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Picking a padlock underwater

Having read the FAQ's you are still unfulfilled and seek more enlightenment, so post your general lock picking questions here.
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Do not post safe related questions in this sub forum! Post them in This Old Safe

The sub forum you are currently in is for asking Beginner Hobby Lock Picking questions only.

Picking a padlock underwater

Postby tyler_stevo » 1 Dec 2012 21:03

Hey.
Would picking a padlock underwater work?

for how long?
is it harder than normal?

Thanks in advance.
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Re: Picking a padlock underwater

Postby MBI » 1 Dec 2012 21:12

tyler_stevo wrote:Would picking a padlock underwater work?

Yes.
tyler_stevo wrote:for how long??

42.
tyler_stevo wrote:is it harder than normal?

How long can you hold your breath?
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Re: Picking a padlock underwater

Postby bembel » 1 Dec 2012 21:20

1. Why not?
2. ??
3. I guess.

P.S. There really was an "underwater locksport group" in Germany, but you may consider this as fun and not a serious attempt to add another chapter to lockpicking.
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Re: Picking a padlock underwater

Postby Altashot » 1 Dec 2012 21:28

Odd question..... I never tried but I can't see any problems with that. It shouldn't be any harder or take any longer. Of course the discomfort of being submerged may make it more difficult to accomplish but only due to the situation. Now, if you were thrown off a bridge all chained up and you were trying to swim with a cinder block attached to your feet...then that skill maybe of some use. Otherwise, why ask?

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Re: Picking a padlock underwater

Postby tyler_stevo » 1 Dec 2012 21:36

Sorry if i didnt make it clear enough.
how long would the lock work uderwater. would it rust up, ect.
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Re: Picking a padlock underwater

Postby bembel » 1 Dec 2012 21:53

Depends on the salinity or many other things. Maybe 2..3 months? 2..3 years?
Honestly, that's a stupid question. Just drop a lock in nearby waters and see what happens.
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Re: Picking a padlock underwater

Postby MacGyver101 » 1 Dec 2012 21:53

tyler_stevo wrote:how long would the lock work uderwater. would it rust up, ect.

I don't have an exact answer to that question... but the answer will vary a lot, depending on the design of the lock, and whether it's fresh water or salt water. (I've never attempted lock picking underwater, but I'm speaking from experience here as a scuba instructor, and the effect of salt/fresh water on my other gear.)

I'd be surprised if a cheap "dollar store" padlock lasted more than 3-4 days in salt water before the pins and springs stopped freely moving. Brass components will last much longer -- so I'd expect locks with brass bodies and cores to stay functional much longer underwater than something like a Master combination padlock -- and some locks (like S&G Environmental padlocks) are designed with the right materials and a minimum of moving parts to last a very long time, even in extremely challenging conditions: they would likely stay functional for months, even in salt water.
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Re: Picking a padlock underwater

Postby MBI » 1 Dec 2012 21:57

tyler_stevo wrote:Sorry if i didnt make it clear enough.
how long would the lock work uderwater. would it rust up, ect.

If you're planning on doing Houdini-style underwater escapes, as it sounds like from your questions here and in other threads, then your LIFE could depend on the answers to these questions.

On something like this, rather than relying on the answers given by strangers on the internet, I'd highly recommend you proceed at an incremental pace, experimenting and testing at every step along the way.
You need to find out what works for YOU and what doesn't, in a safe manner.

Once you pick what locks (or gimmicked locks) you plan to use, put them underwater for as long as you'd anticipate they'd be underwater.
See for yourself, firsthand, what happens to them.
Practice picking them underwater in a bucket so you can develop a feel for picking them in that state.

That being said, I can't imagine any part of any lock rusting during the short time they'd be underwater during an escape attempt.
The internal springs will be the most susceptible part.
When you buy or build gimmicked locks, consider using a model that can be disassembled and inspected internally.

I hope that if you plan in investing the time and equipment for this type of thing, that you take care of it.
Thoroughly flush each lock out with WD-40 after each use to get all the water out and prevent rust from building up progressively over time.

Lastly,consider trying to find a mentor, someone who has already learned to do this type of thing, and see if you can become an apprentice/assistant to learn the trade.
It might be a safer and more reliable way to learn to do what you're trying to do.

I hope I'm not being too blunt in saying this, but you really sound quite amateurish to be trying this stuff on your own if you can't figure out some of these basic concepts for yourself.
Be careful.
This stuff could kill ya.
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Re: Picking a padlock underwater

Postby Altashot » 1 Dec 2012 22:19

Again, I never tried that. Padlocks are normally rust resistant but, eventually they do rust and/or corrode. It depends on the use you plan on getting from it. Is it for momentary use, occasional, long term?....Would you use it everyday or only once a week/month/year? What kind of water? Fresh, brackish, sea water? River, lake? Would it subjected to freezing? There are so many factors to consider that answering your question without questions would be too "loose" of an answer. May I ask what you are trying to do?

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Re: Picking a padlock underwater

Postby tyler_stevo » 1 Dec 2012 22:37

i have been researching this for a while now.
i just wanted opions of others.
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Re: Picking a padlock underwater

Postby MBI » 1 Dec 2012 22:47

There is an article in here by Doug Farre on picking and bumping underwater.

http://ndemag.com/issues/nde2.pdf
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Re: Picking a padlock underwater

Postby MacGyver101 » 1 Dec 2012 23:09

MBI wrote:If you're planning on doing Houdini-style underwater escapes, as it sounds like from your questions here and in other threads, then your LIFE could depend on the answers to these questions.

Hrm, okay: if that's what you're interested in, then I'd caution that very few (if any?) escape artists actually use unmodified, factory-built padlocks. I own a couple of "tricked" padlocks, hand-made specifically for escape artists: they're well-constructed, and would probably pass casual inspection from most of the members here... but they can be opened with just about anything that's rigid and the size of a toothpick: there's no "lock picking" involved.
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Re: Picking a padlock underwater

Postby tyler_stevo » 1 Dec 2012 23:31

i know that most Escape Artists dont use real legit padlocks.
the "gimmicked" padlocks are quite expensive. i was told.

The lock would be used underwater out of "fresh" rainwater.
probably would like to be used everyday.

MacGyver101- where abouts did you get them, may i ask.?
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Re: Picking a padlock underwater

Postby MacGyver101 » 2 Dec 2012 0:04

tyler_stevo wrote:MacGyver101- where abouts did you get them, may i ask.?

I got them through Mark and Sheila Cannon... but, unfortunately, they decided to retire from the business the middle of last year; they're no longer selling them.
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Re: Picking a padlock underwater

Postby tyler_stevo » 2 Dec 2012 0:35

do you know anywhere else where i can get some? allt he ones i have seen are like $50 bucks..
LOL
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