Better Homemade Padlock Shims
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2021 2:05 am
You've heard about the aluminum ones you can snip from cans but they're shit.
Moving on.
Instead, why not make them from steel so they don't crumple immediately when you try to use them? Speaking with Sicarius recently I'd mentioned this idea but I'll elaborate in this topic how you can have your own unlimited, effective padlock shims for free using only a couple simple tools.
First you'll need stock. The best common material out there for this job is steel banding, used to bundle together lumber, bricks, and other building materials. This steel is thin and springy - perfect for shims not to mention picks, wrenches, and other tools. If that's completely unavailable to you in your area (construction sites?) you can opt for lighter weight steel food cans. These lack spring but will still make an acceptable shim if you select a thin enough can.
Today's internet has a plethora of tutorials on making the aluminum ones so I'll direct you to Google for looking up the shape and general dimension of these. Oh yes, welcome to a half ass guide. Instead of using aluminum however, you want to cut your shape from the steel. Being tougher, you'll need the right tool. Tin snips work great, those serrated utility scissors - sometimes called magic scissors - will cut through, dremel obviously... if you're hung up on this part feel free to reply and I'll try to help.
Once you've gotten your rough cut finished, file to a proper finish. If you lack access to files, a dremel, or anything else capable of doing this you might get away with fine use of your cutting tool. Again, if there are problems reply.
At this point you need to shape the shim. With commercially bought shims, you typically receive a set that can handle different diameter shackles. In your case, you need to do the shaping yourself and the best way to do this is find a cylinder you can hammer the shim against. Thick nails or bolts can work, maybe a shackle itself if you have a long shackle padlock, just something round and strong enough to endure being worked without bending. Then, you just hammer a few times until it's rounded. While springy, even strapping steel will work here as it's small enough at this point to overcome that property and retain a rounded shape.
If possible, try to create several sets that can be used for various sizes of padlocks.
Often, this is the fastest way to get through low security padlocks which are still all too common because of their price and the perception that your average person can't get past them with non-destructive means. (Sadly, this isn't necessarily wrong.) While even the infamous Masterlock No.4 can be picked rather quickly, shims are still faster and far less fussy when you take light levels and hasp arrangement into account. Many locks may be in a lit area so time on target is ideally kept to a minimum. Keep some kind of lubricant for the lock handy and apply prior just in case it's a bit weathered. Speed is always nice, right?
Outside of being a budget option, this also leaves no purchasing trail so you're never on record having bought tools like this. They work fine, give it a try. I think you'll be happy with the results and hopefully open up new areas to you. Cheers.
Moving on.
Instead, why not make them from steel so they don't crumple immediately when you try to use them? Speaking with Sicarius recently I'd mentioned this idea but I'll elaborate in this topic how you can have your own unlimited, effective padlock shims for free using only a couple simple tools.
First you'll need stock. The best common material out there for this job is steel banding, used to bundle together lumber, bricks, and other building materials. This steel is thin and springy - perfect for shims not to mention picks, wrenches, and other tools. If that's completely unavailable to you in your area (construction sites?) you can opt for lighter weight steel food cans. These lack spring but will still make an acceptable shim if you select a thin enough can.
Today's internet has a plethora of tutorials on making the aluminum ones so I'll direct you to Google for looking up the shape and general dimension of these. Oh yes, welcome to a half ass guide. Instead of using aluminum however, you want to cut your shape from the steel. Being tougher, you'll need the right tool. Tin snips work great, those serrated utility scissors - sometimes called magic scissors - will cut through, dremel obviously... if you're hung up on this part feel free to reply and I'll try to help.
Once you've gotten your rough cut finished, file to a proper finish. If you lack access to files, a dremel, or anything else capable of doing this you might get away with fine use of your cutting tool. Again, if there are problems reply.
At this point you need to shape the shim. With commercially bought shims, you typically receive a set that can handle different diameter shackles. In your case, you need to do the shaping yourself and the best way to do this is find a cylinder you can hammer the shim against. Thick nails or bolts can work, maybe a shackle itself if you have a long shackle padlock, just something round and strong enough to endure being worked without bending. Then, you just hammer a few times until it's rounded. While springy, even strapping steel will work here as it's small enough at this point to overcome that property and retain a rounded shape.
If possible, try to create several sets that can be used for various sizes of padlocks.
Often, this is the fastest way to get through low security padlocks which are still all too common because of their price and the perception that your average person can't get past them with non-destructive means. (Sadly, this isn't necessarily wrong.) While even the infamous Masterlock No.4 can be picked rather quickly, shims are still faster and far less fussy when you take light levels and hasp arrangement into account. Many locks may be in a lit area so time on target is ideally kept to a minimum. Keep some kind of lubricant for the lock handy and apply prior just in case it's a bit weathered. Speed is always nice, right?
Outside of being a budget option, this also leaves no purchasing trail so you're never on record having bought tools like this. They work fine, give it a try. I think you'll be happy with the results and hopefully open up new areas to you. Cheers.