Key extractor

[Kayvon]

All pick sets (that I've ever seen) come with a key extractor "pick". For as much fun as I've had with my pick set, I've never had occasion to use the key extractor. Okay, so I have used it a couple time in a practice cylinder just to see if it would pick the lock (it did).

I'm wondering how many LP101ers actually use or have used the key extractor. I'm sure the professional locksmiths have had occasion (right?)... anyone else?

(Oh, and it's about time I found something that hasn't been discussed to death on the forums. We can tell all the newbies to search... but what's left to talk about?)

[Red]

Saw your post and had to reply.
I got a frantic call from a neighbor last week. Her son was about to unload groceries from the car and snapped the key to the trunk off inside the lock...before he got the bags out of the car.
I ran around the corner with my key extractor from my personal set and had the key out of the lock in about 3 seconds.
Have I ever in my life had to use it before this?
Nope! But I was glad I had it for this one situation. You just never know

[Kayvon]

That's good to know. I was wondering if they were hard to use when you need them. If you could get it in a few seconds on your first try, it must be pretty straight-forward, then.

Now I just have to wait for someone to snap their key in a lock...

[HeadHunterCEO]

key extractors are mandatory
i go through at least 3 every 2 months

[vector40]

What kind do you use, HeadHunter? The very basic SouthOrd-style ones that basically resemble half-diamonds with extreme angles never seemed like they'd fit past a broken key, to me.

[kodierer]

Never used my extractor, but it's a southord one that came with my pickset, and I would assume it to be too fat in some instances. Is it better to get one of the little wire looking ones

[Romstar]

Here is the funny part about extractors.

The standard barbed type worls in a lot of keyways, but.....

Depending on how the key broke, or the type of keyway you really should have several types of extractors. This includes the standard barb type, the wire/screw type, the saw blade type and my personal favorites, the HPC stainless ones.

Romstar

[HeadHunterCEO]

What kind do you use, HeadHunter? The very basic SouthOrd-style ones that basically resemble half-diamonds with extreme angles never seemed like they'd fit past a broken key, to me.

don't kow what a southern style is

i carry three types at all time

the barbed ones i always got four or five of them at time because they work well for me esp on double sided locks. i grind then paper thin with a dremel most of the time so i only get one or two uses out of one

the wire ones resembling conduit work great and are fairly durable

now i make this one. i use 4 " long solid core 18 guage wire .
i bend the last 1/8 of inch back at about 20 degrees. You can get that in almost any automotive keyway

I say automotive cuz i don't bother trying to extract keys from residential locks very often. usually just quicker and easier to dissasemble the lock

[HeadHunterCEO]

the HPC stainless ones.

Romstar

those are nice man