A very secure padlock

[donsgal]

In a matter of weeks dh and I will be putting a shipping container on our homestead to help clear out our present house so we can paint it and put it on the market.

While it's generally true that most of my stuff isn't worth stealing, there might be the odd thing or two that we wouldn't want to turn up missing. There is also the issue of vandalism.

We're looking for a jim-dandy lock for the storage unit that is as tough and indestructable as they come.

Does anybody have any suggestions based on their own experience?

donsgal

[james dilley]

Go to the local Truck Stop, And get A lock. Or try looking at A truck supply company. I have 3 of them , Paid Over $100.00 for all three. You should get the lock for $25.00 or so. Don't go cheap..

[wilderness1989]

I've used a lock that says "series HT-15 AMERICAN u.s.a HARDENED" I got it in Tucson 25 years ago. I've locked alot of Harleys and storage units with it and haven't had a problem. It's a lock with a round key like the keys used on alot of soda/pop machines.

[fantasymaker]

Theres a round hocky puc looking lock that is very self protecting but ya gotta remeber if your in a remote place they will have plety of time to cut thru the wall with a torch.
What did you have to give for your container? wheres it coming from?

[Ole Man Legrand]

Out doors mercury vapor lights will deter a lot of theives. But then I am always home. Jay

[Beeman]

American makes a good padlock, usually available through locksmith shops. Remember the strength is usually in what the padlock connects to. A good locksmith shop can help you with hardened hasps and protectors that go over the lock.

[tiogacounty]

I once did a construction job in south central Los Angeles (Watts). This is the kind of place where a padlock is just a minor obstacle on your way into the door, no matter how impressive the lock is. The solution, to protect the shipping container doors on our supply trailers, was to shield the lock from access. The owner had fabricated a steel box roughly 6" deep, 12" wide and 20" tall. This box was open on the back and had two 5" arm holes cut into the bottom. It was welded to the door, so that the lock hasp was located inside the box, and very close to the top. To unlock you had to stick both hands in the box, almost up to your elbows, and work the padlock. This prevented all the popular removal techniques, from sledgehammering to burning the padlock off. It was a cheap, low tech. solution that is very effective. I was working another job where there was a professional construction equipment theft ring operating. We had ever type of padlock available. They were cut, torched and smashed on a regular basis. IMHO, spending big bucks on a padlock is a waste.

[suitcase_sally]

To make it a little harder to cut the lock off, get about 30 or 40 real thick washers and thread them onto the part that goes into the lock body (the U-sharped part). This makes it difficult to get a grip with bolt cutters.

[donsgal]

Originally Posted by fantasymaker

Theres a round hocky puc looking lock that is very self protecting but ya gotta remeber if your in a remote place they will have plety of time to cut thru the wall with a torch.
What did you have to give for your container? wheres it coming from?

We're getting it from Action Sales and Rentals in Springfield, MO. It's a used 40' container for $2800 plus about $50 delivery charge.

donsgal

[flaswampratt]

I for the most part work out of shipping containers and store Tens of thousands of dollars worth welding equiptment in them.

Go to http://www.americanvan.com/catalog/s...m?Famil---=201 You'll be looking at about $56.00 for the lock and hasp combo(you will want both), plus shipping.

Item #'s ML-770KL & ML-6270KL

BTW, Home Depot also carries these.

Get the locks and have someone WELD the hasp assemblies to the shipping container doors, half of each hasp per door. I put two sets on each container. As mentioned above, someone with a portable torch or welder can still break in, but this will deter the theives that are lazy.

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[paden]

I've got a couple of these. Don't know how they all stack up against each other though.
http://www.taylorsecurity.com/store/...RTMENT_ID=1226

Here are some other interesting locks.
http://www.lockitt.com/PadlockHighSecurity.htm

[Ozarkguy]

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Lots of good locks out there. Stop at a Harley dealer and you're sure to get a good one.

But truth be told, a lock only keeps the honest people honest.

i.e. If it can't be cut, you spray the dang thing with freon and smack it with a hammer - shatters like glass. DON'T ask me how I know this.

Also don't forget the weakest point of a shipping container or trailer is the roof. Just F.Y.I. rolled aluminum / easily cutable. So don't put anything you REALLY would be lost without in there.

And last but not least, the best deterrant is someone going in and out of the property regularly and BEING SEEN (or leaving signs someone was there) helps.

I'd buy a neighbor or two lunch or something and ask them to keep an eye on the place. After all, you WILL eventually be their neighbors so should be willing to help out.

You might want to read this article on No Trespassing and the use of Purple Paint, and neighbors - just to maybe give you some more ideas.

PAINTED PURPLE

Good luck!!! And hope it all stays safe 'n sound!

Ozarkguy

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