Nowadays, have some people buy just RM10 padlock some other buy Rm50++, what different between this padlock?
I am locksmith and have 10 years’ experience above, let me explain to all of you.
1.Padlock Body Material
At era of scientific and technological, padlock can make by many materials, steel , Zink, brass, plastics and etc, normally the cheaper padlock using steel + plastic (inside the padlock),better padlock using steel + Zink(inside padlock) but good quality padlock are using solid brass. If padlock inside using Zink, for shot period is not a problem, but Weather changes will let Zink Expand, and starting hard to unlock, lastly Zink will broken, on that time, you have key also cant unlock that padlock. Then how about plastics? If padlock inside using plastics will be very danger, in case fire, you may not able to unlock you padlock!!! Not secure at all, theft will very easy to unlock it.
2. Key Systems
Good quality padlock came with rekey able feature, mean you can add on the padlock with the same key systems, single key can open 10 or 20pcs locks, but cheaper padlock cant, maximum came with 5pcs locks a set, don’t believe what you see on the packing, because we don’t have any spare part rekey those padlock.
rekey able function also can use when you are missing the padlock key or someone else took you key away, we can change the key combination, then you missing key won’t open that padlock anymore.
3. Water Resistant
Good padlock body using brass won’t be rust. Can be lock at the main gate, weather resistant. If padlock body using steel will rust, around 1 year, you need change another lock, and need to duplicate another keys, waste your time and money.
4. Anti-Cut
Shackle is another part of padlock, good padlock using special process to make hardened shackle, 3 inch cutter can’t cut the hardened shackle, if normal shackle? Easy Job!!!(Also don’t believe what you see on the packing, we have do a lot experiment.
5. Security Padlock
Poor quality padlock normally we can open less than 5min, theft too. Good quality padlock cant, because designs and material are different, branded padlock always came with threaded end cap, using hardened shackle, solid brass body, special beading and etc. hard to break it easily. We know how the theft work, and how to stop them.
Lock Quality down + people Knowledge up = many thefts buy their own thing but pay by others. And don’t tell me you just want simplify lock for a while, because if not important you not need to lock it.
Lots of customer told us use Rm50++ buys a padlock too expensive, but their don’t know the problem is the material, let me show an example, year 1980an the Branded padlock Viro price is Rm30++ , now around Rm90. Wholesalers in order to reduce costs, their replacing original materials of lock to other, manufacturing cheap illusion. thousands of years ago before already have locks, but rarely seen the lock materials are not brass, our history already given us the best answer.