cylinders. This is general information, not legal advice.
• Original cylinders in historic districts. The Trenton Historical Society describes six of the city's eight districts as residential in character. An old cylinder with worn pins can make a key catch halfway, and twisting harder is how it breaks.
• Iced-up outdoor cylinders. In winter, meltwater that turns to ice inside an outdoor cylinder can make a stiff key snap, so stop when it will not turn.

What not to do

• Do not push the spare key into the same lock; it can drive the broken piece deeper.
• Do not put superglue on the stub or the broken piece; it can bond the piece to the pins and ruin the cylinder.
• Do not spray oil into the keyway.
• Do not try to turn the stub with pliers or a screwdriver.

Photos and details that help

1. A close photo of the lock face showing where the broken piece sits.
2. A photo of the half you still have, with any brand name on the head.
3. Whether the door is a house door, an apartment unit or a building entrance, and whether it is locked.
4. The block and nearest cross street, or the neighborhood.

Once the piece is out, a new key can often be cut from the two halves. If the cylinder was damaged, lock repair or lock rekeying may follow the broken key extraction.