Replies

1. 
   IMERC | Jul 18, 2004 02:54am | #1

   Dremel and cut off blade...

   Angle grinder and grinding wheel...

   Take tension off the lock and give the thin side a sharp rap with a ball-pien.. 

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....

                                                                      WOW!!!   What a Ride!
   

1. 
   UncleDunc | Jul 18, 2004 03:05am | #2

   Victor wrench.

1. 
   IMERC | Jul 18, 2004 03:09am | #3

   wrecking bar

   axe

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....                                                                   WOW!!!   What a Ride!

2. 
   4Lorn1 | Jul 18, 2004 03:41am | #4

   Any decent sized and quality, some cheap Chinese models have under or over hardened jaws that deform or shatter when used on good quality steel, bolt cutters will take off the majority of commonly used locks. Most better quality models will have a rating, usually in terms of both soft and medium hard steels. The larger the size the better the leverage you get. Get one with compound leverage mechanism and by a reputable manufacturer.

   A cut-off disc in a drill, dremel or side grinder will cut most any hasp. Be sure to wear safety glasses as these discs throw sparks and sometimes shatter in use.

   An oxy-acetylene torch or a stick welder with a cutting rod will make short work of just about any lock hasp. Eye protection is a must.

   Most lock hasps are pretty easy to cut with a fresh, good quality bimetal, blade in a hacksaw. Immobilize the body with a large set of Vise-Grips and it shouldn't take more than about thirty seconds per side. Military grade locks often are much harder to saw, requiring carbide tipped blades, but there aren't many of these around. Sawing is also fairly quiet if this is a consideration.

   Also consider freezing and shattering. Dry ice is cold enough to embrittle most steels. Nitrogen and freon are also options. Spray cans used to freeze bubble gum out of carpets, available at most cleaning supply places, is a favorite method. Once frozen a sharp blow with a hammer shatters the hasp.

   Cheap locks, even some that are quite expensive, are often easy to open with a simple hammer. A sharp downward blow on the juncture of the hasp and body and the lock opens.

   Prying is often a good method. A narrow pry bar, a Halligan bar is the preferred tool, is inserted into the hasp and twisted. If the hasp on the door is weaker than the lock it often gives up first requiring later repair. If it is strong the hasp on the lock twists disengages and opens. Harder if the hasp is locked on both sides.

   Wedging and picking are also options but these take specialized tools and some specialized, but not entirely arcane or unlearnable, skills. Time and skill is the quantities your dealing with.

   Most locks are show. Designed to delay, deter, and intimidate.

   Edited for clarity.

   
   

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   Edited 7/17/2004 8:43 pm ET by 4LORN1

1. 
   DanH | Jul 18, 2004 04:33am | #5

   Yeah, picking isn't all that hard, and can usually be done with improvised tools, but a padlock tends to be harder than most other kinds simply because it won't stand still.

2. 
   CTI | Jul 18, 2004 04:36am | #6

   Thanks. I'll be back in a few weeks once I look up all these terms. In the interim I will buy one, unless the hardware store is twice the price, asking if it is guaranteed to cut a lock of "x" size. You are right that I could dismantle the hasp on the door. The joy of an aging house.

1. 
   4Lorn1 | Jul 18, 2004 05:10am | #7

   The rating as to what the cutter will handle reliably is often printed on the side of better made models. I have very little need, otherwise, of a bolt cutter. If one is at hand it is nice and quick but on most jobs the tool I have handy is a hacksaw. That and a set of Vise-Grips, to hold the lock still and prevent the blade from binding, has never failed me on the typically unremarkable job site locks.

3. 
   DougU | Jul 18, 2004 06:20am | #8

   My ex FIL used to lose the keys to his locks all the time, we used to call the bolt cutters the "master key", just some cheap pair from the big box store, always cut through the Master locks, and we did it weekly.

1. 
   CTI | Jul 18, 2004 08:08am | #9

   Well I'll buy one unless it's extremely expensive. I doubt I'd need it again except for cutting through locks with lost keys. We'll see how it works. Thanks everyone.