Shackle Thickness vs. Pick Resistance in Europe...?

[lockr]

Abus says the alloy is like the ones used in the aviation industry.

[snip]

I don't think titanium is the main element in the alloy. Alloy 6061 for example is very good candidate! High strength high corrosion resistance but is doesn't really contain titanium.(As far as I know. I can be wrong as always.)

I believe most, if not all, Aluminum alloys contain some amount of Titanium for strength. Usually it's not much though.

According to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6061_aluminium_alloy, 6061 is used in aircraft construction, although mostly for home-built aircraft. 7075 alloy is usually what is used for commercial and military aircraft construction, but I doubt that it is the alloy used on the Titalium locks because it's more expensive that 6061.

Since Abus has used cost as the argument for switching to an alloy such as these, my bet would be they use one of the cheaper and softer alloys.

[In.Xanadu]

I will point out that if you bring the thicker shackled Abloy, and you find a locker that can't accept a shackle of that diameter, you're stuck without a lock.

The chance of someone attempting destructive entry of your locker is fairly slim, but potentially expensive; however, if you are unable to lock the locker at all (probably a slightly more common occurrence than destructive entry) then I'd wager that the chance of something bad happening to your stuff is a good bit higher.

That wasn't as clear as I would of liked...

Think about it this way, if someone cuts your lock, they are going to steal valuables, they don't care about your dirty clothing. If someone finds your unlocked locker, they might just want to mess with you.

As far as the weight is concerned, take a look at the actual weight of your luggage and see if it really does make a difference. I know ounces do add to pounds, but if your total weight is low enough (15 pounds/7 kilos is a good figure to aim for) then you can afford a few luxuries.

[ARF-GEF]

I'm not sure which one do they use. I don't know that much about the prices of the different alloys.
It seems I was indeed wrong. 6061 does contain some titanium.
http://asm.matweb.com/search/SpecificMa ... m=MA6061t6
But I think the point I made is still close to correct, though I have to amend it a little bit. Max. 0.15 Wt% Ti doesn't really contain enoguh titanium to be reasonably allude titanium in the name.
But you are probably right about abus using 6061. At least if we consider that 7075 has even less titanium in it.
http://asm.matweb.com/search/SpecificMa ... MA7475T765
Ti: Max 0.06Wt%
To make it more user friendly: that means 100 g of 7075 alloy has maximum 0.06 g of Titanium in it, but probably less. I mean, sure there's Ti in it, but please, it's only marginal.
The asm site is an alloy-goldmine . There's a detail overkill on the alloys, they even give several kinds of hardnesses for the almost all of the alloys! It's huge fun, for me at least...
Consider for example the 7075's 140 Brinell hardness comapred to the 95 brinell hardness of 6061. That's around 30% difference!

I think In.Xanadu just got a real good argument there. I totally agree with him. Better to have a weaker lock than no lock at all:).

[LEDAdd1ct]

A lot of points were made here, some within my grasp, and some, while not beyond my reach in an intellectual sense,
are outside of the scope of things with which I am readily familiar. I will address as many as I can recall:

1) Lock Composition

I appear to have three choices:

a) Brass body
b) Chrome-plated brass body
c) Aluminum or some sort of aluminum mixed with something else

There is no doubt aluminum is the lightest.

2) Shackle Diameter

One poster mentioned the Abloy; since I mentioned owning the Abloy 330, perhaps this is what he was referring to. However, I already mentioned this was not a lock in the running for travel, as its 8mm shackle is too thick.

3) Abus Ecolution

In its favor, the Ecolution is made of aluminum, which means it will be lighter than the chrome-plated Anchor Las. Like the Anchor Las, it has twin ball bearings to retain the shackle. However, the type of key system seems easier to pick than the Anchor Las, which uses some sort of (rotating?) disc system.

While the Abus 72/40 either as Aluminum with hardened steel shackle or the Ecolution version look like neat locks, I believe the only thing they have to offer over my Abus Titalium is the ball bearing shackle retention system.

They both look like fun locks to play with, but I am not sure I would sufficiently gain by purchasing them.

I have one more lock I've been eyeing, and will report back if I decide to buy it.

I think for undisputed build quality, pick resistance, knowledge of fitting every size locker hasp, and nickel silver keys, the Anchor Las is the current front runner. I just wish the key turned easier. My Abloy 362, 350, 340, 330 (either presently owned or owned at some point) all turn freely; the Anchor Las key binds a bit unless I push it forcefully all the way into the keyway.

[LEDAdd1ct]

With two shackles of identical nominal dimensions where the only difference is composition,
which will be harder to saw or cut, stainless steel or hardened steel?

[lockr]

With two shackles of identical nominal dimensions where the only difference is composition,
which will be harder to saw or cut, stainless steel or hardened steel?

