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08/23/07, 07:37 AM
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Shepherd
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Central NY
Posts: 1,658
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Weather Protection Ideas for Lock?
We have padlocks on all the pasture gates that face the road.
The problem is, I don't generally carry my keys around the farm with me, and I'm constantly having to run and get them.
I would like to change them out to combo locks, but I need a way to protect them from the weather. I was thinking of maybe cutting up an old tube tire to hang over the lock...but I thought I'd check in here first and see what others have come up with..
Ideas?
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08/23/07, 07:47 AM
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In Remembrance
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: South Central Kansas
Posts: 11,076
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Locks
I don't have thoughts on your specific question but if you don't mind all still toss in my two cents worth of though.
Nearly three decades ago I helped my uncle clean out his garage. I was offered all he didn't want as payment for the work which was more than generous. One thing he insisted I have was a full box of new keyed alike padlocks that he had intended to use on gas pumps as he once operated a filling station.
The six keyed alike locks have been an absolute joy over the years. I can carry one key instead of many.
I would suggest that you get keyed alike locks to use and if you still don't want to carry one key just hide a key under a rock near where locks are located or another obscure location near each lock.
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08/23/07, 08:27 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 353
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We did the "same key for all outside locks" thing too. After loosing keys, mixing keys up, keys stuck and ......too much cussing the locks.....I went to Lowe's and bought up good locks and had them key them all the same. Two were actually the same already, the man just looked at some number on the box.
To protect the locks in winter, we spray the hole where the lock pieces goes in with Pam spray. It keeps it from sticking when it freezes up. I had not thought about a rubber flap but that sounds good too. You could just cut a chunk of rubber and hang it so it flaps over the lock. Don't try a Zip Lock type bag (we did that one) and they tear up or get holes in them really fast outside.
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08/23/07, 08:33 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: MA and PA
Posts: 3,068
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We have sheets of rubber that are nailed over all the locks on the outbuildings and gates.
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"I yam what I yam" Popeye (btw I yam a woman!)
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08/23/07, 10:42 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Carthage, Texas
Posts: 12,261
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It's pretty dang wet (and when it's not raining, it's 90% plus humid) down here in Texas, and I've never seen a combo lock freeze up from rust. I 'could' envision one freezing up with water ice possibly.
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Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming
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08/23/07, 11:29 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Central WV
Posts: 5,390
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We have combo locks that are "indoor / outdoor" or something like that and they have been hanging out in the weather for a little over two years and still work well. We don't cover them or anything.
If you google "weatherproof resettable combination padlock" you'll see some different types. We just got ours at the local hardware store.
Get the resettable one so you can set them all to one combination (easier to remember) or temporarily re-set one to let the meter reader, a house-sitter, or similar in through your gate.
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Our homestead-in-the-making: Palazzo Rospo
Eating the dream 
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08/23/07, 12:09 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: The Woods of Georgia
Posts: 950
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we buy the plastic covered outdoor locks with rust guard from Lowes or home Depot.
Had one lock for over 15 years and no rust yet.
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08/23/07, 04:11 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 5,240
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Yep, I have to agree with getting a box of all the same lock/key. For the ones on the barns, we have a piece of rubber inner tube hanging over the lock to keep the weather off of it. Having several locks with just 1 key is wonderful!
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Michael W. Smith in North-West Pennsylvania
"Everything happens for a reason."
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08/23/07, 07:16 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Idaho
Posts: 4,332
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Around here the US Forest Circus locks gates across roads and has the lock in a vertical piece of 4" pipe with a hole cut in front to get to the lock, and a cap welded on top to keep rain and snow off. It makes an excellent place to raise wasps.
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08/23/07, 07:20 PM
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Bees and Tree specialty
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Lexington KY
Posts: 1,274
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The key # is on the back of te box....it is also stamped in the key cylinder oin the bottom of most master locks and with that # and 5 bucks a person could have a new key made. I used to have a key to all the water dept gates down by the river and one for all sporting complexes at the school.....best 10 bucks I ever spent personally I don't use master locks for this reason. master lock only has about 15 0r 20 key codes....if you take one master key and try it in every padlock you can find you will be surprised at how many it will open.
Last edited by sugarbush; 08/23/07 at 07:23 PM.
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08/23/07, 07:25 PM
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In Remembrance
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: In beautiful downtown Sticks, near Belleview, Fl.
Posts: 7,102
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EN, it sounds like you should check into one of my many franchises, the appropriate one would be "US Forest Circus Repellant'... 
Works on wasps too!
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If you can read this - thank a teacher. If you can read this in English - thank a veteran.
Never mistake kindness for weakness.
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08/23/07, 08:08 PM
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Shepherd
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Central NY
Posts: 1,658
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ed Norman
Around here the US Forest Circus locks gates across roads and has the lock in a vertical piece of 4" pipe with a hole cut in front to get to the lock, and a cap welded on top to keep rain and snow off. It makes an excellent place to raise wasps.
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Why bother with the lock if the key is right there for anyone to use?
Unless the point is wasp farming? 
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08/23/07, 08:11 PM
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Shepherd
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Central NY
Posts: 1,658
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I found a combo lock that I like, and I bought some sheet vinyl from the
fabric store to make a cover for it.
I'll report back if it freezes up.
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08/23/07, 09:09 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Idaho
Posts: 4,332
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by minnikin1
Why bother with the lock if the key is right there for anyone to use?
Unless the point is wasp farming?
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Key? I never mentioned a key. That gate is locked, and the key is nowhere around it.
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08/23/07, 09:55 PM
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I just hang a piece of rubber over my locks and hang the key on a hook on the backside of the gate post. Never had a problem, but all I have is goats and nobody wants to steal THEM.
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08/23/07, 10:50 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 10,942
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They make a resetable compo lock out of brass. Just put pam on it and it will never rust or freese up.
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God must have loved stupid people because he made so many of them.
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08/23/07, 11:07 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,106
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How about an old sock?
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08/24/07, 07:59 AM
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Shepherd
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Central NY
Posts: 1,658
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ed Norman
Key? I never mentioned a key. That gate is locked, and the key is nowhere around it.
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Ok, I guess I needed some coffee or something...
duh.
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08/25/07, 09:55 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 4,056
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Take an old floor mat from a car and cut a 4x6 rectangle. Use two roofing nails and nail into post above the lock.
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08/25/07, 09:56 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Dysfunction Junction, SW PA
Posts: 4,808
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dip the lock in synthetic motor oil.
itll weather pretty good.
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