![]() Brass and stainless steel are the weakest shackle materials, but if you’re buying for portability and value, brass and steel may be all there is to find. The shackle (the part that physically locks/unlocks) is typically made of brass, stainless steel, boron carbide, or molybdenum steel alloy. Metal lock bodies are slightly stronger but can leave scratches and dings on surfaces. These are rugged materials that will stand up to the elements, so they’re a wise choice for doors and gates. Most lock bodies (the part that houses the locking pins and cams) will be made of either weatherproofed plastic and vinyl or some kind of metal derivative. In other words, balance the lock’s risk of breaking or being busted versus the comfort and convenience it will afford you. So while you may not want to lug a hefty, hockey puck-sized lock to the gym, it may be worth your while to err on the side of caution with a tougher look if you’re going to keep your wallet in your locker. Some locks are small and lightweight for portability, but anything too flimsy might invite a breach. To choose the best combination lock for your purposes, think about what you need to keep secure-and where. Single and multi-dial combination locks are the most recognizable designs, used for everything from luggage and lockers to doors and sheds. As you dial in the code, several lock pins interact with notches cut into the cams when each lock pin is successfully set into each cam notch, the lock can be opened. In one of the most standard designs, a series of rotating discs (called cams) make up the internal components. Risk LevelĪ combination lock is a common security device that uses a series of letters, numbers, or other symbols as a personalized code to lock/unlock the shackle. Cheap materials and poor design can lead to potential theft, so keep the following important factors and key features in mind when shopping. When shopping for a combination lock, the sheer number of choices can be daunting. Just don’t try this at the gym.Photo: What to Consider When Choosing the Best Combination Lock But if you’ve got an old lock lying around where you can’t remember the combination and need to get it open, this will help you out. Needless to say, you really shouldn’t use this for any non-legitimate purposes. So, while I haven’t tried every Master lock, that rough road test would indicate that the math works. Sound ridiculous? I grabbed an old Master lock I couldn’t remember the combination to, and it cracked it within three tries. Punch the results into this website, and it gives you up to eight potential combinations. Lift the shackle again and turn the dial clockwise until you hit resistance. Note the two “catches” that are straddling a number. Between 0 and 15, the dial will “catch” three times. Lift the shackle in the locked position and turn the dial counterclock wise. If you need a bit more safety than a combo lock can provide, take a look at our Schlage LiNK system review too. He’s even come up with an algorithm that will spit out the likely combos. But it turns out that they’re not quite as secure as we thought, as we’ve found out thanks to the research of a lock expert. We all know this, but we settle for using them because, obviously, they’re better than nothing. Combination locks aren’t necessarily the safest thing in the world.
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