A broken key extraction in Bos en Lommer is the removal of a snapped key from a cylinder in streets such as Bos en Lommerweg, Erasmusgracht, Leeuwendalersweg and the Landlust blocks, normally without replacing the lock.
Keys almost never break without warning. They bend slightly for weeks, the door needs a shove, and then one cold morning the metal gives up with half the key still inside. It is one of the most common calls we get from Bos en Lommer, and in most cases it is fixed in a single visit.
What not to do in the first five minutes
Do not push the remaining piece further in. Do not try to turn it with pliers. Do not spray oil into the cylinder, because oil collects dust and turns a simple extraction into a cleaning job. Superglue on a matchstick is the classic idea and the classic disaster: it welds the key to the internal pins and the lock is then finished.
If the door is open, leave it open and call. If the door is shut, stand back and let us bring the extraction tools.
How the extraction actually works
We use thin extractors that hook into the key channel and draw the fragment straight out along the line it went in. It takes a few minutes when the break is clean. If the key snapped while turning, the cylinder is left mid rotation and has to be brought back to the neutral position first, which is the part that takes patience rather than force.
Once the fragment is out, we test the lock with the other half or cut a fresh key on the spot. Key cutting is part of what we carry in the van, listed with the rest of our work on our locksmith services page.
Why it broke, and stopping the next one
A key that snaps is usually a symptom. Either the key itself was a worn copy of a copy, or the door has dropped so the bolt no longer lines up with the frame and you have been lifting the door with the key without noticing. Cutting a new key from a worn one repeats the fault, so we cut from the original wherever possible, and we adjust the strike plate if the door has settled.
If the door is locked and you are outside
A key that breaks in a locked door is the harder version of this job, because the fragment has to come out before the lock can be turned at all. It is still usually done without replacing anything. What matters is that nobody tries to force the remaining piece in the meantime, because a fragment pushed deeper or twisted sideways can damage the pins beyond repair and turn a fifteen minute extraction into a full cylinder replacement. Stand back, keep the key half you are holding, and let the extraction tools do the work.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to more questions sit on our locksmith FAQ page.
Does the lock always have to be replaced?
No. In most cases the cylinder survives the extraction and only a new key is needed.
Can you cut a new key without the original?
Often yes, by decoding the cylinder or by using the recovered fragment.
How fast can you reach Bos en Lommer?
Usually within 30 minutes, day or night.
My key breaks off in the shared street door. Who pays?
Shared doors usually fall under the VvE. We can still open it and invoice whoever is responsible.
Is the price fixed beforehand?
Yes. You hear the cost on the phone, and any change is discussed before work begins.
Half a key in your hand?
Call +31 (0)20 210 1986 and a certified locksmith is on the way. For anything that can wait, our contact page is the easier route.
