Broke Key inside Lock

[sharifrashedi]

I went to get copies of my master lock on my storage shed. Lost the key
and never bothered to test the copy. Turns out the copy was bad and
made on cheap metal since it broke off inside the lock. What should I
do. This is one of those heavy duty masterlocks with the shield over the
keyhole (silver)

Any way I can get this lock off? Can these be hacked off?? doubt it so
what to you do to get this fixed??

Cheers

[Stormin Mormon]

I suggest calling a locksmith. Have him (her) come out and take care of it.
--
Christopher A. Young
Do good work.
It's longer in the short run
but shorter in the long run.
.
.


"sharifrashedi" <***@speakeasy.net> wrote in message news:ceadnXHkyIcLiBneRVn-***@speakeasy.net...
I went to get copies of my master lock on my storage shed. Lost the key
and never bothered to test the copy. Turns out the copy was bad and
made on cheap metal since it broke off inside the lock. What should I
do. This is one of those heavy duty masterlocks with the shield over the
keyhole (silver)

Any way I can get this lock off? Can these be hacked off?? doubt it so
what to you do to get this fixed??

Cheers

[Joe Kesselman]

Post by sharifrashedi
Any way I can get this lock off? Can these be hacked off?

Yes, with a LOT of work. Probably much more work than it's worth.

If you can extract the broken piece of the key (you may need to lift
pins out of the way to do so, while pulling it back with a bent pin or
straightened fishhook or some similar thin hook or ply), you can take
both pieces to a locksmith and s/he may be able to measure them and cut
a new key for that lock.

Alternative is to get a locksmith to extract the piece for you and then
either make a key for that lock or remove the lock and issue you a
replacement.

Be glad it's hard to remove. That means it's doing the job you purchased
it for.

Next time, put one of the two original keys in a Safe Place, and/or
write down the lock code and put that aside. I recommend that folks pick
a specific place where they'll keep spares and codes, so they know where
to go looking for them when they need them. (A zip-lock bag and/or small
box and/or keychain, in a drawer or on a hook someplace in the house.)

[Peter]

Post by Joe Kesselman
Next time, put one of the two original keys in a Safe Place, and/or
write down the lock code and put that aside. I recommend that folks pick
a specific place where they'll keep spares and codes, so they know where
to go looking for them when they need them. (A zip-lock bag and/or small
box and/or keychain, in a drawer or on a hook someplace in the house.)

And use a locksmith to cut extra keys - they will use reasonably made blanks
and keep their machines accurate. One local locksmith had a sign saying
they would not guarantee keys cut from xxxxx keys (well known chain who
uses steel blanks - urg!).

[--Shiva--]

Post by Peter
And use a locksmith to cut extra keys - they will use reasonably made blanks
and keep their machines accurate. One local locksmith had a sign saying
they would not guarantee keys cut from xxxxx keys (well known chain who
uses steel blanks - urg!).

never seen a steel blank yet,,, BUT if i get handed one from the
BIG store W******, i flat tell them NO guarantees AT ALL..
--Shiva--

[goma865]

Also, some of the blanks that the big-daddy store uses are "generic"
within certain terms.
I've seen flat steel, but big daddy don't deal with that too much--not
enough slop..
For example, if some company makes two slightly different keyblanks
that will fit the same keyway.
So big daddy makes one in between.Saves them from making two different
blanks.
Economical-Looks great on the paper budget, but sucks when it comes to
doing good accurate key generation or duplication in real time and in
real life.
I've seen improper tip angles, shoulder cuts off by .017 or more, just
to mention a few.

Given that, it is more probable that the key blanks is "generic", and I
am 98% sure that the machine was off-so copied cuts are off-and pin
tumbler locks like master-especially a lightly used one, will not
accept such slop.
Take the broken key back to big daddy and demand your money back.

Find a real "LockHead" who checks his own work.
They are worth it.

Later,
goma.

[Ralph A. Schmid, DK5RAS]

Post by --Shiva--
never seen a steel blank yet

In germany you find them often, sometimes even original with brand new
locks (cheap ones).

[Steve Paris]

"Peter" <***@parazzdise.net.nz> wrote in message

One local locksmith had a sign saying

Post by Peter
they would not guarantee keys cut from xxxxx keys (well known chain who
uses steel blanks - urg!).

Ahh, .... we have the same company here in OZ. I 'LOVE' their work. We make
good money from people that were foolish enough to have them copy their
keys, ... broken keys in locks, ... locked out as key won't turn, etc etc.
And it's not as if they (company) are cheap with their prices, usually
around $8 for a LW4 copy, on a crap steel blank. I also warn people that I
will not guarantee a dupe from a M.M. copy. I suppose when your key cutting
booth is set up in the middle of a major shopping mall and rent costs you
$6000 per week, ya got to cut a squillion keys just to make rent !!. Imagine
how fast their cutters wear down, cutting steel blanks all day. No wonder
they can't keep up with accurate machine adjustments. I love their work,
:-))

["Key]

Post by sharifrashedi
I went to get copies of my master lock on my storage shed.
Lost the key and never bothered to test the copy.

should always test copies.

Post by sharifrashedi
Turns out the copy was bad and made on cheap metal since
it broke off inside the lock.

it peobably broke of because ya tried to force it.

Post by sharifrashedi
What should I do. This is one of those heavy duty
masterlocks with the shield over the keyhole (silver)
Any way I can get this lock off? Can these be hacked off??
doubt it so what to you do to get this fixed??

try to remove the broken key from the lock and take it to a
locksmith.
or
call the locksmith out to your location.

g'day