Makeshift shim on relatively new Master lock

[Greggor]

Hi, LP101!

Let me begin by saying I'm a beginner. I apologize in advance if what I say seems silly or stupid.

I have a relatively new Master combination-lock. I believe it is less than a year old. Today, I was trying to bypass it with a makeshift shim that I made out of an aluminum can using this method.

This is the shim, after a frustrating battle with the lock:



This is the lock. Note the entryway for the hasp and the minuscule space between the two:



And this is my attempt at using the shim to bypass the lock:



(Sorry about picture quality and crappy editing )

The shim is 2.5 inches X 1 inch and it is made of a normal aluminum can. The cuts were made along a letter "M" pattern along quarter lines (like in the video). This may help clarify it:


The gray parts are cut away. The top segment is folded down. Then the "wings" are folded around the top, leaving the middle spike protruding.

Now with the details out of the way, I'll explain the problem I'm having. I fold the shim around the hasp to make it the right shape, and then I stick the sharp part into the space between the hasp and the hull as far as it will go (which, mind you, is NOT very far at all). Then I twist the shim, holding onto the wings, clockwise, to try and bypass the lock. While I'm doing this twisting motion, the sharp part of the shim slips out of the lock. This happens every time. If I try to force it, the shim crumples and I have to make a new one.

So here's my question. Is this lock "shim-proof", did I make the shim incorrectly, or am I doing something wrong with my technique?

Thanks for reading my wall of text!

-Greg

[MacGyver101]

From your description, it sounds like you're doing everything right. Based on that, you may indeed have one of the new "anti-shim" ones. I was looking over the patent diagrams this past weekend, and it looks like they've made some interesting changes... I've been thinking that it would be interesting to cut one apart and see how well their changes work in practice.

[lock2006]

No i don't think this Master lock is "shim-proof"
you just have to make another one,this one you made look to big
make another one
right size that would do it
the one i made with aluminum can,it keep on bending all the time
did not work well,so i have to buy the real thing and it work fine
hope this helps.

http://www.lockpicks.com/padlockshims.aspx

[nothumbs]

A couple of thoughts on this.

Soda cans don't make great shims. I use .002 or .003 spring steel sheet stock which is more durable.

Your shim needs a slightly longer 'nose'.

Usually this type of lock has some play to the hasp in the vertical direction. While inserting the shim into the space between the hasp and the lock it can help if you, while holding the lock, first pull up on the hasp, insert the shim, then while rotating the shim 180 degrees to bring the 'nose' to the proper location, move the hasp down and up gently. This can help the shim rotate without tearing. Older locks can sometimes also benefit from a very small amount of oil on the hasp where the shim travels as the hasp's surface can sometimes bind the shim.

[lock2006]

A couple of thoughts on this.

Soda cans don't make great shims. I use .002 or .003 spring steel sheet stock which is more durable.

Your shim needs a slightly longer 'nose' .

I agree on that one soda cans don't make great shims.