Author Topic: Breaking open a padlock with 6mm diam hardened steel clasp. (Read 10271 times)

Manotea · « **on:** 10 January, 2011, 11:31:48 pm »

Advice please.

Baby bolt cutters simply don't do it. Would a hacksaw be a waste of time or do I need to find some BAMF Bolt Cutters of the type adorned by bicycle thieves and action movie heroes?

Wowbagger · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 January, 2011, 11:34:09 pm »

I'm sure Jurek will be along in a moment to give you the benefit of his vast experience in these matters.

Manotea · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 January, 2011, 11:46:59 pm »

I now know a lot more about breaking open cheap padlocks with shims made from coke cans. Unfortunately this is not a cheap padlock.

Ian H · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 January, 2011, 11:54:34 pm »

Depending what kind of design is you may be able to hit it wiv a big hammer. The weakest point is often the actual locking mechanism. It might work if you can get a square swing at it in the direction of opening, with or without a drift or similar.

Kim · « **Reply #4 on:** 11 January, 2011, 12:07:42 am »

Thermite.

andrew_s · « **Reply #5 on:** 11 January, 2011, 12:34:28 am »

It can be done with a hacksaw, but it takes quite a while, and some extra blades. The difficult bit is getting started. The one I did took 2 hours (on a shipping container).
The trouble with sledgehammers is that it's easy to damage what's being locked, or flatten the hasps so you can't put a new lock on.

robgul · « **Reply #6 on:** 11 January, 2011, 08:59:39 am »

Assuming it's within reach of electricity an angle grinder (ideally with a thinnish cutting disc) should do the job - if you can't cut through the hasp, you could probably cut away enough of the padlock casing to release it - don't forget to wear eye-protection when doing it!

Rob

border-rider · « **Reply #7 on:** 11 January, 2011, 09:01:52 am »

Angle grinder +1

I had exactly this problem a few months ago when the huge padlock on the garage broke and couldn't be opened.

Butterfly · « **Reply #8 on:** 11 January, 2011, 09:48:25 am »

Have you tried picking it with a hairpin? You can sometimes wiggle quite a tough looking lock open.

Greenbank · « **Reply #9 on:** 11 January, 2011, 09:52:49 am »

If the thing it's locked to is portable then take it to a bike shop or garage and they'll get it off with an angle grinder.

Not sure if a cutting disk attached to a normal power drill would be up to it but may be worth a shot.

Angle grinders available from HSS and similar places.

eck · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 January, 2011, 09:58:11 am »

Just for comparison, we had to get a locksmith to come and free somebody's bike, shackled to a railing with a U lock.
He used a battery-powered angle grinder, and charged £40. Probably cheaper than buying HBFO bolt-cutters or an angle grinder, although hiring an angle grinder may be an option? $:-\$

interzen · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 January, 2011, 09:59:30 am »

Quote from: Greenbank on 11 January, 2011, 09:52:49 am

If the thing it's locked to is portable then take it to a bike shop or garage and they'll get it off with an angle grinder.

Not sure if a cutting disk attached to a normal power drill would be up to it...

+1 to the angle-grinder suggestion.
I had to do this once when the cylinder mechanism on an an old Kryptonite lock decided to self-destruct and the key got thoroughly jammed. 10 seconds (literally) with the angle-grinder at the village garage and job was a good 'un. Garage charged me a fiver.

Never understimate the usefulness of Unfeasibly Large Power Tools[tm]

andygates · « **Reply #12 on:** 11 January, 2011, 10:28:55 am »

Yeah, but thermite is more fun.

Blade · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 January, 2011, 05:38:43 pm »

Angle grinder will do the job in no time at all.

However, if you haven't got access to an angle grinder but do have access to a mains electricity supply and a power drill, you can buy a grinding stick for around £1.50p which you can use to grind away a portion of the hardened hasp.

PeteB99 · « **Reply #14 on:** 11 January, 2011, 05:51:52 pm »

As Ian suggested up thread smashing the lock and hasp apart using a lump hammer and cold chisel is usually easier than sawing through a hardened steel hasp.

Needs access and someway of bracing the lock while you hit it though.

drossall · « **Reply #15 on:** 11 January, 2011, 08:45:25 pm »

What's the body of the lock made of?

I had a brass padlock rust up on the shed. I sawed through the body rather than the hasp. Took seconds. Frightening. My work bike was in there...

Cunobelin · « **Reply #16 on:** 11 January, 2011, 09:50:18 pm »

Quote from: Manotea on 10 January, 2011, 11:31:48 pm

Advice please.

Baby bolt cutters simply don't do it. Would a hacksaw be a waste of time or do I need to find some BAMF Bolt Cutters of the type adorned by bicycle thieves and action movie heroes?

In the spirit of movie heroes.....

Shoot it?

Jurek · « **Reply #17 on:** 11 January, 2011, 09:56:29 pm »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 10 January, 2011, 11:34:09 pm

I'm sure Jurek will be along in a moment to give you the benefit of his vast experience in these matters.

OK. So I'm late here.
Thermite, hammers and hacksaws are all a load of bollox.
Fun.
But bollox.

Angle grinder (as mentioned upthread) is the correct answer here.
With eye protection.
With consideration given to protection where the sparks fall - sparks will do irreparable damage to many surfaces, including glass.
Shielding is required.
That is all.

Oh, and don't leave any open containers of evo-stik, petrol, thinners or other volatile stuff anywhere near spark-flying distance.

Charlotte · « **Reply #18 on:** 11 January, 2011, 10:12:17 pm »

You can buy a cheapy angle grinder for as little as a shade over fifteen quid at B&Q. Spend £25 or so and it'll actually be a half decent bit of kit, but even the bargain basement one should sort your little problem.

As Jurek says, though - don't skimp on PPE. Goggles, gloves, ear protection and watch out where the sparks fall.

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #19 on:** 11 January, 2011, 10:25:21 pm »

You could always try drilling into the tumbler, I've done that with Abus Discus locks when I've lost the key.

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #20 on:** 11 January, 2011, 10:29:27 pm »

good hacksaw blades will go through it. You just need the right blade.

David Martin · « **Reply #21 on:** 11 January, 2011, 10:58:50 pm »

Liquid nitrogen and a cold chisel with a large persuader should be a fun way to do the necessary.

Angle grinder as per Jurek is OK, but not so much fun as chemistry.

..d

hairyhippy · « **Reply #22 on:** 12 January, 2011, 05:46:04 pm »

2nd here for drilling into the tumbler.

Manotea · « **Reply #23 on:** 13 January, 2011, 10:47:12 am »

Given that I was in a hurry, concerned about damaging municpal property, have never used an angle grinder and most importantly, the last time I used a cutting tool featuring a high speed rotating disk I nearly cut my hand off, I called a locksmith at vast cost to do the business. He used a battery powered angle grinder which did the job in seconds amidst a shower of sparks. He had obviously done this enough times before to feel there was no need for any safety equipment. Rather him than me.

I find angle grinders a bit scary, tbh. I'm wondering if a cutting disk on a dremmel would have done the job. More my size.

Charlotte · « **Reply #24 on:** 13 January, 2011, 10:50:34 am »

Angle grinders aren't in the least bit scary. What scares me is seeing someone using one without giving a thought to how she can hurt herself using the bloody thing.

Author Topic: Breaking open a padlock with 6mm diam hardened steel clasp. (Read 10271 times)

border-rider