Cutting a stainless steel padlock shackle ?

sarabande

sarabande

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 May 2005
Messages
36,182
Visit site
NO, I am not diversifying into a life of crime...

A very old ABUS padlock (brass body, stainless shackle) has rusted solid internally. Foolishly I did not change it earlier this summer when it was playing up, so I now need to cut the shackle so that I can get into the locker.

My boat Bahco hacksaw with decent bi-metallic saw blades will not touch the shackle, and the chandlery says I need a special blade. Like wot they don't have.


Short of a hydraulic shear or a small tactical nuclear weapon, what is the best blade to use in the hacksaw and where can I easily buy it pls ?


TIA
 
Grinding disc.
I have a £30 Lidl/aldi Li-Ion grinder which is very good for that sort of thing.

A tile cutting carbide grit blade is an option for the hacksaw, or of course, cut the brass body not the shackle.

Chemical weapons? Alum?
 
I would suggest and angle grinder, either mains or cordless, depending on location, (protect the surrounding area from metal filings which could stain the GRP).
Reviews of stainless padlocks in fairly recent magazines have noted that most of them succumb to such treatment within a relatively short number of seconds.
 
Can you get a blow torch on it without colateral damage? Get it hot, then pour releasing fluid of choice. Likely the key will work then.
 
If you can turn the key and it is just the shackle stuck in the body, you need to set up some sort of pressure if you can on the shackle. I have used 2 very large screw drivers then hit the body as said. Circlip pliars work to open when you squeeze the handles and may be useful to try but may be too small. Of course some solvent penetrant will help. Having 2 people one to hit the body 2 hammers and one to apply pressure on the shackle. Of course ultimately you will have cut the shackle with an angle grinder. ol'will
 
sarabande said:
My boat Bahco hacksaw with decent bi-metallic saw blades will not touch the shackle, and the chandlery says I need a special blade. Like wot they don't have.


Short of a hydraulic shear or a small tactical nuclear weapon, what is the best blade to use in the hacksaw and where can I easily buy it pls ?


TIA
Click to expand...


If your hacksaw will not cut the hasp its NOT stainless steel. 300 series stainless si quite soft. Its most likely hardened high carbon steel.

Bolt cutters will cut it but I would use a battery angle grinder as all good thieves carry these days.
 
sarabande said:
What an amazing selection of Practical Boating skills my fellow forumites have !
Click to expand...

That's very diplomatic, Sarabande! Still, I suppose just as lock-busting techniques like this are freely, widely, continuously propagated on Youtube, the lock-manufacturers can look to defy these techniques by sturdier or cleverer design and construction. Providing we as customers no longer buy the redundant conventional design.
 
Thats I don't use pad locks on my wash boards.

I use one of either of these

1578052570814.jpeg


91apHgPQG-L._AC_SY450_.jpg
 
sarabande said:
What an amazing selection of Practical Boating skills my fellow forumites have ! Thanks .

Click to expand...
Indeed, although I think whatever was locked in that tree on the third lock in the video would have been safer if they had camaoflaged it a little!

What it shows is that all the "since battery powered grinders arrived - security is pointless" is a bit false. This was probably quicker. Quieter. Less obvious as a tool of thievery. And been around for years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJE
Mix. atf and acetone 50/50 and put a few drops into the key hole... Leave for a while and good chance it will come loose. This is the mixture that car enthusiasts use to free up rusted engines. I used it many times and most recently on my engine mounts which were rusted solid....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top