Problem With Shim

[sumone4life]

I keep trying to make shims out of a pop bottle and whenever i try and use them they break. Is there any other material i could make a shim out of that would hold up better than a soda can?

[Raymond]

I admit I haven't tried it today but it sure will be good to get the search function working again.

The best shim I have made came from the return spring on large tape measures and auto seatbelt rewinders. Many auto junk yards will give you an old broken seatbelt coil if you ask nice. Strip off the belt and carefully take apart the spring steel coil.

Cut off a small part. Grind the edges until smooth. CAUTION: using shims can cut you if you are not very careful both while making them and using them.

[MacGyver101]

In a pinch, I've used the steel doors off of 3.5" floppy disks, with a fair degree of luck.

[sumone4life]

Thanks for the suggestions, yeah i noticed the search function wasnt workign when i posted...really wish it was.

Just a quick question on using the shim... do you just put it straight down into the left side of the lock or do you have to put it in on the side and then twist it? or does either way work. Whenever i used a can shim it always broke.

[MacGyver101]

The first few links here should answer all of your questions: Google search for "padlock shim" on lockpicking101.com

[sumone4life]

MacGyver thank you for the link and the idea. The floppy door works perfectly and i found a how to in the link you have me that said pumping it a little helped and it worked perfectly!

Thank you.

[ObiWonShinobi]

I've made shims from the plastic the locks came in.

They usually work 4-5 times before you gotta throw em out,
But aluminum is pretty much the same.

even a beginner can TRY 2-3 times before RUINING it.

[yucki8aby]

buy a roll of measuring tape(spring steel 1), cut off the edge, let it unwind inside and open the case. then u can use a 2 cm strip and cut it into 3 long pieces. it works pretty well and i can get more than 20 uses out of it if i don't abuse it

[Trip Doctor]

I've made shims from the plastic the locks came in.

Lmao, there's some irony.

[scissor83]

yeah just use a floppy disk way better. or maybe its the padlock that u are using

[robin11]

buy a roll of measuring tape(spring steel 1), cut off the edge, let it unwind inside and open the case. then u can use a 2 cm strip and cut it into 3 long pieces. it works pretty well and i can get more than 20 uses out of it if i don't abuse it

Thats really a nice idea...

[gstrendkill]

I've made shims from the plastic the locks came in.

hahahaha

[jacknife]

ive had trouble with it too...their very fatiguing

[xayandevorak]

Something that I use is a bobby pin. First, if it has any, strip the rubber/plastic rust-protector off, then straighten it out. Now you have two options, 1. bend it at a little less than a 45 degree angle at 3/4 inch from the end, and then shove it into the lock, and you have a leverage angle, or you can jus leave it straight, and maneuver it around the shackle, and try it that way, but you wont have as much downward force as you will with a close bend.

[Squelchtone]

I keep trying to make shims out of a pop bottle and whenever i try and use them they break. Is there any other material i could make a shim out of that would hold up better than a soda can?

First thing to consider is if the padlock you are trying to shim is actually a shimmable padlock, not all of them are.

If you show us a pic of it or the make and model number with the shackle open we can tell you if shims will work. Some padlocks you need a shim inserted into both holes, not just one.

When inserting the shim, dont go straight down, use a side to side motion as you're going deeper into the shackle hole, and then rotate it into place. the diagonal part of the shim will then retract the locking mechanism.

If you open the padlock and see shiny metal bearings kicking around, you will not be able to shim that lock.

Squelchtone