The tenant that I am evicting has put a super heavy duty padlock on the outside storage shed door. I asked him to remove the lock but he claims he has lost the key. With smaller locks, my bolt cutters would be the answer but this lock is made from solid steel (commercial grade) and I think it would require a welder's torch to cut through it.

#22

An Angle grinder is one tool I have not purchased yet. However, the cost of an angle grinder is the same as calling a locksmith.

I woild cut the lock with an angle grinder.

I would use a grinding blade, not a cutting blade.

If the shakle is hardened, which in this case it probably is, a cutting blade might shatter..

Have someone hold the lock with vice grips, while you grind the shakle.

Yes you have to by the grinder and blade, but you keep them after. I should have bought an angle grinder years ago.

A 4.5" angle grinder is a great tool. I have the Milwaukee 18v and it is one of my go to tools.

NE,

In the past, I have had a bad habit of buying power tools just to solve one small problem. When the problem gets solved, that power tool stays in my tool shed (garage) for forever and never seems to get used again. I would be embarrassed to show someone all of the tools in my garage that only solved one small problem.

My HVAC/electrician picks up quite a few tools from pawn shops.

Does this solution make any sense?

One tool that I use a lot is a Bosch Oscillating multi-tool. I use it for what it was designed for,..making precise plunge cuts in window or door trim.

Instead of trying to cut through the heavy gauge steel padlock, use the multi-tool to cut around the Hasp that the padlock is attached to. The shed doors are 5/8 inch plywood and my multi-tool should be able to cut completely around the Hasp and just remove the entire lock with hasp. Now, this would leave a rectangular opening where the two doors meet but that could be easily repaired with a patch.

At lease renewal time, add a $2/month rent increase on top of whatever else you were planning

12 tenants x 12 month x $2 = enough to hire a lock smith, purchase a grinder, and enjoy a case of Coors.

Sid,

You have been promising me a case of Coors for years,...when are you going to deliver? I am thirsty.

I'd use a sawzall with a metal cutting blade. Have you assistant hold the lock steady with a pair of pliers (the lock will get to hot to hold).

Roy, Harbor freight has grinders on sale regularly for less then $30.00 & HD has decent 4 1/2" metal grinding blades for a couple of bucks each. You might try a metal blade in your multi tool or a metal blade in your sawzall. The Diablo carbide tip metal sawzall blades work great.

You could cut the hasp which is softer steel than the actual lock.

IMO cutting out & repairing the wood is much more work & less cost effective than getting either a grinder or a decent metal blade for one of your existing tools.

My angle grinder replaced my hack saw. It cuts metal, plastics, and I have a blade for cutting tile. I've used the tile cutting blade a lot.

Harbor Freight, Northern Tools, Big Box stores all sell them pretty cheap. You will get your monies worth from this tool.

Add in paper. Free contents to first person to remove lock. Sell concessions during the show.

Lock gone.

Money for beverages.

Lee (IN)

I like your suggestion. My soon to be evicted tenant is a ceramic tile installer. Inside this shed are 30-40 boxes of ceramic tiles. Each box weighs about 50 lbs. I should get a Writ on Wednesday.

Cheapest angle grinder from harbor freight idps around eleven bucks with coupon. Coupons are all over magazines and Sunday newspaper, or go online to their site. Plus, you can use their other free gift with purchase coupon to get a tape measure, screwdriver, etc.

Roy, you gotta get to the next Convention and I'll get you your due!

Roy,

"lost the key" is right there with "The check's in the mail", "He does not bite", "We only smoke outside", "We leave places cleaners than when we move in" and other great phrases.

Me? Hire it, add it to the bill, and move on. This is HIS problem, not yours.

BRAD

You NEED a grinder. I have like 4 so I don't need to change accessories. A cutting blade will cut it fine.

LTD,

Years ago, there was a commercial on TV showing a high-powered hunting rifle being aimed with a padlock in the cross-hairs. In slow motion, the bullet hits the padlock and it explodes into multiple pieces. If there was no house behind this shed (there is), I would be tempted to call a friend of mine who has high-powered hunting rifle. It would interesting to know if a .300 or .308 rifle bullet could penetrate this solid steel 1.5 inch thick padlock.

