Need to cut padlocks on a regular basis. Advice?

[BBQ&Love]

I need to cut padlocks. Over the next year or so it might pick up to a dozen padlocks a month. Some of these could be fairly heavy padlocks and I need to cut them without a lot of mess or hassle. Noise is no problem and I do have a decent Milwaukee cordless sawzall I can use. Bulky is no problem as it will only be used at my place of business. If I get a bolt cutter, what's a decent one for the money. Need to keep the price reasonable.

Any advice?

 

[trboxman]

I'd use the sawzall over bolt cutters.

 

[brslk]

Cordless grinder with a zip disk.

 

[Justin1776]

I like cordless angle grinders/ cut off wheels for cutting bolts, chains, fence, locks etc. Very convenient, but can be pricey

 

[Rye425]

So you're addicted to a show called storage wars eh

 

[pop pop]

FIRE Wrench or locksmith and save the locks?

 

[bradleykd]

I use a set of 24" bolt cutters at work. Makes quick work of it. I didnt buy them so I dont know how much they were, but that is by far the quickest way to do it IMO.

 

[BBQ&Love]

I'd use the sawzall over bolt cutters.

Blade? I have a whole mess of those Lenox diamond blades. Wonder if they would be any good on a padlock. I could find an old one and try it I guess.

 

[BBQ&Love]

So you're addicted to a show called storage wars eh

Close! My storage units get delivered to me. I sell the stuff and get to keep half the profit.

 

[bradleykd]

FIRE Wrench or locksmith and save the locks?

^^ sounds good in theory, but what are you gonna do with a lock with no key?

 

[BBQ&Love]

FIRE Wrench or locksmith and save the locks?

The locks will be tossed.

 

[91bronc300]

Bolt cutters can't really get into those round discus style padlocks. I would probably go for an electric cutoff tool. Cordless or corded depending upon if outlets are available.

 

[rasit]

I'm going with the cordless grinder crowd.

 

[trboxman]

I used a 24tpi bi-metal blade the last time I cut a padlock off of a hasp...took about 30 seconds...maybe...

 

[trboxman]

Or if you're not worried about damage a BFH will take them off even quicker.

 

[BBQ&Love]

Bolt cutters can't really get into those round discus style padlocks. I would probably go for an electric cutoff tool. Cordless or corded depending upon if outlets are available.

Good point. These locks will be kinda up under a handle anyways. Here is a picture of the handle. The padlock hasp part is up underneath it.

 

[BBQ&Love]

Or if you're not worried about damage a BFH will take them off even quicker.

I am only worried about damaging the building or handle.

 

[jjjrmx5]

DeWalt cordless grinder with diamond blade or DeWalt mini saw with cutoff whiz wheel.

I see a few of these done a week.

If in doubt, just stop into any locksmith and ask what they use when the local storage unit calls. Every storage unit owner I know just calls out and then charges the customer/unit holder for the call plus a fee.
Win win.

 

[Altec]

Small portable torch set. Blow them off

 

[Jarhead0408]

Photon Torpedo...
Or crush it with Kim Kardashians ****.

 

[greasemonkey44]

^great replies
ive used a cutoff wheel on an angle grinder, a sawsall, and several pairs of bolt cutters
the cutoff wheel on an angle grinder is the fastest, but also if youre not familiar with one, the most dangerous
bolt cutters is pretty damn fast too, but depending on the lock might do you no good
a sawzall you tend to bend the damn blades doing goofy stuff like that

 

[mdbeck1]

I've used both a sawzall and bolt cutters (24"). The sawzall takes a lot less power than the bolt cutters. ...and if you can't get to the hasp (is that the right term?) on the lock (some of the round ones) you can always cut straight through the lock.

 

[1steve]

Get a lock pick and learn to use it. Fast, cheap, no damage.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_772_772?cm_mmc=Google-pla-_-Security%20Equipment-_-Security%20Locks-_-199475&ci_sku=199475&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw={keyword}

 

[geologist]

Those cordless angle grinders work great - seen them zip locks off in no time on Storage Wars. Barry Weiss cracks me up.

