Screwdriver Stuck In Door Knob?

[cs_jones]

Hi,

I'm new to this website, so I'm just going to apologize firsthand if I'm doing anything wrong.
My child wanted to learn how to pick a locked door (and she did NOT inform me of her new interest), so she Googled methods to pick a lock. One website suggested using a screwdriver, which we have several of, so she stuck one in the door knob to try and unlock the door herself. Luckily, she wasn't practicing on a closed locked door, and had the sense to at least keep the door open. Therefore, we can still get into the room. According to what she told me, she panicked when she couldn't pull the screwdriver back out, and pulled it hard enough for the plastic handle to break off. We now have the metal part of the screwdriver stuck in a door knob, and we can't get it out. The handle will no longer turn either, and is stuck in that position. When my husband came home, he tried taking the handles apart by unscrewing them from the door, but we still couldn't get the screwdriver out. We are trying to save money, and would prefer not to have to take this to a locksmith. It is also in our best interest to avoid taking the handle entirely apart, as we do not have any experience and would either break something, or not be able to put the handle back together. I would really appreciate any tips or tricks or anything to help get the metal out of the door knob. My husband also suggested replacing the handle with one from an unused closet, any answers to that? The only problem is we would prefer to keep the locking handle with the room, and leave the closet without a lock. Could we switch just one handle from each? The handle from the closet does not have a little hole in it though, will that affect anything? Apologies for my lack of knowledge of terminology. I'm also sorry for this very long post. If anyone needs pictures or more information, I will be glad to add that.

Thank you so much in advance

[Squelchtone]

Picture is worth a thousand words!

Is this knob your child stuck a screw driver into a keyhole that a key normally goes into or just a little round hole that a paper clip could fit?

Why on earth would any website suggest a screw driver could "pick" a lock. Is this for real?

[cs_jones]

It is a little round hole that you could fit a paper clip in. However, I believe there is a key to the keyhole somewhere in the house. It is the key the builders of the house left, it's just a slim little piece of metal that is bent into a little closed hook at one end. I'm not sure why a website would suggest a screwdriver, it probably meant a small one, although the website probably was not credible. All my background information was from my child, as I was not aware of what she was doing, but yes, unfortunately this is for real.

Here are the imgur links to some pictures of the detached handle:
http://imgur.com/zos7QgM
http://imgur.com/Ngdvu2U
http://imgur.com/w0Gmez6

[Tyler J. Thomas]

Kwikset 400 Series.

I presume she just forced it in and got it stuck? Anyways, the spindle (longest portion of metal, dead center of the lock) has a recess in it about the size of an eraser head. Stick a flat blade screwdriver in this recess (don't worry, you won't get this one stuck) and twist it back and forth while pulling on the stuck screw driver with pliers. Might take two people.

If it's broke, replacements are $25-29 at Home Depot.

[jimu57]

I agree. Just replace it.

[Tyler J. Thomas]

Heh, no wonder I failed my Kwikset elective on the CJIL test. It's actually a 300 series. Whoops.

[cs_jones]

Okay, thank you very much! We'll try that, and hopefully my kid will stay away from screwdrivers from now on.

[johnb007]

I'm kinda surprised by the end result, those locks were the ones I "picked" as a kid, screw driver or pointy doo-hickey and they "should" POP open.

[kwoswalt99-]

Why on earth would any website suggest a screw driver could "pick" a lock. Is this for real?

Because for the ones that have keys like this

these screwdrivers work quite well.

[jimu57]

Privacy knob. Open it with almost anything.

[Squelchtone]

Why on earth would any website suggest a screw driver could "pick" a lock. Is this for real?

Because for the ones that have keys like this

these screwdrivers work quite well.

I just don't consider that picking in the sense of the word that we use here. I know the public has other visions in their mind when they hear lock picking.

[Tyler J. Thomas]

I just don't consider that picking in the sense of the word that we use here. I know the public has other visions in their mind when they hear lock picking.

A good friend and former co-worker once mocked MacGyver for opening a lock with his Swiss Army knife. I promptly picked a desk lock with just one half of my Swiss Army knife scissors. He doesn't give me much grief for being a fan of MacGyver anymore.

But yeah, I hear what you're saying. Or read what you're typing, I guess?