Broken Key Extraction in Johannesburg
There's a particular sinking feeling when you turn a key and come away holding only the bow. The blade is still in the lock, the door may or may not be locked, and every attempt to dig it out pushes it deeper. As a mobile locksmith, we travel to the door, gate or padlock concerned, draw out the snapped blade and then test how healthy the lock still is.
- 24/7Every day, nights included
- R250Call-out fee
- On sitePrice agreed before work
- EFT · Cash · CardWays to pay
Why keys break
- A stiff lock that needed force for weeks before it finally won.
- A worn or thin key that has been bent and straightened a few times.
- The wrong key forced into a lock that looks similar.
- A door or gate out of line, so the key is doing the work of pulling the bolt across.
- Padlocks left in the weather on gates and burglar bars, where the mechanism seizes.
What to do and what to avoid
- Stop turning. Leave the broken piece exactly as it is.
- Keep the other half of the key. It shows us the profile and helps if a new lock is needed.
- Don't use glue, a magnet on a stick or a hairpin. Glue in particular can ruin a cylinder that could otherwise have been saved.
- If the door is unlocked, it can't be locked again until the key is out, so tell us if the property is unsecured.
- If you're locked out because of it, see our emergency lockout service and the guide to being locked out of a flat or complex.
How we handle it
The technician removes the broken piece with the right extraction tools, working so that the lock isn't damaged where that's possible. Then they test the lock with the other keys you have. If the lock is fine, that's the end of the job. If it's worn or bent, or if it's the reason the key broke in the first place, you'll get a quote for a repair or a new lock. We don't cut a replacement key from the broken one.
Gate locks and padlocks
Outdoor locks break keys more often than indoor ones because dust and rain stiffen them. If a key has snapped in a pedestrian gate or a padlock on burglar bars, our guides on gate lock problems and choosing padlocks for gates explain how to stop it happening again.
Cost
R250 call-out fee. The technician assesses the job on site and gives you the price before any work starts. Nothing is done until you agree. The price depends on where the key has broken, the type of lock and whether any further work is needed. EFT, cash or card.
Lock brands we work on
These are the lock and security-gate brands you'll find on most Johannesburg doors and gates, sold by Builders, Cashbuild, Leroy Merlin and locksmith suppliers across Gauteng. If yours isn't listed, send us a photo.
- UnionMortice locksets, cylinders, gate locks
- YaleLocksets, padlocks, smart locks
- TrellidorSecurity-gate locks
- CISACylinders, gate and door locks
- Mul-T-LockHigh-security cylinders, padlocks
- dormakabaCommercial locks and key systems
- ABUSPadlocks
- Master LockPadlocks
Brand names belong to their owners and are used only to describe what we work on. We're not an agent of, or endorsed by, these manufacturers.
Where this service is available
We provide broken-key extraction as part of our mobile locksmith service across Johannesburg. Areas we're often asked about include:
Questions customers ask
Can you get the key out without replacing the lock?
Usually. Most broken keys can be extracted and the lock carries on working. If the lock was damaged, or caused the break, we'll tell you and quote before doing anything more.
Can you make a new key from the broken pieces?
No. We don't offer key cutting or key duplication. If you have no working key left, a new cylinder or lock is the way forward.
A key broke in my car door. Is that the same service?
It's similar, but car locks are handled by our car key and lockout service. Mention the vehicle's make, model and year on the phone.
Request broken-key extraction
Four quick details. We reply by phone or WhatsApp, 24/7. For anything urgent, calling is quickest.