Hole in bottom of padlock

[Mad Mick]

Wellington boot/Gumboots/whatever you may want to call them.

Under what circumstances would your wellies be full of oil ?

Obviously, you've never worked with a bunch of hairy-assed mechanics! Ever heard of 'apprentice tricks'? A cheeky young guy who I worked with came to work one morning to find his toolbox had been drilled, fitted with a grease nipple, and filled with grease!!

[jason]

I worked in a slaughterhouse once - someone had HOT pepper sauce put in his - I didn't know he had just had minor surgery on an ingrowing toenail - I can still hear his screams when I close my eyes!!

[frollard]

that is quite disasterously HILARIOUS!

back on track though, it is not advisable to put hot-sauce in that little drainage hole.

why? you might ask, well dont. its just a no.

[Ultimatederrenfan]

I have not put up many posts but the few i have have been ok, i allways thought from my little knowledge that it is for lube, sorry if i raked the argument up again but i would feel better if i new what is was, the site backs up the water drainage theory, but yet to find lube, give me a few mins...

[Jow]

Could the hole possibly be to "vent" the air that the depressing shackle would displace? i imagine that a well fitting shackle would act like a piston and would need some method of venting the air....

im not sure if im on track as im not entirely familiar with the construction of padlucks but it seems plausable to me???

[maldotcom2]

Thats a good thought, but then why dont smaller padlocks have it?
I would agree with both drainage AND lubrication, but i think its primarily lubrication because a lot of my 'key in knob' locks on the inside doors of my house also have these small holes too and surely they're not going to get wet.

just a thought....

[skold]

smaller locks are not meant to last long so there is no point worrying about the holes

in Australia locksmiths know them as weep holes and drain water from the lock mechansim ,they also are used for lubrication but primarily for water drainage