# Stuck padlock **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 28, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-padlock/236931 "2004-03-28T17:17:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-padlock/236931/1 "2004-03-28T17:17:42Z")
I have a padlock which will not open - I can turn the key and feel the latch disengage, but the U does not come out and so the lock does not open. It seems to be rusted shut. I’ve applied WD40 without success. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-padlock/236931/2 "2004-03-28T17:31:57Z")
I have a padlock which will not open - I can turn the key and feel the latch disengage, but the U does not come out and so the lock does not open. It seems to be rusted shut. I’ve applied WD40 without success. I need to get into the closet it locks. Any suggestions on how to open it? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-padlock/236931/3 "2004-03-28T17:54:26Z")
Huh? Added to your post while it was trying to load didn’t you. Anyway. Try sitting the padlock in a container of wd40 for a while. An hour, or a day even. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-padlock/236931/4 "2004-03-28T18:02:57Z")
1. Obtain hammer. 2. Apply key to lock, simultaneously smacking the lock with a downward force. 3. Repeat until unlocked. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-padlock/236931/5 "2004-03-28T18:06:22Z")
Since the WD40 hasn’t done the trick, the next choice is fire. A propane torch carefully applied to the shackle (the U-shaped portion) may assist in breaking the corrosion within the mechanism. Be careful not to damage adjacent surfaces and/or you. After a few minutes of cooking, try the key again, and with the assistance of a friend, apply a sharp rap to the lock body-driving it down and away from the shackle while the key is held in the open position. If that doesn’t work, it’s time to invite Mr. Boltcutter for a visit. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-padlock/236931/6 "2004-03-28T18:17:34Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Anyway. Try sitting the padlock in a container of wd40 for a while. An hour, or a day even. Silly me. I responded to your first thread. Where it wasn’t apparent that the padlock was actually in use. In which case it would be quite difficult to sit it in a container of wd40. ---
**Author:** ![dmartin29](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5e9695/32.png) [@dmartin29](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dmartin29)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-padlock/236931/7 "2004-03-28T18:36:36Z")
Ziplock bag, good portion of WD40 or “3in1 oil”. Place over lock, partialy close, squeeze out air, complete closure. Give it about 30 Min. then remove and hit with hammer! Delay fire treatment until most of oil has dripped off! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-padlock/236931/8 "2004-03-28T19:12:47Z")
Good suggestions all, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![bsane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@bsane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bsane)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-padlock/236931/9 "2004-03-28T20:05:46Z")
It only takes moderate force to pry open a padlock. All you need is a small crowbar or a stout screwdriver and about 5 minutes. Just use the lever to seperate the lock… ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-padlock/236931/10 "2004-03-28T21:09:06Z")
> [@dmartin29](#): > > Delay fire treatment until most of oil has dripped off! Sound advice there 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-padlock/236931/11 "2004-03-28T22:59:57Z")
A pair of bolt cutters can be had for less than 20$ if you know where to look, and can lead to interesting conversations should you have to use it in a public area. 😉 Plus they look cool on your garage wall… I’d lend you mine but it’d probably be a bit of a walk. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-padlock/236931/12 "2004-03-30T22:38:17Z")
Plenty of WD40, a bit of time, and brute force did the trick.