How to Remove a Lock From a Storage Unit

How to Remove a Lock From a Storage Unit
Written By
Russell Wood
Russell Wood
Published: Mar 28, 2011
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
1 minute read

To remove the lock, take a few tips from firefighters who remove locks in the course of duty. A few different techniques can get those locks off in just a few minutes.

Things You Will Need

  • 42 inch bolt cutters
  • Halligan bar
  • Sledgehammer
  • Battery operated rotary tool
  • Cut-off wheel
  1. Place the jaws of the 42 inch bolt cutters around the shackle of the lock. Close the cutters to attempt to cut the shackle off of the lock. If this doesn't work, proceed to the next step.

  2. Tilt the lock so that the shackle of the lock is parallel to the ground. Insert the pointed end of the Halligan between the shackle and the storage locker. Hit the opposite end of the Halligan with a sledgehammer to separate the shackle from the lock.

  3. Another technique is to install the cut-off wheel into the battery powered rotary tool. Cut the shackle off of the lock with the tool.

The Drip Cap

  • Storage units come in all shapes and sizes and most are secured with some kind of lock, be it a padlock, combination lock or otherwise.
  • To remove the lock, take a few tips from firefighters who remove locks in the course of duty.
  • Cut the shackle off of the lock with the tool.

Photo Credits

Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Russell Wood

Russell Wood is a writer and photographer who attended Arizona State University. He has been building custom cars and trucks since 1994, including several cover vehicles. In 2000 Wood started a career as a writer, and since then he has…

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