Which is easier deadbolt or padlock?

[flaming jag]

i have noticed that picking padlocks are much harder than picking deadbolts. Anyone agree? anyone knows why?

[Raccoon]

This question has no answer, as the two are not relative to lockpicking skill or difficulty.

Ask again "is a kwikset or schlage deadbolt easier to pick than an american or tricircle padlock?" or "is a medeco or multlock deadbolt easier to pick than a masterlock or brinks?"

[Eyes_Only]

It depends on your own comfort level I think. Some people perfer to pick locks by holding it in their hands while others prefer to have it fixed on a door or some solid mounting. Your level of skill will probably make an effect on this matter as well.

[jimmysmith]

I believe also a deadbolt is easy to pick rather then a padlock. the reason for this is that the padlocks have spring on the cylinder and a deadbolt you turn over a ways beofre you ever turn the lock... a dead bolt is just kinda free moving around.. and the pad lock had a spring on the cylinder.. .
sorry man i cant post right now.. way to tired.. i should not of even tried.

[JackNco]

It really does depend on the make and model of the locks. i would recommend a Beginner to get a deadbolt as they can be repined but...

I have door locks i cant pick and padlocks i can have open in seconds. and padlocks i cant pick and door locks i can have open in seconds.

[mercurial]

It really does depend on the make and model of the locks. i would recommend a Beginner to get a deadbolt as they can be repined but...

I have door locks i cant pick and padlocks i can have open in seconds. and padlocks i cant pick and door locks i can have open in seconds.

I agree fully with John's(JackNco) advice for a beginner to start learning with a deadbolt - not only because they can be repinned, but also because you can learn about the feel and feedback associated with manipulating the pins and about application+control of tension much more easily with a deadlock cylinder, as you don't have to also contend with pressure from the padlock's latch spring's pressure pushing against the tension your tension.

That said, Racoon is right when he says there is no real answer in terms of difficulty when comparing 'padlocks to deadlocks' - comparing the difficulty of a specific padlock to the difficulty of a specific deadlock can make for a meaningful comparison, but otherwise there is no answer to this question, it is too general.

But, as explained, the deadlock is a far better starting point to learn picking for a beginner.

...Mark

[mercurial]

clicked submit instead of preview by mistake

with pressure from the padlock's latch spring's pressure pushing against the tension your tension.

Should read :

with pressure from the padlock's latch spring, pushing against the tension you are applying.

...Mark

[Gordon Airporte]

a dead bolt is just kinda free moving around.. and the pad lock had a spring on the cylinder.. .

Yeah, I think this is the main difference. I prefer not having a spring working against me, but I'm not sure that it makes picking appreciably more difficult. Maybe I haven't encountered a padlock with a nasty enough spring.

[wr3cktangle]

I have a padlock that turns either way to open. If i apply torque clockwise, the direction that has little give, i can get it in seconds most times. If i apply torque counter-clockwise, the direction that has some spring-resisted give, it takes me a lot longer.

I also have a KwikSet deadbolt with a larger opening that takes a little longer than the fastest method of getting my padlock, but less time than the longer method.

I have a second padlock that only rotates one way (clockwise) and has a smaller opening than the first padlock and takes the longest out of all of them to get, and also provides the most joy when i get it because of the challenge, though blasting through the first padlock is a nice morale boost.


Difficulty is purely dependent on the lock, your skill and preferences, and practice.

[SmokieD]

Padlocks, for me are far more difficult. Deadbolt even when held in my hand are fairly simple, with the exception of a few. I dont know the exact measurements of the keyways but if you hold a Kwikset Deabolt(doesnt matter what kind) up to a Master lock 140, or 3 or etc. it completely dwarfs the Masterlock. How narrow a master lock keyway is to a Deadbolt's keyway is amazing. Of course though Master locks typically has less pins around 4 while deadbolts have 5 on up.

If find it interesting the quality of cheap padlocks are still higher for security then deadbolts. All in all someone could just use a bolt cutter on a padlock. Inside your home are more valuable things then a shed that is secured by a padlock.

[Sesame]

For new locks I don't really notice a difference. The cylinders inside both are about the same. The difference comes, I think, in that padlocks are exposed to so much more weather. Water carries salts into the mechanism which then precipitates and makes the pins bind. Dissimilar metals set up redox reactions which bind it up more. All this binding acts like security pins making the feel of a pin setting harder to recognize.

My two bits.

[Mutzy]

some of the more heavy-duty padlocks that utilise double-ball locking mechanisms have less parts and have no spring tension whatsoever. (Less moving parts = less problems). So i guess it depends on the type of padlock too.

[ObiWonShinobi]

Holding a deadbolt in your hands can be easy, as you can turn it into
any position you want. I hate bumping my wrists against the doorjam
while I'm working.
Padlocks can be held in hand as well, but they are smaller and sometimes
can cramp your hands. So maybe better for the lock to be attatched to something.

Dif manufacture of lock matters also..... QUITE A BIT.

[Pandawdy]

I think a deadbolt is easier, but only because you have more room to work. I bought some deadbolts and mounted them on a cabinet door in my shop. Good for when I just want to practice.

[Merc]

For some people, padlocks may be a bit easier in the fact that you can at least position the keyhole to face a more comfortable direction (towards you) even if its locked onto something, on the other hand, deadbolts can be mounted in some awkward positions which may be too high when you kneel and too low if you stand.
Those are probably just minor annoyances to more experienced pickers, but for someone who takes their sweet time opening a lock (me), i like to get comfortable.
Of course, if you can detach the deadbolt from the mount and hold it in your hand like a padlock, like Racoon said, it all depends on the brand and type.