Has the lock on your armoured door jammed?

Hello, I’m Mauro from Ariete Security Doors, and today I’ll show you how to fix a jammed lock on your armoured door.

In this article we’ll discover together that, in 99% of cases, this problem comes down to one of the four most common causes.

As you read on, you’ll find that three of these four problems can be sorted out in seconds, while the last one calls for a specialist technician.

Read it all the way through, results guaranteed!

Jammed Armoured Door Lock: How Do You Open It?

If your key suddenly won’t turn and you can’t open your armoured door, it could be down to one of these causes:

1. The key is stuck in the lock
2. There is a key inserted on the inside of the door
3. The key has snapped inside the lock
4. The cylinder is damaged

Don’t worry, these are very common problems, especially with an old lock.

Let’s look at them one by one.

Problem No.1: Key stuck in the lock

You should know that modern keys have small holes which, over time, can become dirty and clogged with dust.

When that happens, the key goes in with difficulty and turns stiffly.

What’s the solution?

To fix this problem, the only answer is lubricating the lock with specific products:

1. WD40
2. Powdered graphite

1. WD40

WD40 is probably the best lubricant for armoured door locks I’ve tried in more than 30 years on the job.

To use it properly, just follow these three simple steps:

1. Spray the lubricant into the keyhole (don’t use too much, because if it leaks out of the lock it could stain your door)
2. Spray the lubricant onto the key.
3. Insert and withdraw the key from the lock two or three times. This way you’ll spread the lubricant inside the lock.

If the key still doesn’t go in properly, spray a little more WD40 into the lock.

Try inserting the key again. At this point the armoured door lock should work perfectly.

You can find WD40 for a few euros in any hardware shop or on Amazon.

2. Powdered graphite

An alternative to WD40 is powdered graphite.

Graphite is the material a pencil tip is made of, and it’s one of the products most widely used in the past to lubricate locks.

If you go to an “old-school” hardware shop, they’ll no doubt recommend powdered graphite.

It’s ideal because the powder clings to the metal, lubricating without leaving a greasy film (so it won’t pick up dust or other residue) and without damaging the small pins inside the lock.

How do you use powdered graphite?

To lubricate locks, follow these three simple steps:

1. Insert the tip of the powdered graphite tube into the lock.
2. Squeeze the tube a couple of times. Don’t use too much, even small amounts will be effective for a long time.
3. Insert and withdraw the key from the lock two or three times.

This is how you can tell whether the graphite has worked: if the key still goes in with difficulty, add a little more graphite and try again.

At this point the lock should work perfectly.

Below I’ve left you the video that explains step by step how to lubricate the lock on your armoured door.

Problem No.2: Key inserted from the inside

On older locks, if someone inserts a key from the inside, the cylinder cannot be turned from the outside.

Here’s the solution:

You’ll simply need to ask the person inside your home to remove the key from the door.

If there’s no one at home, you’ll have to contact a specialist technician, who will drill out the cylinder to open the door.

Problem No.3: Key snapped inside the lock

If the key has snapped inside the cylinder of your door, you’ll have no choice but to remove the broken key.

The simplest solution?

To remove the broken key, I’d suggest getting hold of a crochet hook (the kind used for knitting).

Just insert it into the lower part of the plug where the teeth of the key sit and pull out the broken piece.

I’ve covered this problem in more depth in this article: Broken key in the lock

Problem No.4: Damaged cylinder

Well, if you’ve got this far without managing to solve the problem, I’ve got bad news for you: this is in fact the worst case.

If the cylinder is old or has been forced, it may have suffered damage that prevents it from opening.

There’s only one solution to this problem: you’ll need to call a specialist technician who will drill out the cylinder to open the jammed armoured door.

At that point you’ll need to go ahead with replacing the cylinder.

Conclusion

With this article I hope I’ve solved your jammed lock problem.

If not, leave a comment below explaining your specific issue (try to be as detailed as possible so you help me understand the problem properly) and I’ll do my best to help you.

If, on the other hand, this article was useful, subscribe to our YouTube channel (click here) where you’ll find more video tutorials on how to adjust your armoured door.

Cheers from Mauro
See you next time