Shim making guide. with pictures

[unbreakable]

Here's my guide to making shims out of pop cans!!

http://www.freewebs.com/unbreakable101/Lockpicking%20files/Shims.pdf

It's in PDF format, and it includes Pictures and text. After having never seen a guide on making shims before, and after seeing a few posts from inquiring minds asking how to make shims, I decided that I should spend at least some of my Christmas break doing something useful.

So here it is. Even if you already know how to make shims, please take a look anyway, and point out anything that I missed in including, that I did wrong (spelling and gramar!!), or any other general feedback that you have.

Thanks,
Unbreakable

[Exodus5000]

Nice, that illustrates pretty much the same method I use for making shims. The only thing I can think of adding is a list of combo or padlocks it will work on. Good use of some down time unbreakable .

[webidiot2]

Great work!!

[stlbolt]

hmm looks like the same as the other guide that was posted... Nice work though.

[Badmonkey005]

I like that guide better. More descriptive.

[illusion]

nice one mate

decent photos and instructions, and well explained

[NKT]

I have to ask what the point of all the cutting the base up is? You will save a lot of time and effort, and your knife/scissors if you just chop around the top and bottom edges, rather than going through the rather tougher base!

[Chrispy]

I love guides in PDF.

Well done.

[unbreakable]

Thanks for your feedback everyone.

To NKT- the point of cutting up the base like shown is so that you waste the least amount of useable metal possible. When you do it the way I showed, you waste practically none of the useable sheet metal. I see your point about it being tough to cut, although I can't say that I really had any trouble cutting thru it with my tin snips. I see your point, and I'll mention in the guide that making the + isnt necessary if its too difficult to do, or if they just don't want to do it.

I have another request for everyone. Could you plesae post the names of any locks that you know homemade shims will work on, or the names of any locks that yo know they will not work on.

Here's all that I know of
---Will work on---
-Master Lock, combo
-Fortress 50mm, keyed
-Brass Crown, Keyed

---Will not work on---
-Dudley, Combo

[Exodus5000]

Only lock I've ever tried to shim was a Brinks combo, and it shims very easily.

[ryank]

I liked this post very much and found it quite useful. I would like to add my own personal twist to maybe help out a bit. instead of using a pop/soda cans you can use a aerosol can such as a krylon can. In turn you get a stronger shim and it is made out of steel instead of aluminum. I would also like everybody to know they must use extreme caution when using this method to make shims. Please ensure all pressure is released from aersol can before drilling or cutting a hole in the can. you can do so by putting tape over spray cap and taping it to sides of can and leaving it sit a day or two to be extra safe.

Thanks much for the post!

[2hammers]

I made some and tried it today on a"Ace" big brass padlock I found at work and it didn't work.
Gutted!!

[triman247]

Nice. I'll make them now. I have 45 minutes to wait before 12 Oz. Mouse starts. What better than to make some padlock shims?


triman

[SS454]

After reading this thread, I tried the shims.
No luck. I think someone said that it depends on the lock.

Is it mostly cheap locks that this works for? And if so, why not just pick 'em?

[jordyh]

After reading this thread, I tried the shims.
No luck. I think someone said that it depends on the lock.

Is it mostly cheap locks that this works for? And if so, why not just pick 'em?

I can't pick my Tricircle padlock yet, but i can shim it.
With the shims being made with this tutorial (thanks for that by the way).

It depends on the locking mechanism.
If it has roller balls to lock, say goodbye to your shims.

Older padlocks (and cheaper ones) will most certainly give way after a little bit of practice.


Yours,


Me