Master Lock steel softer than expected

jkilroy · Sep 12, 2006

So a friend of mine brings me this lock that is made for locking your trailer hitch, made by Master Lock. Looks like this...

Anyway, his hitch was just a tad wide and the pin would not engage the lock and he wanted me to trim back the tapered head just a bit to make it work. I am thinking this stuff is probably some hardened stainless. I was concerned it would be a bitch to cut but once it was in the lathe it cut like 303, smooth as glass. I don't know how much actual security you might be buying with this lock.

Is this typical or should the customer expect more?

Evan · Sep 12, 2006

Typical. Expect more? Why would you expect more? Almost all can be opened in seconds with a universal key.

matt_isserstedt · Sep 12, 2006

I don't think that shear pin could be hardened...too much danger for a mis-temper and have a catastrophic fracture failure which would have bad consequences for somebody.

I think it's just a PITA device designed to put the thief down the road to someone else's trailer that's less secured.

Guest · Sep 12, 2006

What do you expect, Master-Lock is "global"
now as in Chinese. Another long time trusted US
brand is now a Chinese POS,...........Bob

Comatose · Sep 12, 2006

Master locks are mostly just there for looks anyway. I thought this video was appropriate if you think hardening the pin will seriously prevent thefts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TNTq3nhuh0

440roadrunner · Sep 12, 2006

There's nothing in the world that you could make a pin that size out of, that wouldn't stop a good pair of bolt cutters, or for that matter, even a good sized hammer.

jim rozen · Sep 12, 2006

Didn't you see the recent thread here?

Even if it *had* been heat-treated, nothing
stops a) a die grinder with cut-off wheel, or
b) a plasma cutter.

Jim

Evan · Sep 12, 2006

Good video!

I was really disappointed when he pulled out the angle grinder. I was expecting a cutting torch.

J Lauffer · Sep 12, 2006

Nice that they have an outlet in the lamp-post. After reading Evan's response I was expecting a cordless angle-grinder, if they even make such a thing.

gbent · Sep 12, 2006

The pin is installed in the receiver. There is no way to get to it with a pair of bolt cutters.

Locks only serve to keep honest people honest. They will not stop a thief, their job is to inconvenience the thief enough the thief will look elsewhere.

Even the best and most expensive locks and safes are rated in the length of time an experienced safecracker will require to open the lock.

Often the fastest way through a lock is around it. If your receiver is locked to your hitch, how is the hitch ball fastened to the receiver? Many times it is simply tightened with a wrench. Unscrew the ball, and wheel the trailer over to the waiting thief's vehicle.

Evan · Sep 12, 2006

No bolt cutter? No problem.

JL Sargent · Sep 12, 2006

Hey Evan, works better if you dont link to the thumbnail.

Evan · Sep 12, 2006

I didn't. I neglected to upload the pic to my server.

JL Sargent · Sep 12, 2006

Those battery grinders are great for a minute or two. On the third minute the battery goes caput!
Heck, a battery powered dremel with a cutoff wheel would snatch a bike!

Sea Farmer · Sep 12, 2006

http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/14/kryptonite-evolution-2000-u-lock-hacked-by-a-bic-pen/

A bike lock opened with a BIC pen.

Freeman · Sep 12, 2006

Locks are made to keep honest people out and dishonest ones in.

sch · Sep 12, 2006

My epiphany on Master locks occurred in junior high school when we all used Master combination locks, about $1.29 IIRC, having a nice HARDENED stamped into the shackle. Some idiot was always putting one throught the chainlink fence gate and I recall maintenance needed one well placed hammer blow to knock the lock off or once, an uninformed school worker brought out some 18" bolt cutters which went through the shackle like a knife through cold butter. Some years later another American lock with tubular key and same HARDENED stamped in shackle yielded to 24" bolt cutter in college. Both locks were US made. As Evan pointed out grinder will make short work of these even if they were 'hardened' but a real hardened shackle would dent the cutters. At least that is my experience trying to cut hardened fish hook ends out of people.

gmatov · Sep 12, 2006

Hardened is relative. Harden enough, you don't need a bolt cutter, just a small ball pien hammer and a good sharp smack.

I have locks, brass bodied, that a 24 inch bolt cutter, not Chinese, will not mark. Know that because my s'inlaw wanted to borrow my outboard and I couldn't find the key. Tried the bolt cutter, it was not impressed. (That's a pun.)

Had to use a diegrinder to cut the shackle. I think you could pound on that lock all day and make a brass blob without breaking it open.

Master brand, laminated locks, are over rated.
Their combinations are a joke. Go to Big Lots, if you have one, and buy a Winner Co., people who sell The Club, brass bodied combo lock, 4 dials for combination, key to set the combination, ONLY with it open, for 4 bucks. Best lock I have ever had. Same as the good locks we had at work, don't know what THEY paid for the same thing.

Cheers,

George

Disaster Area · Sep 13, 2006

if "hardened" is stamped on padlock shackle, bolt cutter will work.
if "boron" is stamped, bolt cutter will dull, chip the blade.
boron alloy will resist bolt cutters better/longer than hardened steel.

geebee509 · Sep 13, 2006

...buy a Winner Co., people who sell The Club,
-------------------------------------------

One way to beat The Club is with a hacksaw. Saw the steering wheel and slip The Club off.

Good Day!

Gil

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