Shim making guide. with pictures

[njalme]

I made few shims out of some cans like you did in you're tutorial but it didn't work for me. Seems to me like the metal is too soft. I tried on an abus lock and the metal just crumbled together once it hit the 'pin' inside. The metal was thoroughly bended and straightened so I don't think the shims themselves were bad. Must'ave been the metal. Just a hunch but maybe the cans have different thickness in em.

[vitti]

just for those who haven't already read this elsewhere, many padlocks have to be shimmed on both ends of the shackle (one shim in each hole). Many locks have dual latching bolts, one for each end of the shackle. If shimming only one end of the shackle doesn't work, shim the other side too. If the lock can be shimmed, this will do it.

[WOT]

A padlock that can be shimmed is a crappy lock. A quality lock should be shim resistant by design.


Locked. The cam blocks the steel balls from retracting.


Unlocked. Cam is rotated by the cylinder and the spring loaded shackle provides the necessary force to push the balls into the cam and the lock opens.

[dougfarre]

So basically what he is say, is that locks with balls can't be shimmed.

[WOT]

So basically what he is say, is that locks with balls can't be shimmed.

Correct. They're actually called "Dual ball bearing locking mechanism".

More like only crappy toy spring loaded pin padlocks can be shimmed.

[spangecore]

Thanks, i found one design for that but it wasnt very helpful. The pictures helped more than anything.

[saidin]

Just tried out my first shim, looked pretty nice till it broke inside.
Pesky coke can!
But thanks for the guide

[spangecore]

oh. thats why it didn't work. i tried all sorts of different shapes and sizes of shims but all i ever ended up doing is breaking them.

[Gitemstevedave]

Has anyone tried using the banding material you sometimes find around stuff when they ship it. That metal seems like it's strong and yet also thin. Since the stuff I have seen in usually 1 inch wide, it looks like it would be the perfect size.

[Jaakko]

So basically what he is say, is that locks with balls can't be shimmed.

Yeah, tough locks

[Mr. Peach]

I like to make shims out of coffee cans or altoids tins but requires a little more work doing so.
soda can shims sometimes break inside the lock, then i feel like a sad puppy

[BraveHeart.]

can yu make it so i dont have to download it??

[Brianpojo56]

[quote="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
[color=green]---Will work on---
-Master Lock, combo
-Fortress 50mm, keyed
-Brass Crown, Keyed[/color]

[color=red]---Will not work on---
-Dudley, Combo[/color][/quote]

Also works on
American Combo Locks
Any off brand combo made to look the master dial combo

[rat eater]

I tryed to make one but no dice, in fact tryed several times, I guess Im the one Guy that just needs to Order them

[wolfy_9005]

Nice. Any guides with pictures make me happy

Might try it on an old lock i have around here(somewhere....)