Padlock Shim question...

[Xplosion84]

how often do these work and what padlock brands will work with the shims?

[Paul]

They work about....oh...I would say 70% of the time. They don't work on padlocks that have ball bearings holding the shackle in place. They do work on most all Master Locks and the equivelent that you usually see. I usually try it before I pick it. If it works it saves me the time of picking it.

[Xplosion84]

Thanks! Sorry for a late responce..

-Thanks, Xplosion

[poetstorm425]

Hi, I need to get a lock open and decided to try the shims. I have read about 3 very short tutoriaals but the lock is just bending and destroying my shims. I tried on a few practice ones of different types but have the same result. I would really appreciate any advice. I have ben at this all day.

[Paul]

Are you making the shims or buying them? They are pretty hard to make. They have to be strong yet extremely thin and be almost prefectly formed around the shackle.

[bopper]

I've used torn pieces of aluminum can with good results.

[beginner picker]

how do u make shims and what do they look like if someone would tell me thanx

[Luke]

now how would i go around coverting my coke can into a shim?

[Shim]

theres no way your going to be able to make useful homemade shims.

I just did one just to prove you wrong.

(Excuse my poor English).

This is what you need:
A diskette, a pair of scissors & some other stuff

1, Remove that metal thingy from the diskette.

2, Take the scissors and cut out a piece of the metal so it looks something like this:

Code: Select all

          -------------------------
          |                       |
          |                       |
           \                     /
             \                 /
               ----         ---
                    |       |
                    |       |
                    ---------


3, Take a padlock which has a shackle with about the same thickness as the shackle you intend to use the shim on. While holding the padlock with the shackle up hold the the metalpiece like pictured above and bend it around the shackle into a halfcircle (you might need to use pliers, a rubber hammer or some other tool to do that).

4, Done, although it might bend quite easy, you've made a fully functional padlock shim.

[safecracker]

lets see how long it lasts lol, the problem is it will only work on a spacific type of padlock I was meaning shims as you buy them are made with percision and with a set will open pretty much any padlock without barrings. I'm glad your working on it though.

[SlimJim]

Is there an obvious way to tell if you are dealing with a lock with a ballbearing?

[safecracker]

for the money....dude they are cheap as hell.

[beginner picker]

are they disposable or do they last awhile each thx

[safecracker]

they last.

[Paul]

shims are not worth the money

I don't agree, they work on most of the cheaper locks that are around. Masterlock padlocks are sold more then any other padlock in the US and shims work on most all Masterlocks (I know of 3 they don't). For $20 you can open most everyday padlocks you come across, not bad IMHO. Sure, they don't work on Medeco and most other high security locks that use ball bearings instead of a spring loaded bar, but unless your the owner or hired to break in you have no reason to try to defeat one of those.