Pro Handyman Blog

A customer thought to call his handyman to remove a lock that he had lost the key to. He had locked his side gate with a padlock and wanted to remove the lock. He started using a hacksaw but quickly found that this was going nowhere.

There are a few quick ways to remove a padlock. Bolt cutters work great but you may have to rent them if the lock shaft is casehardened. The longer the handles on the bolt cutter, the more pressure is exerted at the cutting head. You may find it necessary to place one handle against your stomach and then squeeze the other handle with both hands. It’s not he most comfortable way to cut a lock shaft, but sometimes you need to get creative to get maximum force.

The other way I prefer is to grind it off. Use a small grinder with a 4” wheel and cut through the shaft. Yes, you will get a small spray of sparks, but cutting the shaft is pretty effortless using this method. The only challenge you may have is finding electricity close enough to the lock to be able to use the grinder. You other option is a longer cord or a generator.