Query: What is the Fascination With Padlocks?

[AngryHatter]

In a work environment I have yet to have anyone object to using bolt cutters.
I haven't picked one at work. Yeah, for fun I have played with them, but professionally, never.

When all schools had lockers, there were many instances of having to open them. Snip.

Has anyone had a situation where cutting the padlock was not an option?

[Squelchtone]

not sure I understand your title question..

what's society's fascination with using padlocks to secure every day things or what is hobby lockpickers and collectors fascination with padlocks?

[greengrowlocks]

I think he is asking if anyone has ran into a padlock that they were unable to cut. Not sure I understand the question in the title though.

I can't speak off of experience but I imagine it would be pretty difficult to cut some of military S&G 833 and 951 padlocks. Unlikely anyone would run into those.

[ltdbjd]

Concealed shackle padlocks create issues because, well, the shackle is concealed. The hockey puck is a good example. Guarded shackles are also problematic. Certain applications cause problems too, such as on some construction boxes where the only part of the lock that is exposed is the bottom. The shackle and body are actually contained within the steel box.

[AngryHatter]

No. I meant why do people play with them at all?
In a work environment, trouble padlocks are generally cut rather than picked. They are cheap, easy to replace, not worth the effort et cetera.

I never knew anyone that had to pick one. So I wonder why people try to work them? Fun?

I guess it is a case of if you work in a bakery you get tired of eating donuts.

[femurat]

Why do we play with padlocks? It's our hobby

In a work environment maybe padlocks are cut and locks drilled. But where's the fun?!?

Cheers

[Squelchtone]

No. I meant why do people play with them at all?
In a work environment, trouble padlocks are generally cut rather than picked. They are cheap, easy to replace, not worth the effort et cetera.

I never knew anyone that had to pick one. So I wonder why people try to work them? Fun?

I guess it is a case of if you work in a bakery you get tired of eating donuts.

They're portable and easier to hold and have nice smooth surfaces as opposed to trying to hold a Schlage deadbolt while I'm sitting on the couch watching tv. The shackle popping open makes a fun sound when you pick the padlock open. It sounds like you've only been exposed to real crappy basic padlocks, there are so many cool ones out there and ones that bolt cutters can't cut as easily as a Master locker padlock.

Also, why do people try to work (on) them? The cylinder inside a padlock is the same as a cylinder in a door knob, it's just a different external housing. Are you saying if I mailed you an American Lock 5200 padlock with serrated pins, you'd find no fun at all in trying to pick it, but if I mailed you a Schlage deadbolt you'd enjoy picking that instead? If so, it seems like you're talking yourself out of half of the locks in this hobby.

Squelchtone

[billdeserthills]

I have had several clients lock their padlocks onto the 'high security' locking point of their mobile mini containers
No way to cut the bolts off in there. I impressioned one Abus Diskus padlock to open it, I wound up drill ing a couple
off as well--Last one I drilled the guy was upset, said his grandpa gave him that lock, I even tried to pick it first, but
it was hard to reach up into the guarded space & I couldn't really get my tensioner in there very well

I can't guess why folks like padlocks, they aren't very secure if someone has a cut-off wheel

[AngryHatter]

No. I meant why do people play with them at all?
In a work environment, trouble padlocks are generally cut rather than picked. They are cheap, easy to replace, not worth the effort et cetera.

I never knew anyone that had to pick one. So I wonder why people try to work them? Fun?

I guess it is a case of if you work in a bakery you get tired of eating donuts.

They're portable and easier to hold and have nice smooth surfaces as opposed to trying to hold a Schlage deadbolt while I'm sitting on the couch watching tv. The shackle popping open makes a fun sound when you pick the padlock open. It sounds like you've only been exposed to real crappy basic padlocks, there are so many cool ones out there and ones that bolt cutters can't cut as easily as a Master locker padlock.

Also, why do people try to work (on) them? The cylinder inside a padlock is the same as a cylinder in a door knob, it's just a different external housing. Are you saying if I mailed you an American Lock 5200 padlock with serrated pins, you'd find no fun at all in trying to pick it, but if I mailed you a Schlage deadbolt you'd enjoy picking that instead? If so, it seems like you're talking yourself out of half of the locks in this hobby.

Squelchtone

No. I don't manipulate locks for fun.
I do it for money.

I'll talk about technique or learn things to make my job easier.

I noticed a lot of interest in padlocks, so I wondered.

[tpark]

Sometimes the lock itself is an interesting item, and the fascination comes with restoring that lock to full functionality. An example of this would be an old Yale padlock - sure, it's easy to just snip it off, but if the lock is picked, it's possible to restore it to full use by making a key, even if the lock itself isn't very secure.

If you like picking locks padlocks are great because they are a self contained unit of reasonable size that shows clear results when picked. It's not like we have to pick the lock open since most of the time we have the key, it's the challenge of opening it with tools.

Anyway, that's why I like them.

[capt.dunc]

because in the uk a business is often secured with a 5 lever padlock to keep insurance companies happy, and such a lock costs £150-£190.

[adi_picker]

I like padlocks because although I purchase them to pick, being the most universal of locks I can also always use them to secure something, even if it isn't optimal security wise. If I were to buy the same core housed in a rim or mortise, then all I could use it for would be a door. That said, if I really want a particular lock, or one at a particular price, I will settle for whatever housing it may come in.

adi_picker

[AngryHatter]

Lots of good replies. Thanks for the explanations.

[DaWolfMan]

Well for me every lock is a puzzle, some are easier than others, some are trickier than others. I have been collecting locks for over 30 years and love learning the way each one works. Sure you can grab the bolt cutters or the cut off wheel and destroy the lock, but that really is not what any of us are here for. We came to Lock Picking 101 for just what the name says, Lock Picking. An advanced topic would be Lock Bypassing which could get you into some lock as quick as using a key if you know what you are looking at, but that is not an option on all locks, only the ones that an engineer overlooked something on. I personally enjoy the challenge of working on a lock and making it do what i want it to do without the key. There have been times that i needed to get into something in a hurry and i was just unable to get it picked, so i had no choice but to cut the lock. I did it, but i did not like doing it.

DaWolfMan

[GWiens2001]

Well for me every lock is a puzzle, some are easier than others, some are trickier than others. I have been collecting locks for over 30 years and love learning the way each one works. Sure you can grab the bolt cutters or the cut off wheel and destroy the lock, but that really is not what any of us are here for. We came to Lock Picking 101 for just what the name says, Lock Picking. An advanced topic would be Lock Bypassing which could get you into some lock as quick as using a key if you know what you are looking at, but that is not an option on all locks, only the ones that an engineer overlooked something on. I personally enjoy the challenge of working on a lock and making it do what i want it to do without the key. There have been times that i needed to get into something in a hurry and i was just unable to get it picked, so i had no choice but to cut the lock. I did it, but i did not like doing it.

DaWolfMan

Welcome back, DaWolfMan!

Gordon