Query: What is the Fascination With Padlocks?

[rasths]

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?


Yes, The owner has locked keys inside whatever and does not to buy new lock. picking or shimming is easy and fast with no damage.

[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

Welcome back, DaWolfMan!

Gordon

Thank You Gordon. It has been a little while but i am back. Life has been crazy, but i now have some time to spend with my passion again.

DaWolfMan

[peterwn]

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?

Police in Britain had an instance years ago. They wanted to open a padlock on a garage without leaving a trace. They went to the maker who lent them the set of 50 keys for that type of padlock.

I remember years ago, shopkeepers often padlocked shop doors in addition to an ordinary lock. Possibly they thought the security of the lock was questionable or they could just replace the padlock if a key was lost or stolen. An upmarket family owned department store in Auckland, NZ has solid glazed wooden double doors secured with large brass Yale padlocks. They were considered a heritage item and there was concern when they were replaced with automatic doors.