improvised extractor?

[Rushnofsky]

We had a key that broke off in a lock the other day at work. our AP guy asked me if I would take a look at it for him and try to get it out. I didnt have an extractor on me, so I grabbed a thin paperclip and a pair of needle nose pliers. I cut the tip of the clip at an angle to make it sharp then bent it up to make a small barb. It worked, even though it was hard to get pressure on the barb from the clip bending all over the place.
not too bad for my first try at an improvised extractor!

[smokingman]

We had a key that broke off in a lock the other day at work. our AP guy asked me if I would take a look at it for him and try to get it out. I didnt have an extractor on me, so I grabbed a thin paperclip and a pair of needle nose pliers. I cut the tip of the clip at an angle to make it sharp then bent it up to make a small barb. It worked, even though it was hard to get pressure on the barb from the clip bending all over the place.
not too bad for my first try at an improvised extractor!

Good thinking!
You can also straighten 2 paperclips and push one in on each side of the key piece and pull them out and apart at the same time
bringing the key piece out with them.

[cledry]

Small fishing hook straightened out will work sometimes.

[Rushnofsky]

good suggestions

[billdeserthills]

I use my pocket razor-blade knife for removing broken keys a lot,
just lever the key out with a small portion of the blade, you need to be careful or you'll break a piece
of the blade off in the lock-- but I know for you guys, that would only add to the fun!

[GWiens2001]

My favorite one is a guitar string that I bent the tip back to form a hook.

Gordon

[cledry]

Scroll saw blades.

[Ralph_Goodman]

My favorite one is a guitar string that I bent the tip back to form a hook.

Gordon

I am going to have to try that. Whenever you put on new strings, there is always a length left over.

What string are you using? Cause the issue is always with it keeping shape when while pressure is being applied, or the material being too thick.

Just like Rushnofsky said, applying pressure is always an issue with the improvised materials.

The ribbed texture of those strings seems like it would help grip the key, but they are very bendy. (Except that texture is not there on some of the thinner strings).

Never thought about this. Very interesting.

[GWiens2001]

I usually use the D string, and peel off the winding, leaving an area on the handle area of the extractor.

Gordon

[Ralph_Goodman]

I usually use the D string, and peel off the winding, leaving an area on the handle area of the extractor.

Gordon

Peel off the winding? So you are bending the tip so that you can hold onto the broken key length?

And are you actually going as far as to make a handle, or are you using the grip of the winding for a handle?

One more question, because I am just so fascinated: What is your preferred method for removing the winding?

[GWiens2001]

This is a similar tool to my extractor. I use this one for measuring the gates on a push key lever lock. To make it an extractor, just make the end fold more than the 90 degrees.



As for how to unwind it - I just use tiny pliers or wire cutters to grab the bronze winding and pull.

Gordon