Broken key in window lock

OxJak

Hello all, hope someone can give some advice to a new home owner with all sorts of problems!

This one concerns one of our PVC windows. The OH was trying to open it the other day but the key broke in the lock. There's nothing really to grab a hold of with tweezers, and I've tried supergluing the two halves of the key together, but that's not working. How can I get the bit of key out?!?

My current plan is to unscrew the handle from the window and hopefully I can get behind and push the key through. Is this the best way to do it, or can anyone come up with another plan? The window does lock and unlock with the stub of the key, but obviously it's not ideal as a long-term solution!

silvercar

I managed to do the same with my front door key!

A locksmith managed to extract the key without breaking the door down, so there is a way!

(Superglue won't be strong enough.)

mrwibble

Depending on your window frame design it should be possible to unscrew the handle and push the stub out - certainly I would be surprised if any design didn't allow it as you wouldn't be able to economically fit the handle to the frame otherwise

Nile

Hello OxJak

Do you have another identical key? If yes, place a magnet on the spare key to see if it is magnetic. If yes, you'll know that the broken piece of key (in the lock) is also magnetic............then you can place the magnet on the broken piece and hopefully pull it out that way.

If the answers to the above questions are no..............it's back to the drawing board.:o

Let us know how you get on.

Regards

Nile

weekendwarrior

You should be able to remove the handle by undoing the screws and then get a new one, see the pics here- http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/forum1/viewtopic.php?t=429

izoomzoom

We got a key stuck in a lock once, and managed to get it out with brute force and a pair of pliers.

Much depends if you have enough of the key out to get a grip.

Maisie

We've got a key stuck in a double glazed window lock. It's been there about 10 years and won't budge.

We just open the other window!!

OxJak

The keys aren't magnetic, that was one of the first things I tried! I'll try the needle trick, if not then I'll attempt to take it off the window, and then decide whether to get the broken piece out or just bite the bullet and go for a new handle.

Thanks for all the advice, I would give thanks via the button but it doesn't seem to be working on my browser!