How to Break Padlocks

How to Break Padlocks
Published: Jun 7, 2011
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
1 minute read

One style uses a spinning combination to unlock it and the other type you open with a key. If you should forget your combination or lose your key, you may have to break the padlock in order to remove it.

Things You Will Need

  • Chisel
  • Hammer
  • Angle grinder
  • Bolt cutter
  • Safety glasses
  • Angle grinder metal cutoff wheel
  1. Put a chisel on top of the padlock’s body. Use a hammer to strike the chisel repeatedly until the body of the lock busts and the U shaped portion of the lock releases from the body.

  2. Use bolt cutters to break your padlock. Open the cutters and place them around the U-shaped part of the lock. Close the cutters and apply pressure until they cut all the way through the U-shaped part of the lock.

  3. Attach the metal cutoff wheel to the angle grinder. Turn the grinder on and apply the blade of the grinder to the U-shaped portion of the padlock. Wear proper eye protection to prevent metal shavings from entering your eye.

The Drip Cap

  • Padlocks were first invented and used back in the ancient days of Rome and Greece.
  • Turn the grinder on and apply the blade of the grinder to the U-shaped portion of the padlock.
  • Wear proper eye protection to prevent metal shavings from entering your eye.

Photo Credits

Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Michael Cantrell

Michael Cantrell is a freelance writer and musician from Piqua, Ohio. He has been writing professionally since 2007. In 2008, Cantrell was a full-time employee with an SEO company named Words You Want. He has a diploma from and is…

Sponsored
HomeSteady Logo

HomeSteady is the ultimate guide for all your household needs, from cleaning and HVAC to electrical, DIY and maintenance.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.