Non-destructive disassembly of padlocks

[eric343]

While reading a work on "hacking" at MIT (not computer hacking -- look it up), I came across the technique of disassembling a high-security lock by packing it in sand and heating it until it gets hot enough that the metal expands and can be taken apart.

Here's the original text:
"You pack them in sand and bake them until they're really hot. At that point, the metal has expanded to the point where you can knock out these two structural pins and the lock comes apart. Then, when you're done messing with it, you reheat it and knock the pins back in."

From "Is This The Way to Baker House?"

[cormu]

well the easyest way i have found is to buy a rekeyable padlock, it is made to be dismaneled and sure is intresting
I have posted some pics of my rekeyable abloy somewhere in the forums if u wanna have a look do a search for abloy and my username

[technik]

are abloys easy to come by? I havent seen any in the hardware store, I prbly sound like an idiot. Id love to have a go at a rekeyable one. Any particular places you can get them?

[technik]

Does this yale have the rotating discs? Or is it just a basic pin tumbler system? Can someone give me some feedback, like is it re-keyable etc. Anyone own one of these?



Thanks alot guys, appreciate it

Technik

[Varjeal]

No rotating discs in that padlock. To see if it's (easily) rekeyable, simply unlock the padlock and look into the hole where the toe of the shackle was. If you see a screwhead of sometype, like a hex, phillips, or flat head, the lock is considered rekeyable.

[technik]

sorry guys, dunno what I was thinkin. It was late and I had just been looking at some abloy videos, then saw cormus old dissasembly of an Abloy lock, and had abloys on the mind. Does anyone own one of these? I dont actually have the same one in my possesion, but I think I can buy the same model from somewhere else, and was wondering if I should buy. I want to buy it for the pyramid learning thing, so has anyone got one of these, and is it possible to remove the pins and get into the lock and take pins out with ease.

Thanks guys,

Technik

[scientist]

There actually are ways of rekeying almost any padlock....even the "solid brass" ones. This is from a locksmiths manual(not quoted word for word, best of my memory)

First was the multi-layered lock, I am sure everyone has seen them...they are what made Masterlock famous, as the multiple layers worked better then a solid steel layer. Anyhow, the rivet that holds these plates together is relatively soft soo....Take a punch, make a dent in the center of each one, and drill a hole deep enough so you can collapse the rivet in on itself: not enough that the rivet head is destroyed. Then use tape to hold the plates together and put tention on the rivets using a screwdriver(alot of locks have an indentation for the plastic brand...use that). After the rivets are removed, place wire through the holes to keep the plates in order, and loosen them apart. If I recall, its just a regular lock underneath

Solid brass locks have two types: Those that have plugs on the side of the lock that hold the spring in place, and those that have a plate on the bottom that holds the lock in place. If you open the lock, and look where the "shoe" of the shackle goes in (the part that has a hole when the lock is open), if you can see a bottom that is plate-like, take a screwdriver and a hammer and bang the plate out, it should release the lock for further messing around with. If the hole has a solid bottom, look where the springs for the lock would be(on the "top" of the lock cylinder). I like to rough up the surface a bit before looking, but usually they are visible...especially in older locks. Use a drill bit and a broken bit remover to remove the plugs (think about it...), and then the springs can be removed...I *think* the last one was the "locking pin" and allowed the cylinder to be romved from the lock...not sure. Use brass wire and a file to replace the plugs

Try that, someone tell me about luck. When I did it the first time I didnt read the directions fully and instead messed up the lock by pounding the plugs *in*...which made the first pin unmovable, and unreachable. I finally chucked the lock as a $5 loss

-sCi

[Mad Mick]

I wrote a couple of tutorials on both of these methods here:

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