Plain steel is iron with a small amount of carbon added. Stainless steel is a composition (eg alloy) of iron with chromium, nickel, carbon, etc. Hardened steel is the result of heat-treating (tempering) the steel alloy.

As others have pointed out, pretty much whichever lock you choose will be more than sufficient for a locker. All of the locks you've suggested so far would be more than adequate; there's just not much point in getting this technical over a lock for such a (relatively) low-security application.

[In.Xanadu]

I think all things being equal, stainless steel is weaker than your standard hardened steel. You pay for the corrosion resistance.

I know it's fun to geek out about little details, but you have a lot of other things to geek out on with a big trip coming up; bags are my favorite.

[ARF-GEF]

You wrote there's trouble with the anchor las. How old is the Anchor-las padlock? How much was it used?

I don't think you should have any trouble using the keys. Sometimes it's a bit hard to push the key in. That does happen (and it's normal) when the lock is brand new and never used before. If it's very old or it requires a big force there might be an underlying problem. It's not easy to judge through the internet:).
Normally running a pencil trough a key then pushing the key in the lock will provide adequate lubrication with the graphite getting in. It's usually working with pin tumblers, I think it should work with the mechanism in achor las too.

As I gathered from your words you already have the anchor las and you don't have the abus yet. If that's so, I surely wouldn't buy a new one unless weight is really a super important factor. In that case buy the aluminium. If you buy a new one double ball bearing shackle retention system is the way to go. That's the only method which reliably stops the popular shimming method of opening locks.
Honestly picking is not something you should be worried of with either padlock. Criminals rarely pick serious locks.

[LEDAdd1ct]

Thank you very much for the help.

1) The Anchor Las is brand new. The key binds unless I push it with some force into the keyway.

I will try the pencil trick.

2) I will report back when I have something of substance to add.

Thank you everyone for your help.

[dicey]

Hey ARF-GEF sorry for the confusion... I was just trying to shortcut Aluminum
And yes of course the right symbol would be Al in the periodic table.

I guys are really putting A LOT A thought into that mates!
A bit to much if you ask me. The material behaves like normal Al and can probably also bet cut as easy as the normal Al. I think Abus did not mainly do it to save money on Brass. I think they wanted to introduce a new product to the market at a reasonable price but still good in quality and security (keyway restriction and 6 pin cylinder with security pins also you can not shim them). I am of course talking about the Titalium series padlocks.

I was just trying to give you some more options which maybe draw less attention. The Anchor Las is my favourite no doubt! NO ONE will pick the Ecolution... I don't know why everyone is so afraid of someone picking their locks and I don't know where you guys live but here in Germany no locks get picked. I asked a Police Officer who is the head of a department for robberies here in Frankfurt. I asked him about picking on private houses and public locations and he was laughing his ass off for like 5 minutes.

Just in case you have not seen my video or other videos on picking the Abus 72/40. They are not that easy to pick and have security pins.
Sadly there are no key pin security pins but you could add them yourself to toughen up the lock.

Oh and last but not least why not get an Abloy 3020?
Hardened 7 mm shackle and brass body CEN Grade 2 and very nice disc cylinder AND this padlock has THE coolness factor no one will crop that without crying because he has to
*looks at his brandnew model at the desk* love it!

[dicey]

Sorry I did a few writing mistakes in my last post...

"You guys are really..." and "can probably also be cut"

Oh! Really cheap bike locks get picked here! But they have to be some cheapy wafer or cheap cylinder with NO security pins at all... These cheap bike locks exist and sadly people buy them.

[LEDAdd1ct]

The Abloy 3020 looks so cool and retro I might have to own one even if not for traveling (the shackle looks too wide to be practical for lockers).

Where's the cheapest place to get one in the United States?

[GWiens2001]

Not sure where to get in the United States. You should try Wizer, here at LP101. I have an Abloy PL3020 on the way from him. Definately a winner for style! If it gets here in time (Christmas mail rush slows down the post), I may put it as a decoration on the tree. My son would love that!

Gordon

[ARF-GEF]

Abloy 3020 looks really cool! I don't think it's really ideal for your purpose (in comparison to the other candidates it's heavy, big, not as secure as anchor las and very much attention-attracting) but man, it's a very nice looking padlock! It looks almost like work of art and if you are into locks I think the historical air of it is also a bonus.
You could also try ebay.

@dicey : true, we probably put too much though into it but that's half the fun!:)

[LEDAdd1ct]

Thanks, guys/girls.

Agreed, part of the fun is the analysis.

I'm over on candlepowerforums, and 90% of what goes on is analysis, which is a lot of the fun.

I'll keep an eye out for a 3020, or, if someone has one for sale, they can always email me—
if you search "LEDAdd1ct" on Google and click "I'm Feeling Lucky" my email is at the bottom of the first post.

Have a great day, everybody!