Absolute nightmare this evening with rusty padlock :(

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casinosolo

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Got to yard this evening looking forward to a nice ride, but couldn't get in my tack room as the padlock has rusted :(

Drove to get WD40 but after spraying tonnes of the stuff on it still won't open!

The key goes in and turns but won't turn all the way.

OH is away this week and YO is not about so I'm going to have to sort it myself.

I've read to whack it with a hammer or saw it in half; anyone know which I'm best trying?

And can anyone recommend a padlock that won't rust in future!? I've no idea how it happened as it's inside his stable at the back :/

Luckily I didn't urgently need anything out of there but will do by tomorrow!
 
Depends how strong it is. I'd leave it till tomorrow am with wd40 soaking in, & try again. If no luck, bolt cutters are best. You can spring some padlocks. Either the corner of a chisel or flathead screwdriver in the key hole & give it a whacking smack with a hammer.
 
Thanks you two! Will take up a variety of tools tomorrow, but going to have to buy some :/ Because obviously I had far too much money this month and just wanted to waste some...

Calamity seems to be following me around at the moment! Doh.
 
alliebaxter said:
please wear safety goggles or something to protect your eyes if you hit it with a hammer, i had a very near miss doing something similar! good luck
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Oh yikes, thanks I didn't think of this! I work in a school so will be able to borrow some goggles from Science dept tomorrow.
 
depends on what the padlock is attached to, but is there any possibility of unscrewing the clasp? (had to do this before :o)

downside is you then have to put a new clasp on the door & frame as well as get a new padlock but sometimes it's easier if you've used a really sturdy lock than trying to get it cut through.
 
If you hit it with a brick it should snap cleanly off, on bit that clicks in place if that makes sense!!

Learnt that this works from an ex burglar when I got locked out!
 
Polly Peewee said:
depends on what the padlock is attached to, but is there any possibility of unscrewing the clasp? (had to do this before :o)

downside is you then have to put a new clasp on the door & frame as well as get a new padlock but sometimes it's easier if you've used a really sturdy lock than trying to get it cut through.
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Thanks, would have tried this but it's a really ancient clasp which has been painted over a million times! :/
 
This will sound silly, but it has worked 100% with padlocks at work that stick if they are the type that are silver arch and bronze coloured "body" not sure if will work with all the same metal...

Put the whole thing in boiling water for one minute. (I dip them in a mug of water) The bronze part heats quicker and expands quicker, so it is easier to get the lock out.. If it is really rusted, it will more than likely stick again, so don't put it back on..

It may not work, but will save you a lot of hammering if it does... Worth a quick try.
 
Honey08 said:
This will sound silly, but it has worked 100% with padlocks at work that stick if they are the type that are silver arch and bronze coloured "body" not sure if will work with all the same metal...

Put the whole thing in boiling water for one minute. (I dip them in a mug of water) The bronze part heats quicker and expands quicker, so it is easier to get the lock out.. If it is really rusted, it will more than likely stick again, so don't put it back on..

It may not work, but will save you a lot of hammering if it does... Worth a quick try.
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Thanks, will try if I can! My kettle is locked in the tack room but can take my one from home up.
 
Sorry to hijack! But does anyone know how to get a padlock to shut?! I can open mine fine but closing it takes about 10 minutes of wrestling on my behalf which isn't fun in the rain/cold/wind :(
 
Undecided said:
Sorry to hijack! But does anyone know how to get a padlock to shut?! I can open mine fine but closing it takes about 10 minutes of wrestling on my behalf which isn't fun in the rain/cold/wind :(
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It's another job for WD40. Ours did that but the old WD did the trick.
 
I hate standard padlocks and even good ones seem to be tricky sometimes. We now use the round ones that the locking part slides shut using the key, ours have a sliding plastic cover for the keyhole so that doesn't freeze and ours are outside and haven't rusted in two years
 
Was watching a car restoration programme yesterday and they had a ceased engine. The guy said boiling vinegar in a kettle then pouring it on can erode the rust from the heat and acid in the vinegar.
 
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