I thought for sure LTD would have a ballistic solution!

Locally, locksmith is $45. Shop around.

Well Brad and Roy, ballistically speaking... I'd say about 50 lbs of tannerite should take care of the problem. Might have to make a few repairs to the shed, once you find the pieces. :)

Don't be this guy however...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6V0S1m5a7U

Then there's this...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=edRbcTXAijY&t=190s

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In the interest of actually providing some helpful info, here's a "real" video on cutting locks off. Angle grinder vs lock, about 10 seconds.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HxVb_gg_Q8

Go on Youtube & search for a video that shows you how to cut a metal drink can into a handy little tool to slide down into the lock around the metal hook & pop that little sucker open. I have done it.

There are several good ways to break a lock.

The simplest is to put an open end wrenches on each side of the shackle and then push the handles together creating a lever that stretches the shackle apart. It will bend it out enough that you can pull it open or sometimes it will break the body or the shackle since they are brittle because of the hardened steel. Search youtube for break a lock with wrench.

Legally, I can't remove this lock until I get my Writ of Possession on Wednesday. I will get this lock off one way or another. I will take a photo of it and post here on Wednesday.

Or hire the lock cutter guy from Storage Wars. Only takes him about 4 seconds. I know it's real because it is a "reality" show.

If you buy an angle grinder buy a corded one. The battery ones lose their charge too quickly.

Angle grinders are great for sharpening lawn mower blades so you will probably use it again.

I have uploaded two photos of the ceramic tile shed and padlock to my Mr. LL picture page. I have called my tenant and left a message that he has 24 hours to remove this lock or I will.

Roy, the lock is worth more than the shed!

OKHMBLDR,

Today, I bought a metal cutting blade for my ZawSaw. That should work. If not, I can remove the hasp with a crow bar and 2 lb. hammer. That is a nice lock and shed too! And I painted that shed to match the house.

There seems to be a lot Harbor Freight customers here. Does anyone care about owning quality tools anymore?

I know people who buy tools they will never use but will buy it just because of a cheap price. Cheap price only means cheap Chinese made goods that are putting Americans out of work.

Roy , yes I have quality tools but I also have a lot of tools at various properties. amazing how many go missing besides being in locked areas that only a few handy persons have the combos..properties are spread out and I don't take a truck full of tools with me. (I don't even have a truck). I take what can fill a trunk...I have a few places I call a hub,..ones that have more tools and materials but I usually have tools that are used a lot at every place.

Roy,if I you put the sawzall blade behind the lock you could cut off the outer part of the hasp, I doubt if you can hold the lock while trying to cut it and hold the sawzall in position. So if my shed gets broken into and run off with my rusty lawn mower blades or the antique paint mixer I will know where to begin looking, hehe...

Hollis,

You have a ton of tools scattered all over town but no truck? I thought a pick-up was mandatory in this business!

I have enough income to hire out things like dump runs. Nice to be at that level but more importantly it feels MUCH better to be a Land lord.

IE. Just one area,..I HATE to deal with snow, did it for years,..noticed that tenants always seemed to LOVE lots O snow,..(because they didn't have to deal with it very much)

We plowed them out, shoveled their walks and in some of the higher end properties might even clean off their cars,..(simple brush off)

When I decided to have someone do it at both my business and my home,..my attitude toward winter changed substantially.

I consider paying for snow removal a deductible winter tax,that I just pay..(a piece of mind tax?) at my house, 4-6 guys come very early with a plow, 2-3 snowblowers, 2 guys with shovels maybe an extra for clean up and rarely do they stay more than 15 minutes,usually around 10,....and all is cleaned up,..unless its still snowing hard in which as many as necessary will come back and redo what is needed.

OK I still get my hands dirty once in a while,..and I have a big Navigator to haul things if necessary,.but more and more I use (deductible) services to do things and life is sweeter,..

Sawsall cut through metal pipe in the basement...would

Janet,

geta 10 angle grinder from harbor freight and CUT THE HASP or drill out the hardware