

How To Open A Padlock Without A Key And Without Breaking It If you find that you can’t get your lock open for the life of you, a locksmith is your best bet. Locksmiths are also required to purchase insurance for their business. Most locksmiths will charge $50-100 to come and fix a door lock, and less to open a padlock.Īll locksmiths are required to complete some kind of training program and register with the state. Locksmiths are trained professionals in the creation, installation, and repair of locks. Locksmiths are more familiar with opening locks than just about anyone. It is likely that he will bring bolt cutters and simply replace the lock, but it is possible that he could make a new key for you, depending on the kind of lock. If you have already tried most of the above things to get your lock to open, you should call a locksmith to get the lock off. Be aware that you may need to change many of the locks in your home in order to get the master key to work. Some good places to purchase a master key include Ace Hardware, Walmart, and Target. If you have a master key, you can simply insert it into the lock and it should quickly click open. You can have a master key made as a fail-safe in case you lose your primary key. Master keys can be made by most locksmiths and are a bit more expensive than your average lock. (Lock picking tips from: “How to Pick a Lock.” The Art of Manliness, March 12, 2022.)Ī master key is a key that can open multiple locks within a home. Be careful not to apply too much pressure to the wrench, as this can cause the lock not to open properly. You will need to move the pick back and forth in order to get it to catch all of the pins. You will then use the pick and the tension wrench to complete the same feat for as many pins as are in the lock. With just the right amount of pressure, this causes the plug of the lock to rotate slightly, catching the first pin when you push it above the shear line with your pick. This method requires using a tool to manipulate the springs in the lock through the keyhole.Īccording to an expert lock picker, you will first begin picking the lock by taking a tension wrench and placing it at the bottom of the keyhole.

There are several different ways to pick a lock. At this point, the lock should spring open and you should be able to access whatever materials you are trying to get to. You should insert the thicker part of the shim into the body and wiggle the shim back and forth inside of the lock until you hear the latch click. A padlock shim should have two thin sides, as well as a curved thicker part in the middle. The Shim MethodĪ shim is a small piece of metal that is shaped in such a way that you can maneuver it into the top part of the lock, where the shackle meets the body. A wheel grinder can also cut through a steel lock pretty quickly, although this is quite noisy. Squeeze the handles of the bolt cutters together until the shackle is severed, then remove the lock from the door or box you are trying to open. To open a lock using bolt cutters, position the shears on either side of the shackle (the u-shaped upper part of the lock). This is perhaps the quickest way to open a padlock when you are missing a key, but, it unfortunately means that you will lose the use of the lock in the process.
