“Everyone here has tried to pull out the key, we even clamped vise grips on the key to pull with and now the key is almost broken, can you help us?!”

Yes I can help you, but removing the key will only treat the symptom of a more serious problem which has the potential to lock you out and jamb-up the inner workings of the lock. This would result in an expensive repair bill.

This particular problem makes me look like I have magic powers. By the time I show up people are frazzled and mentally exhausted trying to solve a problem they do not understand. Usually several men have clamped vise grips to the key and yanked as hard as they can until they are tired and perplexed.

I show up and remove the key in less than a second, without tools. Now the question is, “how did you do that?”

In the pictures to follow I will first show you how to remove the key. Remember, this is a symptom of a more serious problem and a professional locksmith should be called as soon as possible to service your lock.

 Another way to remove the key is to push and hold the plug face (keyhole) in with your left thumb, then pull the key out with you right hand. Remember, the key will only enter and exit the keyhole in one position. Usually the keyhole is in a vertical position with the cuts of the key pointing up. However, the keyhole could be horizontal or vertical with the key cuts pointing down. If you do not know, use the push-pull procedure while you are turning the key. The key will eventually come out of the keyhole.