Padlocks are versatile tools for securing practically anything you can think of. Their countless applications are why they’re a mainstay all around the world. Unfortunately, these locks often sit out for years at a time without use, eventually seizing up or otherwise breaking. A broken padlock could spell trouble at an inopportune time. Here’s how to handle this tricky situation.
Try a Handy Spray-Lubricant
If you’re in a big hurry, you might want to call an emergency locksmith before trying these next steps. Any residential locksmith can handle a broken padlock in just a moment. If you have the time to tinker, try applying a lubricant to the padlock. There could be some built-up dirt or rust in the keyhole, preventing a proper alignment. The shackle could be the cause of the jam as well. Try to spray a lubricant into the mechanism. Let it sit for a few minutes and then try opening it again. If you’re lucky, this will have solved your problem and allow you to open the lock.
Trip the Mechanism with a Shim
There are two main types of padlocks, those with pawls and those with ball bearings. A padlock with a pawl can potentially be opened with a shim. Sliding a thin piece of metal alongside the shackle into the padlock body can trip the mechanism and allow the shackle to pull up. This won’t make the lock anymore useable afterward, but you’ll get it off of whatever it was on.
Cutting it Off
Padlocks are primarily an effective deterrent. Whatever you have locked up isn’t entirely secure, but it will take time and a lot of noise to get past the padlock. This will scare off most criminals, who prefer to be more discrete. An angle grinder can make quick work of the padlocks shackle. Even a hacksaw will eventually get the job done, but you’ll be in for quite a bit of work.
Leave a Broken Padlock to the Professionals
A locksmith can drill out the core of the lock quickly and safely. This is a sure-fire way to get the lock off and the go-to when you need to get it done in a hurry. Any locksmith can handle this job, even a commercial locksmith or automotive locksmith will have the right tools for this job.
