My Homemade cut-away padlock

[skold]

Jerbz, before you start you may want to heat the padlock with a blow torch or gas stove for 5 - 7 mins then put it in icey cold water to remove the pins, springs and cylinder so that they dont get in the way while you are cutting the padlock

[Jerbz]

Sorry for my ignorance, but how does heating it up and dunking it into ice water remove the pins, springs and cylinder?

[Romstar]

Thermal dynamics 101, and materials science 201.

You want the short version?

Heat metal, and it expands. Cool metal, and it contracts. Because the covering plate over the springs is a different piece, when you drop the lock into the water the smaller piece cools at a much faster rate, and pops out of the lock.

The down side to this is you're about to completely cook your springs, so you will need a few new ones.

It's about the fastest and easiest way to take one of these things apart. It just won't do much for it's appearance.

Romstar

[Jerbz]

Ah yes, i understand the expanding and contracting thing. Just didnt know it would speed up the process that fast . Ill be using my stove, but i cant do it until i buy some replacement springs :s . I dont wanna waste my only lock lol. Well only one that i can pick at that. I have 1 padlock which i can pick, no brand. 2 of the same lock wood locks which were used for security at my dads work and 2 bi-locks (advanced! i wanna get into that section >_< I gotta start being more useful) which are also from my dads work. I havent been successful , but im thinking of doing the heat -> cool process with one of my lockwoods and can study it and practise on my other one. However, on the back of the lock, there is a small plate which is connected to the cylinder. I tried unscrewing it but that totally stuffed up the screws. Using a screwdriver, well....to cut it short, the former phillip heads are now circles . I think ill try drilling the screws till the plate can be removed, and hopefully i can just remove the cylinder from the back.

[skold]

cool process with one of my lockwoods and can study it and practise on my other one. However, on the back of the lock, there is a small plate which is connected to the cylinder. I tried unscrewing it but that totally stuffed up the screws. Using a screwdriver, well....to cut it short, the former phillip heads are now circles . I think ill try drilling the screws till the plate can be removed, and hopefully i can just remove the cylinder from the back

got a number for that lockwood eg 777 or 234

[skold]

while on the subject of springs, they don't neccesarily die, my springs were fine but you may have to give you pins some lube treatment and sand the lock with wet or dry silicon carbide paper.