$1 "brand name" padlocks

[mkorn]

Hi I'm new here and I had a question regarding two padlocks that I got at a dollar store. One is a small black, looks like its made of iron, padlock that says GOLDCAT on the front and 4505 on the back. The other is a brass padlock with an attached plate that says Dongchang on it. I'm having a bit of trouble trying to get these open. If anyone has any information on these, let alone heard of the brands, or had any experience opening them, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Chucklz]

Your locks are "no name" locks, really. Probably made in Taiwan, or China. I would guess that they may contain spool or mushroom pins, but thats just a guess.

[skold]

yes these are cheap crap locks with mushroom pins as i have a few goldcats my self

[Ice]

I got one of these too... the key is really thin and wards are close together so it's hard to stick anything in there. I haven't been able to pick it yet, but other padlocks with thicker-keys works like a charm.

[Luke]

Skold where did u get that gold cat

[Ice]

Anybody used Chateau $1 locks?

[davidgjr]

Ice, my wife works at a storage facility and all they use and sell is chateau locks. I have had to deal with all sorts of them. The disk type have a yale type keyway I believe and is hard to get a pick into it. They have mushroom pins in it. The other type is an all brass body lock. It has 5 pins in it. No mushroom pins, but like I said the keyways are hard to get a pick into. The third type I have seen is just a metal 5 pin lock. It has the same keyway, just the lock body is different. The biggest thing I have noticed on these locks are if they are in the weather for a while the whole inside corrodes. I usually just drill them. Once moisture gets in them they barely work with a key, much less picking them. Hope this helps.