Tough Guard 65mm Solid Steel Padlock

[MrTomorrow]

Hey, pals. I was in the local Home Hardware and while picking up some drywall plugs I took a peek at their pad lock display. Lots of new stuff for sure. Anyway I was looking over some massive half pounder pad locks - the big intimidating ones. The price range was $8.99 to $70.00. As a treat I got one for $8.99. It's big and shiny and must weigh a half pound at least. Came with three keys. Popping the lock with a key shows a ball bearing at the business end and the key can't be withdrawn until the shackle is back to zero position although it doesn't have to be pushed down to the locked position. The brand name in huge letters is stamped front and back as 'TOUGH GUARD' The package comes from Toolway Industries,Solid Steel Padlock, product number 732083, says it has a 5 pin cylinder, distributed by Home Hardware.

It's a good looking lock and I don't think there is room for a shim between the shackle and its home. The machined flat bottom is featured by a 1/16" hole, a floating tumbler and steel cover. There is also a rivet on the body about where the shackle might dip into. The first thing you notice is that the tumbler is recessed by about 3 mils underneath a thick riveted in plate. The little surprise is that the tumbler itself floats up and down and back and forth within the lock itself by about 1 1/2 mils to the point where it's easily possible to slip a bypass tool or thin pick between the tumbler and the lock, should you know what to do after that. My half diamond counted 6 pins, the package advertising says 5 pins so...I could be wrong for the first time in my life but I doubt it. Fitting a wide tension wrench in was no problem and I was able to nail down 3 pins fairly quick but that's it. Tensioning is a challenge. I can't decide whether the floating tumbler is acting like a spool pin but it's clearly deliberate. So that's how the first five minutes went. For fun and giggles I tried a shank but it just bottoms out. Just to see I tried the Sparrow by pass tools but nothing there either. I don't think bumping would work. Raking may turn the trick on this one. So thats my review. If you are looking for cheap fun with a massive padlock this might do it for you. If you have some experience with this one, I'd love to hear about it.

I would have spent more time on it but the searchlights were due for another pass and I think something disturbed the peacocks. What with all the shouting and the flares it was all I could do to get back into my cell. Next new moon and I'll spend another five until I've freed everyone and the airplane is ours. Then it's time for hot dogs, French fries, spruce beer and another mission with Rocket Roy and the Radio Rangers.

[nite0wl]

Looking around the web that looks like a pretty direct copy of the American Lock 700 series. Depending on just how closely they copied American's design it may be possible to open the body up to examine the actuator and core. Just check the bottom of the channel for the toe of the shackle, you should find either a screw head or a rivet. If it is a screw head you can get a peak at the internals to confirm your suspicions about the number of pins and see if the actuator is susceptible to some well known attacks against the American Lock style mechanism.

[MrTomorrow]

Well, you know what? I went back at it and picked it in four minutes with a half diamond. Click, click as the binding pins set. Then I went back at it again for a half hour with no success. The floating plug I think is part of the challenge. I did try the Sparrows bypass tools (exciting video on their site) but they come to a stop. I have a Max High Yield diamond coming from Southord along with a Pagoda diamond so I'll take another walk in the park when they show up. I'd be delighted to have some American Padlocks so I could use the various bypass tools but I haven't found any under $50. I'm limited to what people give me or I buy at the hardware store. The next time I get that shackle open I'll look for a fastener. There is a rivet holding a plate down over the plug and a smaller rivet on the back. Southord has brought their shipping costs down to $9.95 for Canada so that's a plus.

[nite0wl]

If cost is an issue try looking for an American Lock 1105 (or the riveted versions of the 1100 and 5200, the series 20, 30, and 40), these tend to be rather cheaper than the 5200 and 700 series but have the same mechanism. The series 20, 30, and 40 tend to be priced at about half of what most shops charge for the fully serviceable equivalents cost. It is also possible to convert the riveted versions to fully serviceable versions very cheaply with some basic tools (BosnianBill has at least one video on the process), I don't want to go into too much detail in case that crosses into Advanced territory or something.

If you do get your hands on any American Locks I very much suggest giving them a through cleaning and lubrication before attempting to use any of the bypass tools, the factory grease was so thick on some that they have nearly taken the head off of two of my Peterson bypass tools.