REM 3200
US Veteran
Call a locksmith. That's what they are there for. 
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Locked out of my gun cabinet.
- Thread starter Jinglebob
- Start date
I'm thinking call a locksmith, they have dealt with this before. Is it solid wood or glass front? If wood, and left to my own devices (in sequence of options) I'd see if I could pop the back panel off to get at the hinges, drill the lock, or take a Sawzall to the darn thing... If it has a glass front, I'd break the glass. Pop the hinges, and just replace it.
Silvergoose
Member
Call the NSA, they seem to be good at getting into things.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Take a small drill bit and drill a small hole in the piece of key that's in the lock. Put an appropriately sized screw in the hole with a drop of thread lock. Give the thread locker time to cure and extract the piece of broken key using the screw as a key shaft.
I just asked myself, "what would I do in that situation?"
That's what I came up with, good luck.
I just asked myself, "what would I do in that situation?"
That's what I came up with, good luck.
Grayfox
US Veteran
Two small steel picks and a lot of patience. That's how we get broken keys out of ignition locks. 
Try drilling a pilot hole in the broken key and using an easy out; which are not always easy to use.
J. R. WEEMS
Member
A small under line SMALL drill bit, try and drill into the broken key -once the bit is in, and stuck, either just try and turn the lock, EASY or back our bit and tap in a easy out and try to turn the key-- small vise grips should hold the easy out firm enough. Oiling would not hurt, a bit.
Rick_A
Member
Better than getting locked in it.
ChattanoogaPhil
Member
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Where is our resident locksmith, Kanewpadle?
gdnagle
US Veteran
It's your wife's now let her deal with it.
Small drill bit and easy out they are left hand so you may be able to turn the key. Spray with lube first.
Small drill bit and easy out they are left hand so you may be able to turn the key. Spray with lube first.
OLDFED
Member
Drill
The drill guys are correct. Very small drill and work upward in size until you reach about 1/3 of the diameter of the key shaft. Then tap an Easy Out in and slowly (after oiling) the lock. It should turn, unlock the door and come out. The hard part is keeping the original drill hole centered. Be glad it's brass!
The drill guys are correct. Very small drill and work upward in size until you reach about 1/3 of the diameter of the key shaft. Then tap an Easy Out in and slowly (after oiling) the lock. It should turn, unlock the door and come out. The hard part is keeping the original drill hole centered. Be glad it's brass!
Jinglebob, Try some forceps. First spray some lube into the lock. If it hasn't been used for a while, dirt and oxidation can and will cause it to turn hard.
The broken part of the key needs to be turned so it clears the keyway on the way out.
I would not drill just yet or use any kind of glue. Seen many times where people use glue and it causes the lock to become unusable. Besides, glue won't work anyway.
Drilling is a last resort because the lock will be ruined. But if the key doesn't come out you may not have any alternative. And finding a replacement lock won't be easy.
If the forceps don't work let me know. Hopefully it does work cause calling a locksmith out can be expensive providing you find one that knows how to handle this situation. I hate working on these in the field.
The broken part of the key needs to be turned so it clears the keyway on the way out.
I would not drill just yet or use any kind of glue. Seen many times where people use glue and it causes the lock to become unusable. Besides, glue won't work anyway.
Drilling is a last resort because the lock will be ruined. But if the key doesn't come out you may not have any alternative. And finding a replacement lock won't be easy.
If the forceps don't work let me know. Hopefully it does work cause calling a locksmith out can be expensive providing you find one that knows how to handle this situation. I hate working on these in the field.
the ringo kid
Member
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Didn't try that but I did give it the "Fonzie" slap.
It didnt work because you didnt say: Aaaaaaeeeeeee
The Fonz: Eyy ****Best Quality**** - YouTube
Jinglebob, Try some forceps. First spray some lube into the lock. If it hasn't been used for a while, dirt and oxidation can and will cause it to turn hard.
The broken part of the key needs to be turned so it clears the keyway on the way out.
I would not drill just yet or use any kind of glue. Seen many times where people use glue and it causes the lock to become unusable. Besides, glue won't work anyway.
Drilling is a last resort because the lock will be ruined. But if the key doesn't come out you may not have any alternative. And finding a replacement lock won't be easy.
If the forceps don't work let me know. Hopefully it does work cause calling a locksmith out can be expensive providing you find one that knows how to handle this situation. I hate working on these in the field.
The use of forceps is a good idea. I'll give it a try. I hesitate to call a locksmith because the closest is twenty miles away in Sulphur Springs, Texas. The service call could cost more than the cabinet is worth. As you state, a matching replacement lock may be hard to find. The cabinet was made in the early 1980s.
Hope it works. 1980's isn't bad. I've worked on antiques that were much much older. Where I work, it's a minimum of $70 just to show up!
Good luck.
Frank46
US Veteran
I have heard about using a soldering gun. Heat up the tip of the gun and solder the tip of the gun to the key stub. Let cool and try to turn the gun hopefully turning the key as well. Frank
