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How to Break a Lock with a Hammer? (Easy Steps in No Time)

Fact checked by Teddy B.Miller

how to break a lock with a hammer

Want to know how to break a lock with a hammer? Place your fingers into the shackle loop and pull to create pressure. Once done, start pounding the side of the padlock with a hammer again and again until you successfully bump the lock to open. Reuse the lock if it is still working.

By following this tutorial, you can open a padlock with a hammer. This is useful in case you are locked out of your house because you lost your key or forgot the code of your lock. It will also save you from paying for professional help.

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What You Need

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Before you can break lock with hammer, there are specific items that you need first. You don’t have to worry because the items you need are easy to find. They may be available in your toolbox. If not, you can purchase them at hardware stores or you can also borrow from a friend or a neighbor.

1. Hammer

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The kind of hammer that will perfectly fit the job is the bump hammer. It is designed for bumping a lock. It is made of high-density polymer with a rubber handle. The benefit of using this hammer is that it prevents damaging the lock by enforcing the right amount of force. It can also exert a sharp impact that is required to ramp the lock.

In case you don’t have a bump hammer, you can also use a mallet. It is a type of hammer that is used in pounding without causing any damage because of its soft head. A mallet can be made of rubber, wood, soft metals, rawhide, and plastic. With its broad head, it provides an easier aim when striking an object.

If you don’t have a mallet, you can also use a ball-peen hammer. It has two heads, of which one is round, while the other looks like a regular hammerhead. It can also be made of wood, steel, and fiberglass. The size of the hammer will depend on the size of your lock. If it is small, you can choose the size 4.

2. Safety gloves

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To prevent any injury, you can use a pair of hammer-proof gloves. Its design makes it durable against hammer strikes. The outer layer can be damaged but it has a thermoplastic layer underneath that keeps the hands protected. However, only your fingers can be protected.

The different kinds of gloves you can choose from are leather gloves and kevlar gloves. The advantage of leather gloves is that they can provide you with a good grip. Kevlar gloves, on the other hand, are thick enough that they are resistant to cuts and abrasions.

Choose the right size of gloves. Make sure that they will fit your hands perfectly. Gloves that are too loose or too tight can make you uncomfortable while you are doing the whole tutorial. It is also better if the gloves have good ventilation to prevent your hands from being sweaty.

3. Protective Goggles

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You need to protect your eyes from any flying objects. A small particle can injure your eyes and may impair your vision temporarily. There are different kinds of goggles that you can choose from, depending on your environment and preference.

You can use a pair of power tool goggles since it has a thick and large lens that does not easily break. It also has an indentation that rests on the bridge of the nose. Also, it usually includes a soft headband that will enable you to adjust and secure it around your head. The goggles also have an anti-fog feature.

If you don’t have a pair of power tool goggles, you can also use a pair of welding goggles. It has a design that will surely protect your eyes from any debris. Unlike power tool goggles, welding goggles have separate lenses surrounded by thick borders. You don’t also have to worry about fogging since the goggles have air vents.

The last option is a face shield. However, make sure that it has a thick cover and it fits your head perfectly. Aside from that, the cover must be clear enough so that you avoid hitting your hands.

What to Do

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Step 1: Prepare the hammer and wear your gloves and goggles

Make sure that you have the right tools and proper garments first to prevent any accident and injury while you are executing each step. The only dangers that you may encounter while doing the tutorial are getting your hands pounded accidentally or some metal debris enters your eyes.

If you don’t have a hammer, you can also use a screwdriver or any hard object. However, you may not have a good grip on the tools, making it difficult for you to aim. As much as possible, use the items required for this tutorial.

Step 2: Place your fingers into the shackle loop and pull to create tension

You need to create pressure on the lock by placing your fingers in the loop of the shackle. Use enough force to pull the shackle from the tip of the padlock. Through this technique, you will be able to place the pins inside the lock in the proper position.

As a reminder, you need to remove all of the extra leeways from the shackle. You won’t open the lock regardless of how many times you hit it if you fail to do this. Also, don’t put your fingers on the body of the padlock to avoid getting injured.

Step 3: Pound the side of the padlock with a hammer again and again until you successfully bump the lock to open

To successfully open the lock, pound the fixed end of the shackle where the pins are located. The strikes must be short and quick. Keep on pounding until you successfully disengage the pins and open the lock. Prevent yourself from exerting too much force on the lock since it could only damage the lock or you may hurt yourself.

Step 4: Reuse the lock if it is still working

As long as you don’t damage the pins inside the lock, you can still use it. Test if the lock is working properly. It must fasten properly. However, if it cannot be fastened anymore, you should throw it away in the trash can and buy a new one to ensure your security.

Conclusion

Do you find the tutorial on how to break a lock with a hammer useful? You can break a lock with a hammer and screwdriver by following the steps. You don’t have to call a locksmith to help you get into your house in case you lost your key or you forgot your code.

If you think the article is helpful, you can share this with your friends so they will also know how to break a padlock with a hammer. You are also free to leave a comment below to tell us about your experiences with the tutorial.

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