shim resistant padlock

[shimbuddy]

is it posible to take an ordinary master lock combination lock and make it shim resistant? shimming is way to easy so i would like to modify my lock so it would be very hard to shim or even imposible. i know i might sound like i am cheap, but i like doing these kind of things. if i have to i will get a higher security lock but i thing this would be fun.

[Trip Doctor]

It would probably be easier and cheaper to just buy a shim resistant lock. But if you want to make one out of a regular master combo lock(and we all know how much more fun it is to make crap yourself), I'm thinking adding to the shape of the locking latch and the hole would be the easier way to go (it wouldn't be shim proof, but you could make it so shim 'resistant' that's it's infeasible to shove anything through there without getting it torn up). I'm sure some guys here can throw out some cool ideas as well.

[mitch.capper]

Yea buying a lock that you can't shim would be far easier.

But aside from that two things you may want to try would be decreasing the room between the shackle and the hole. I would suggest painting minimal amounts of super glue just below whatever the closed line is on the shackle.

That would ensure it wouldnt look different visually but should make it harder for something to be shoved in it.

Trick is to paint on the super glue slowly and in layers ensuring it doesn't get to be too much and block the shackle from working.



The other option would be to try and block vertical entry into the space between the two. A piece of metal/wood cut to the hole width's so that it could fit in when down but not move up much.

Not perfect and certainly with time and a heat gun or other tools could be defeated but it sounds like we are trying to stop the quick shim.

[Jaakko]

Easy way: Buy Dudley combo lock, it is not shimmable.

Harder way: Open your Master combo locks shackle and glance to the hole. You should see the little latch that is spring loaded. Epoxy that latch in place somehow, by either getting epoxy behind to jam the spring in there or with a little screw you can jam it up. Then the lock is not shimmable

[UWSDWF]

step1: cover masterlock in thermite
step2: ignite thermite
step3: buy a decent lock
step4: eat some cake

[razlex]

cut a piece of wood to fit exactly inside the shackle.... with a groove along the outside edge of the wood for the shackle to "lock" into. then cut a slot in the top of the wood so you can still lock stuff with it... here.. i made you a diagram ;)

<img src="http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i1288285_diagram.jpg" width="350" height="204" border="0">

[razlex]

opps.. i f'ed that picture :P
here the link [url]http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i1288285_diagram.jpg[/url]

[razlex]

ok... i loose =/ and there is no edit button :P

[jimb]

If you can weld you could just weld a guard to the shackle.

[mercurial]

Personally I'd get a more secure padlock, but here's another idea -

First create a rough surface on the padlock shackle just above where it enters the lock body (many ways to do this - a coarse file, shallow cuts with hacksaw, roughing it up on a grinder etc).

Now get some JB Weld or equivalent product (it is a strong and VERY durable epoxy-based compound) and form it over the newly roughened surface, to enlarge the shackle enough to prevent insertion of a shim.

The purpose of roughening the surface of the shackle is to give the JB Weld a better surface to adhere to.

As Jaakko mentioned the Dudley would be a cheap unshimmable replacement, if you specifically want to use a combination padlock.

If you can't find the Dudley, and dont need it to be a combination lock, just look for a padlock that states it has a double-ball locking mechanism - all such padlocks cannot be shimmed.

...Mark