 

[gonefirefighting]

I had a relative who ran a storage facility. I was tasked with all the cutting duties. tried just about everything in the book but finally ended up using a dewalt 18v grinder (high speed) with a thin cutting wheel but I would use a pair of vice grips to clamp and hold the other side of the shackle to hold it in place while I cut.

only took a minute or two.

 

[Mr_fixit]

Cordless grinder with cutting wheel will damage the metal & paint eventually. You may not see it for a while, until the hot sparks burn ever so slightly through the paint and then the metal underneath starts to rust.

 

[JasonTX]

I have 36" Cooper tools (HK PORTER??) bolt cutters and it took 2 men to chew through a rather pedestrian master padlock with a hardened 3/8 iinch shackle. Go circular cutoff. Sawzalls work with the proper blades but you'll get beat up by it in the process and stab the door of your container with the blade tip.

 

[machine_punk]

Would a cordless oscillating tool work in this situation? If it is at your place of business, I'd use one with a cord.

Otherwise, I would use the 4.5" angle grinder, with a cutting disc. Cheap and quick.

M_P

 

[jjjrmx5]

Cordless grinder with cutting wheel will damage the metal & paint eventually. You may not see it for a while, until the hot sparks burn ever so slightly through the paint and then the metal underneath starts to rust.

That's really a question of how experienced the lock cutter is, how smart or good is he/she is with the cordless ciruclar cutoff tool and how best do you not make sparks that fly against the door.

A good metal cutter knows how to redirect his/her sparks or use a metal shim/shield/baffle or welding blanket to contain the damage.

All the times I've see it done witht he cordless DeWalt unit it's a no-muss no-fuss so quick it's done that very few sparks fly. The old style full sheath locks are what most folks use but are very easy to cut, usually withing 3 minutes or less. The bigger dia shank stuff is heftier but has more shaft exposted due to heft thus the sprks can be directed based upon the direction cut and how you tug and direct the loop.

It's not hard to aim your cutting sparks as long as you have at least a little wiggle room. BTDT.

As for ocillating tool. Nope. You need a cutoff wheel or a reciprocating blade and patience for the big dia stuff or a big *** old skool lock cutter. The whiz wheels still work the best.

 

[ImportTuner]

Angle grinder .. bolt cutter will not cut through case hardened locks ..

 

[Sureshot]

A bar or big punch through the hasp and a pipe or crescent. They are defenseless against a twist.

 

[MrMark]

angle grinder with a thin cutoff takes less than 30 seconds on a lock and it is safer than a sawzall. The key is a thin cutoff to make a thin fast cut.

 

[Tech Guy]

As a locksmith, we use angle grinders with zip disks. No time at all

 

[Robbie UK]

At the local storage place the chap carries a cordless dremel-type rotary tool with a metal cutting zip wheel. For better customer provided locks then it is the ubiquitous 4.5" grinder with thin metal cutting wheel.

He also uses a small thin plumbers soldering blanket that has suckers at the corners to protect the paint on the door. He used to use magnets to stick it to the old steel doors but when they moved away from steel he nicked some suckers off an old bathmat. Takes him seconds and he prefers the rotary tool as it makes less noise and he can carry it on his belt.

 

[thecanman]

I'd go with this. No power needed. No blades or wheels to replace.
Just put the duckbill through the hasp and one strike with a sledge hammer and you're in.

http://www.thefirestore.com/store/product.cfm?pID=1350

 

[jeffmoss26]

I'd use a pick because I collect locks. I hate when they are cut

 

[NUTTSGT]

Close! My storage units get delivered to me. I sell the stuff and get to keep half the profit.

Well, that's good. When I read your first post I was hoping you weren't theif coming here for advice.


I have an 18V Dewalt grinder with a cut off wheel, works great on stuff.

 

[Steevo]

Cordless grinder with a zip disk.

This is how they do it on "Storage Wars"

 

[zuk123]

Carbide coated rod (tile saw) in a hacksaw works if you have to do it by hand. You can cut Kryptonite cable locks, hardened shackles, just about anything. Very quick too.

Or use a bolt cutter on the hasp if you don't care about damage. The hasp or locking chain is rarely as strong as the lock.

zuk