Broken Key Extraction in Indianapolis

In the large majority of cases, yes. Purpose-made extractor tools grip the fragment and pull it straight out along the keyway without disturbing the wafers or pins. Lock replacement only becomes necessary if the break was caused by an already-failing cylinder or if someone has previously tried to force it out.

No. Needle-nose pliers usually push the fragment deeper, and superglue is worse — it bonds the fragment to the internal wafers and turns a straightforward extraction into a full cylinder replacement. Leave the fragment in place and call.

Almost always metal fatigue. Keys work-harden over years of turning and eventually crack, usually at the shoulder where the blade meets the head. Copies of copies are more brittle than originals. A key that has started to bend or feel loose in the lock is close to failing and should be replaced.

Usually yes, if you still have the head section. The two halves are aligned and the cuts are read to produce a new key. If the head is lost, the key can instead be cut from the lock code by decoding the cylinder, or from the VIN on a vehicle.

Yes. Padlocks, mailbox locks, filing cabinets, desk drawers and gate locks are all serviceable. Small wafer locks like mailbox and cabinet cylinders are more delicate than door locks, so extraction is done carefully to avoid bending the thin wafers.