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Post by akansan on Dec 1, 2007 15:21:17 GMT -5
I locked myself out of my shed! Well, I should say the key to the padlock on the shed was last seen when my nieces and nephews were over last week. All of my tools are inside, including a nice set of bolt cutters, a hack saw, and my dremel.  I don't really want to go out and purchase a new tool just to remove the padlock, so does anyone have any better ideas? I had planned on working on some Christmas related items this weekend and really need in my shed. Help? |
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Post by texaswoodie on Dec 1, 2007 15:37:41 GMT -5
You might try whacking it with a hammer. Crow bar? 352 Magnum? Shotgun? Cannon?
Curt
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KG1960
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2008
Posts: 512
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Post by KG1960 on Dec 1, 2007 15:41:03 GMT -5
Ah, the advantages of a combination lock. If the lock is on a conventional hasp, maybe you could pry it off with a tire wrench from your car. Of course, this would damage the door somewhat. Rent some kind of tool? Good luck!!
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Post by LCARS on Dec 1, 2007 15:58:25 GMT -5
A locksmith could have it off in 30 seconds for $30 if you phone the right one.
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chassroc
Cave Dweller 
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Dec 1, 2007 16:46:49 GMT -5
Try utube look for a padlock siilar to yours, there are lots of ways to break in, Combo locks are the easiest. Padlocks seem pretty easy too
csroc
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Dec 1, 2007 17:08:17 GMT -5
United Rent All / Bolt cutters / No damage to shed !
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earthdog
Cave Dweller
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
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Post by earthdog on Dec 1, 2007 17:54:53 GMT -5
Get yourself a small cup of liquid nitrogen, like the stuff doctors use to freeze off a wart and pour it over the lock, then tap it with a hammer.
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Post by krazydiamond on Dec 1, 2007 18:07:42 GMT -5
assuming it's a wood door....take a regular carpenters hammer (with the curled nail remover ends) and pry off one of the brackets that the padlock holds onto, i chisel mght help with the business end of said hammer to get it started. you'll have buy a new lock and mount it higher/lower afterwards.
KD
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Post by akansan on Dec 1, 2007 18:20:22 GMT -5
Well, borrowed the neighbor's hacksaw, and let's just say I'll be purchasing another pair of bolt cutters on Monday. It would take me that long to cut through this stupid lock! After 10 minutes of sawing, I managed to take off the very outer layer of steel - maybe 1mm...maybe. Either his blade sucks or this is one very good lock. I thought about removing the whole door at the hinges, but decided that might be a bit drastic. The bracket the lock is attached to is a sliding bolt mechanism that is bolted through the door and tightened on the inside. The door is thick too. I've pryed just about every way I can, and the lock isn't budging & the sliding bolt isn't budging. And I checked out utube. I wish I had a cheap combination lock on this thing.  So it's a bolt cutter...or dry ice and a hammer. I wonder if there are any suppliers of dry ice around here? |
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Rockygibraltar
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,404
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Post by Rockygibraltar on Dec 1, 2007 18:30:35 GMT -5
A good lock will be hardened, just as hard as a hack saw blade. It will likely be pretty tough on a bolt cutter as well. I think calling the locksmith will be the best.
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Post by akansan on Dec 1, 2007 18:33:04 GMT -5
Well phooey. I hate having to call the locksmith because I always feel so stupid. (Let's just say in my teens and early 20s I paid a lot of locksmiths to get my keys out of the car.  ) |
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Post by LCARS on Dec 1, 2007 19:04:06 GMT -5
So what's one more time for old time's sake? ;D
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Post by docone31 on Dec 2, 2007 21:40:54 GMT -5
This is a very simple situation.
Just remove the lock, put it into a bucket with two gallons of muriatic acid. leave it in there for two days. Take the lock out and carefully move the latch. Put the lock back on the hasp, click it shut, and then take out the hacksaw. It should go through the hasp fairly quickly.
The muriatic acid should remove the hardening on the hasp enough so you can cut it with an hacksaw.
Good luck.
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Post by docone31 on Dec 2, 2007 21:46:25 GMT -5
Another solution, I forgot to add this to the first one.
Get about 100 ft., of 1/2" chain. Shackle one end to the lock, wrap the other end around the rear end housing of your auto. Make sure the vehicle is real close to the shed. You want plenty of slack.
Connect both ends of the chain, one to the lock, one to the vehicle. Put one foot on the brake, one flooring the accelerator. Once the engine reaches top rpms., for the load, quickly release the brakes and go as straight as possible. Listen for the small "tap" as the lock yields. You want to be going fast enough so the chain does not hit the vehicle.
This should remove the lock. Hopefully, it will also snap the bolts that hold the latch plate cleanly off. Any furrows in the yard can be easily raked smooth when the door is open.
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Post by akansan on Dec 2, 2007 21:58:26 GMT -5
LOL Doc! Tell you what, once I get the lock off the door, I'll throw it into the muriatic acid just for you.  Seriously, I'm getting a price from the locksmith in the morning. And then if I can get a Dremel for the same price (which my family is convinced I can), I might just purchase a second Dremel with a cutting disc. I suppose this would give me one Dremel for a (future purchase) drill press stand or router stand, and then one dremel to hook up to the (future purchase) hand tool. |
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Post by docone31 on Dec 2, 2007 22:48:09 GMT -5
The dremel with the cut off wheels will make short work of the lock. I didn't think of that. Use use the wheels that come with the dremel kit, not a diamond cut off wheel. Diamond does not cut steel as well as the fiber cut off wheels.
Use VERY high speed, go slowly. You will break a bunch of them, they break like potatoe chips, but do not let the steel heat up. It will cut quicker that way.
Good luck. With the dremel, you will not have to fill any divots the auto will make on the lawn.
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Post by akansan on Dec 2, 2007 22:59:50 GMT -5
Rockitman - I thought about that. In fact, the one tool that isn't in my shed is my jig saw, and I thought about using that as well. I just couldn't get anyone to agree to hold the lock in place while I tried to cut it with my jig saw! (And yes, my circular saw is in the shed as well. ) |
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Post by docone31 on Dec 2, 2007 23:10:18 GMT -5
That is where the chain and auto will come in. Attach the lock to the auto, make a go at it, get the lock, get the saw from the shed, cut the lock.
Problem solved.
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Post by snowdog on Dec 3, 2007 9:50:00 GMT -5
would one of your neighbors have a 4" mini-grinder ? ---- I just bought some blades for one of them ( $1.59/each for metal cutting) ---get one of the thin ones @1/8"--- one blade should be enough to cut the lock ------ or you could buy the mini-grinder (@ $40 ) and not have to tell anyone what you are doing ------- later you could keep it hidden in the basement for future use ! ;D
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garock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,168
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Post by garock on Dec 3, 2007 16:24:09 GMT -5
Ms Akansan: Bout 20 years ago, I done bank security alarm work here in Georgia. Of all the "stupid" things for me to do was to lock my service truck keys inside the cab. Had to call a locksmith to come get them out for me. I felt really dump!!!! I was at a bank on a service call too. So don't feel to bad. Take Care
Still Digging in the Very Dry Georgia Dirt, Frank (GaRock)
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