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These are the tools I used to pick the ERA 5 Lever closed shackle security padlock below.

Heres the tools and you can make them as well.

A hacksaw blade and a key cut to No:1 height.

The key is for lifting the levers in turn up and down the pack as you apply tension down the left side of the shackle on the bolt as such.  This lock can be bypassed in seconds using this method.

Nice one Dean. Just goes to show that you don't have to spend out on expensive tools if you take some time making and testing your own.

Hi Dean

I have made the same tool for these era padlocks and have a slightly thinner hacksaw blade with a bend near the end for the squire old english padlocks using a modified key. I have the named padlock pick set but have  much more sucess using these home made tools.

Nice one Martin & Dean again. Perhaps you could do a video demo of both the tools you've made for the video section?

This is really what makes good locksmiths, the ability to look at a lock, how it works, then adapt and make tools to defeat the it.

Nice one Martin.  I was planning on getting the padlock pick set from one of the suppliers, is it worth the cash? As I do like the look of it.

Don't waste your money in my view Dean. The ones available are very restrictive with the locks they will open and I have found bind and seize on a lot of locks. Again, adjustments to both the wires and stems was required to make it work! Also if you want your tension tool back after picking you have to pick the lock back closed.

As you have done for the ERA, though for most you will need a tension tool and wire, you can make your own tension tools and wires for all these padlocks, including for example the Chubb battleship. It's simply just making a tension tool from a key blank, filing it down on the top side so there's enough room to get a wire in to lift the levers.

I've just got a load of different key gauges, pipe and standard, with various height's for tension tools, and the same with the wires. Never let me down.

I have found the hacksaw blade tension method better than the pick set I bought as much more tension can be applied to hold the levers in place, as Jay says these sets could be made cheaply from key blanks and then it doesn't matter so much if they break.

How do's this work then fella's ? Do you slip the the hacksaw blade down the side of the shackle ?

Curious as I'm all about learning, and have just ordered an Era padlock to practice on, and WAS going to order the ready made pickset !

Ooop's just re read the originol post, and think I answered my own Question !!!:roll:

Dean at 01:17AM on Dec 10, 2009

 

 

These are the tools I used to pick the ERA 5 Lever closed shackle security padlock below.

 

 

 

Heres the tools and you can make them as well.

 

A hacksaw blade and a key cut to No:1 height.

 

 

The key is for lifting the levers in turn up and down the pack as you apply tension down the left side of the shackle on the bolt as such.  This lock can be bypassed in seconds using this method.

any chance of some measurments?

john cavill at 12:27PM on Feb 09, 2010

Dean at 01:17AM on Dec 10, 2009

 

 

These are the tools I used to pick the ERA 5 Lever closed shackle security padlock below.

 

 

 

Heres the tools and you can make them as well.

 

A hacksaw blade and a key cut to No:1 height.

 

 

The key is for lifting the levers in turn up and down the pack as you apply tension down the left side of the shackle on the bolt as such.  This lock can be bypassed in seconds using this method.

any chance of some measurments?

Its on my list of things for the forum.  Will get round to it very soon.

That's brilliant, I saw something similar like that on YouTube a while ago. Where do you get the blank keys from and what size blanks would be best to buy?

Go to your local key cutters and ask if they can sell you just the blanks. some will and some won't?

Ask for the ERA 5 lever, Chubb Batleship and Cruiser padlock blanks. These are specific blanks but if you want more general blanks ask for short 4g, 5g, and 6g Pin blanks.

Thanks for that Jay, I'll try that.

Nigel at 02:50PM on Mar 13, 2010

That's brilliant, I saw something similar like that on YouTube a while ago. Where do you get the blank keys from and what size blanks would be best to buy?

I actually purchased one of these and cut down the original key, so I only have 1 original key.  Like Jay says, try your local locksmith/keycutter or even Timpsons.

thank for all the info

Dean at December 10, 2009 at 1:17 AM

 

 

These are the tools I used to pick the ERA 5 Lever closed shackle security padlock below.

 

 

 

Heres the tools and you can make them as well.

 

A hacksaw blade and a key cut to No:1 height.

 

 

The key is for lifting the levers in turn up and down the pack as you apply tension down the left side of the shackle on the bolt as such.  This lock can be bypassed in seconds using this method.

can anbody shed light on this as i have been trying for some time,and i dontreally want to cut down the key as yet.

lee at May 18, 2010 at 1:35 PM

Dean at December 10, 2009 at 1:17 AM

 

 

These are the tools I used to pick the ERA 5 Lever closed shackle security padlock below.

 

 

 

Heres the tools and you can make them as well.

 

A hacksaw blade and a key cut to No:1 height.

 

 

The key is for lifting the levers in turn up and down the pack as you apply tension down the left side of the shackle on the bolt as such.  This lock can be bypassed in seconds using this method.

can anbody shed light on this as i have been trying for some time,and i dontreally want to cut down the key as yet.

I have this padlock aswell and would like to see this method being used on video

i tried the "dean" method but for some reason could not get the tension,then snapped the key,so i will buy another blank tomorrow,as jay says "let no lock bar your way"

I have no idea how to do a vid, but can do a series of photo's, which I will.