How To Cut A Lock With Bolt Cutters?

If you want to cut a lock with bolt cutters and get confused to know the complete procedure then we have a complete solution. You can follow the set by step guide and unlock the lock easily. Find a comfortable angle, position it and apply force to open.

How To Cut?

Cutting a lock using a bolt cutter is not a tedious task. It is easy and can be done in a few seconds. All you need to do is Manage them correctly.

What Are Bolt Cutters?

A bolt cutter is a tool that is used to cut bolts, chains, wire mesh, and padlocks. It cuts off the shank and removes the bolt. It has long handles and short blades. The hinges are compound to provide maximum force and leverage. It is used in the electrical, mechanical, and construction industries. The long levers make it handy and convenient while using.

Bolt cutters have many different types of blades. Examples are angle cut, shear cut, centre cut, and so on. They are available in many sizes like 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 42 inches. The most commonly used size is 24 inches. In this guide, we will be using 24 inches.

Things Required

You will be requiring the correct pair of bolt cutters, heavy-duty gloves, and a pair of safety goggles. Choosing the appropriate bolt cutter is the first and most important step. A medium-sized 24 inches bolt cutter is what we will be using to cut household locks.

Disc padlocks can also be cut with this size bolt cutter, though it will take longer as they are stronger. The next requirement is to wear your gloves. Always wear gloves as they will save you from accidental cuts and provide you grip.

Heavy-duty gloves will prevent your hands from slipping. Lastly, get your safety glasses on. safety goggles are necessary because while cutting, some metal pieces might fly in the air. Goggles will protect your eyes from tiny metal fragments.

Steps To Cut

Follow the following steps and cut your locks off:

Step 1 – Find The Best Place To Cut

Place the cutter near your waist as it is a comfortable position and then find the best place to cut. Hasp is the easiest place is in most cases. They are usually thin and can give you a hard grip making them easier to cut.

If you cant reach out to the hasp, hold your lock by its body. Don’t go for the loop as it is hard and might end up damaging the blades of your cutter.

Step 2 – Position The Jaws Of Your Cutter

Hold the shackles of the lock with the bolt cutter’s blades. After you do this, pull the handles apart and open the blades. Get hold of the lock firmly.

Grasp the padlock as deep as possible so that maximum force can be applied. Make sure you are holding it tight so that the lock doesn’t slip out of your hands.

Step 3 – Hold The Grip Tightly And Squeeze

Once you are in the most comfortable position and have a firm grip, exert force and squeeze the handles. Squeeze it hard several times so that the shackles get weak and ultimately they break. You can also take the help of someone else if the force you are applying is less.

Are Bolt Cutters Safe?

Bolt cutters look bulky in appearance but some people mistake it for an easy tool. Though they are life-saving tools and not dangerous if used without safety measures they can cause great damage. Here are some safety tips to follow before usage of bolt cutters :

• Adjust before using: adjusting bolt cutters is necessary as it will give the correct tension. It helps in the effective application of force and gives correct accuracy
• Oiling the hinges: lubrication is important to avoid rusting. It also helps in cutting without jerks. Without oiling, it might result in giving you cuts on your hands.
• Wearing protective clothing: the edges of the bolt cutter is sharp. It is advised to wear gloves and safety goggles/ face shields.
• Using the correct blades: repeated usage might blunt the blades. change the blades if they are blunt. Using dull blades might give you muscle strain as it requires more force.

List Of Locks

There have been cases where robbers barged in homes by cutting the locks with bolt cutters. Customers also prefer heavy-duty locks because safety is the biggest concern.  Therefore, brands are making such locks that are impossible to cut with cutters. These locks have strong bodies. There are numerous pins inside which make it hard to pick and the shackle has a tough pattern that is nearly impossible to break.  Here are some of the locks with their features :

• Thick lock shackle: Most of the locks have a thin shackle which makes it easier and quieter to break. Thick lock shackles take more work to cut in comparison to a thin ones. Always prefer the locks with a thick U-shaped loop for shops and storage units.
• Less Exposed Shackle: As you need to get a firm grip of Shackle to cut the lock, choose locks where the shackle is less exposed. It will make it tedious for any thief to cut it and barge inside.
• Strong steel locks: Steel is tough to cut therefore locks constructed of strong steel are a preferred option. Locks made of boron alloy and hardened steel are also very hard to cut.
• U Bike Locks: While locking two-wheelers, don’t use cable locks as they are lightweight and easy to break. Instead, use U Bike Locks. They are tough, sturdy, and thick which makes them almost impossible to cut with a bolt cutter.

How To Make A Padlock Bolt Cutter Proof

Locks are used for the safety of our houses and stores. As cutting the locks with bolt lockers is quite easy, there prevails the risk of theft. Mainly when you choose locks of low brands, they are not 100% safe. Therefore it is necessary to ensure safety.

Here are some tips on how to make your locks bolt cutter-proof. Take a bunch of steel nuts and washers. Open the shackles up and fill them with washers. Then push in a few nuts, set them behind the washers. Repeat this and enter all the washers.

Do the same with nuts and fill the hackles completely. This will make the lock extremely tough to break. It will make it impossible to place the bolt cutter shackle, let alone cut it.

Final Talk

So this is how you can cut the cut your locks by using bolt cutters. Next time you are struck out of your house locked, you need to panic. Just a few easy steps and you are done.