Cutting padlocks

[Bill Dufour]

The second option is pick it. No, really, padlocks are easy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttHclcJZex4


Or shim the lock to open it.

[fRED mCnEILL]

Nope. I would remove any combustable material within a few feet on the ground and then orient the angle grinder so the sparks are directed downward. If you really want to play it safe(I notice you are near where they had some catastophic forest fires) you can hose down the areas around the lock first.

[John Stankus]

What about cutting the hasp rather than the lock?

[Jim Dwight]

I have done it twice in the last few weeks with my angle grinder. It went quick and was easy. I did not worry much about sparks other than not getting them in the face. They probably would not ignite anything and if they did you could stomp it out.

[Ole Anderson]

Angle grinder with a 1/16" cutoff blade. Cuts like butter. It won't know if the lock is hardened or not.

[lowell holmes]

Call a locksmith?

[Osvaldo Cristo]

It is my favorite way to open a such padlocks: https://youtu.be/1jJP0CcuJyE

Easy and fast.

Good luck.

[Mike Heidrick]

Festool makes this angle grinder ....................

[Victor Robinson]

Festool makes this angle grinder ....................

Yes, now we are talking!

[Mikail Khan]

Angle grinder with a 1/16" cutoff blade. Cuts like butter. It won't know if the lock is hardened or not.

15 to 20 seconds is all it takes.

MK

[Victor Robinson]

Ok that didn’t take but a few minutes with my M18 grinder. Thanks for all the responses everyone...certainly learned there was more than one way to skin this cat, but by far the easiest for me was the grinder.

[Bruce Wrenn]

I used to work for a mini storage company. One renter left a pick proof German lock on a unit. Two locksmiths couldn't open it, but I did in less than 30 seconds, and didn't use a grinder. I took a pick axe and forced the pointed side into loop of look as far I could get it, then took a 2# hammer and struck body of lock, driving it down taper of pick axe. No more lock!

[Ted Phillips]

I recently had to pop a 3/8" master lock off of a Boy Scout equipment shed. I didn't think my 18" bolt cutters were up to the task, but they were all I had. One snip, and the lock was toast. It took me all of 10 seconds. I guess they aren't making Master Locks like they did in the old days...

[Al Launier]

You might consider lock picks - easy to use, especially on padlocks.