Medium security padlocks

[Evan]

Besides Master, what other reputable padlock manufacturers are there state side? I recently observed a friend shell out over $50 for a trio of Master locks. What can I offer in the same or slightly elevated price range that I can't rake open in under a minute?

I believe that the construction (solid body, hardened shackle, ball bearing to stop shims) is solid, but the cylinder is without a doubt incredibly low quality. I find it had to believe that the keys even work.

If this was a high security situation I could justify recommending a couple of Abloy locks, but it's not. It's medium security for a small business. What else is there?

Hey Josh K:

Are you looking for something out of the box where you order it and it comes fully assembled ready to be used ??? If that is the case then it is a matter of how much money you are willing to spend and how quickly you need the locks...

Datagram offered some great advice:

I would consider the Master lines all low security, with Abloy and Bilock being the only truly accessible "high security" padlocks in the US. Others have their share of problems or are quite hard to get keys made for. [...] Some others that are medium security and probably good enough for 99% of applications are:

BEST SFIC
Medeco Biaxial
Schlage Primus
[...]

If you're luck you can find ASSA Twin locks, as well, with all models in the series being at minimum medium security.

I agree with his recommendations, ASSA is a good lock, so are the Medeco... They are expensive though... Schlage Primus is a good upgrade for a standard padlock... The problem with the better padlock cylinders is that they COST a lot of money... A Schlage Primus LFIC cylinder alone costs more than most padlocks alone, then you have to buy a padlock it will fit inside... The same situation applies to Medeco LFIC and the others... Even with an SFIC padlock you run into the costs of the core AND the padlock it fits into...

A good idea for SFIC locks to beef up security slightly is to use a rare keyway and pin the core using the spool bottom and top pins, using hardened stainless steel pins in the first two chambers of the core, and installing small hardened ball bearings in the throw pin holes to add some drill resistance... This will add some security to the core, but why would you do all of that if it is a standard keyway someone could easily cut a bump key for... You would have to obtain the security and drill resistant pins for the BEST cores from BEST through a locksmith supply house...

So, several here have offered some general opinions as to what "medium security padlocks" you could use but its more of a question of how much money and time you want to put into ordering and assembling a more secure padlock vs. the "ready off the shelf" box packs that Master and American offer cheaply...

~~ Evan

[nataz]

as for the OP, I'm curious why the focus has been on the quality of the cylinder. If you are looking at the 50 dollar price range, you aren't worried about picking - or at least you shouldn't be. You should be worried about bolt cutters. Instead of looking at hard to pick locks, I'd look for cheap shrouded locks.

[Evan]

@Nataz:


"$50 for a trio of Master Locks"

Which would put the pricepoint just under $17 each...

~~ Evan

[Josh K]

as for the OP, I'm curious why the focus has been on the quality of the cylinder. If you are looking at the 50 dollar price range, you aren't worried about picking - or at least you shouldn't be. You should be worried about bolt cutters. Instead of looking at hard to pick locks, I'd look for cheap shrouded locks.

Most of the property (commercial) is insured, as is the product and the supplies. I'm less worried about someone bringing a pair of bolt cutters. Locks are a deterrent, I know this. If someone absolutely wants it they will find a way to get it, no matter what's in the way.

I'm looking for something that's simply a step up. Solid steel, moderate pick resistance, etc. Looks like American would be the way to go, after that look for some empty padlocks and some high security cores.

[nataz]

Ah, I think I get it.

You're not worried about bolt cutters because that would be an obvious insurance claim.

taking this to an extreme, I wonder if there is a padlock that could record how many times it was opened. Something like a small electronic counter that recorded how many times it lost contact between a contact point on the shackle and the body.

Obviously there are more complex locks that record access, but I'm thinking something more simple, and perhaps surreptitious to help limit the threat of bypass of the counter from a casual picker.

Another form of access control would entail something disposable that would show a lock has been opened. I've seen different dyes and markers that get disturbed on moving mechanisms if a lock is opened. The downside of that is if its an insider threat, its possible they will just replace whatever was used afterwards, but again it would protect from a casual thief.

What you used would also depend on how often you needed to access that material.

Now I'm curious. If you aren't worried about insurance claims, what’s the best (cheapest) detector for tampering with a lock?

[Josh K]

Ah, I think I get it.

You're not worried about bolt cutters because that would be an obvious insurance claim.

taking this to an extreme, I wonder if there is a padlock that could record how many times it was opened. Something like a small electronic counter that recorded how many times it lost contact between a contact point on the shackle and the body.

Obviously there are more complex locks that record access, but I'm thinking something more simple, and perhaps surreptitious to help limit the threat of bypass of the counter from a casual picker.

Another form of access control would entail something disposable that would show a lock has been opened. I've seen different dyes and markers that get disturbed on moving mechanisms if a lock is opened. The downside of that is if its an insider threat, its possible they will just replace whatever was used afterwards, but again it would protect from a casual thief.

What you used would also depend on how often you needed to access that material.

Now I'm curious. If you aren't worried about insurance claims, what’s the best (cheapest) detector for tampering with a lock?

Well the cheapest would be to buy some of those numbered plugs they use on shipping containers. I don't want to file an insurance claim. I want to deter but at the same time if someone does come in, I want them to have to be unable to open it without leaving some sign of visible damage. I also want to be able to realistically recommend this lock to other people. If it was just my personal use, some 9/16" boron chain with an Abloy 350 would be great. I love overkill. Telling other people to spend $200-$300 to secure something isn't going to fly.

[inverseentropy]

I find that Brinks padlocks give me more trouble than Abus or American. The American locks are high quality but they are built so nice that they end up being quite easy to feel once you get the hang of it. Brinks has a dog spring on the cylinder that significantly complicates picking (for me at least) and the pins are rough enough that it is not quite so easy to tell what is going on. Like Abus, they are full of spool pins. The Fred Meyers in my town sells them for just slightly over the price of Master padlocks.

[Klaiviel]

Josh K, try these out http://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Heavy- ... 858&sr=8-2 I just recommended them in another thread but I think they fit the bill perfectly and they are only $7 a piece. The shackle has Molybdenum in the steel and measures .440" in diameter. It locks with 2 ball bearings so it can't be shimmed. The cylinder is removable and contains 6 pins: 5 spool drivers + 1 regular driver and 5 serrated key pins (one of which is an anti-drill pin) + 1 regular key pin. This thing is pretty beefy it weighs about the same as my S&G 8077. The only place I know of that sells it is Amazon as Kryptonite has stopped making them. I would highly recommend it for your application, I have yet to successfully open one via picking.

[Josh K]

Josh K, try these out http://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Heavy- ... 858&sr=8-2 I just recommended them in another thread but I think they fit the bill perfectly and they are only $7 a piece. The shackle has Molybdenum in the steel and measures .440" in diameter. It locks with 2 ball bearings so it can't be shimmed. The cylinder is removable and contains 6 pins: 5 spool drivers + 1 regular driver and 5 serrated key pins (one of which is an anti-drill pin) + 1 regular key pin. This thing is pretty beefy it weighs about the same as my S&G 8077. The only place I know of that sells it is Amazon as Kryptonite has stopped making them. I would highly recommend it for your application, I have yet to successfully open one via picking.

I'll give those a look, but right now I'm sitting on two Abloy 350's. Not sure what I'm going to use them for though.