What are the signs of a worn key?
As a key wears, the tops of the cuts become rounded, the tip of the key becomes flatter, and the key may become thinner. Keys may also bend or crack as they wear, increasing the chance that they will break inside the lock. When keys wear, it often becomes more difficult to operate the locks, also leading to a higher chance of breaking or bending a key. (Roll over the picture below). In this picture a worn key sits behind a new key. Both keys have the same cuts. Looking closely, you will notice that the ridges on the worn key are not as well defined, and the tip is worn down. The key has also become thinner. Key wear can result in the lock sticking or not working well.
