My first attempt at a working wooden padlock

**Hermit** · 29th August 2012, 09:20 PM

Second time lucky.....

Originally Posted by AUSSIE

Hi Steve
I have built about 30-35 locks ,some from the book and some of my own design,as no doubt you will also.I mainly used old hammer handles for the spring.
I had one test lock that screwed together(not glued) I used this for test purposes.

Hello mate. Using old hammer handles is a great idea. I also thought about only screwing the face on this padlock, for experiments, but decided against it since other future locks will be different sizes and may even have different-shaped springs.

A few things bust the spring.
1.very fast key turning,kids seem to turn it very fast.The spring may snap like a carrot.
2 Don't glue the spring in the bottom and round the slot it fits in on the edges.It reduces a bad stress point on the spring.
3.Thickness is critical and no flaws in the cutting,sand smooth as you can.spring rate alters dramatically with just a few rubsof sandpaper.
Round the lond sides over so it does'nt start to bind on the case after awhile
You dont need preload on thespring to hold the tongue in place.

Great tips, Ross. I wouldn't have thought of intentionally not gluing the spring in place and rounding the entrance to the slot.

The Camphor Laurel test spring is 1.4mm +-0.03mm. I'll make the others similar.

I figured that it was best not to pre-load the spring, so I sanded the contact face of the lever until there was about 0.005" clearance between lever and spring. I left a bit of extra material on the lever face that comes into contact with the key, for now. I'll shave it down in conjunction with making the key, to ensure good operation.

Bret, the books did inspire me. The locks made by others have equally inspired me, too.
I think I have another new addiction.

Well, I didn't get as much done as I'd hoped today, had a fair bit of other stuff to do.
I got the lever done, though, as mentioned above. It fits into place well.

The lever: -
Attachment 221518

Attachment 221519

And in place, for checking. There isn't a gap at the lever pivot dowel, that's just a shadow. : -
Attachment 221520

Next up I'll quickly knock over the key and the shackle, then it's onto some spring testing, to find the best timber.

I had a thought today of another possible candidate for wooden springs - 2.5mm Bamboo skewers.
Nothing says the spring must be flat. 2mm toothpicks could be used for weaker springs.
Easier to fit, too - I'd much rather drill a hole than cut a slot.

This current lock needs a flat spring, but future ones.....

**Hermit** · 29th August 2012, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by Geekgirl

Sucks when automated messages screw up typing, no really way to auto save on the net.
I am watching with interest as I would like to make one out of plexy glass

so my Nephews can see inside the locks and how they work

Kat.

G'day Kat. Enjoying your new workbench? (Mine's become my second home.)

When typing a long post, it's sometimes better to first put it together in another word processor, then paste it into the post when ready.
Wish I'd done that earlier, but not to worry, I think I covered everything again, second time 'round.

A perspex version would work well, I'd imagine. Perspex is well suited to woodworking tools, even routers. Lower friction than timber, too.
You'll have to show us when you build one.

**colbra** · 30th August 2012, 12:28 AM

Originally Posted by Hermit

I just completed a long-winded post with replies to everyone, then got a message that my PM Inbox was overflowing, clicked on it and it replaced the page with all of my work.

I'll try again later when I have more time.

Hi Steve I got an alert email to say that there was a PM from you I read the email but could not get it in my private messages… may have had something to do with your PM being full.
I had also sent you one earlier I got a message back on that one saying your box was full.
It’s good to see Aussie has come on board with this…. As I said earlier he was the first to put a post in on the forum about wooden locks that’s to my recollection but I could be wrong I was once in 1948

Col

PS I have just been walkabout in the shop/forum had a look at some video on marquetry plus a bit of a chat to chrisb691 I am just going to nick over the to the gardening section to have a yarn to Tonto hrisb691

Col

**Hermit** · 30th August 2012, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by colbra

Hi Steve I got an alert email to say that there was a PM from you I read the email but could not get it in my private messages… may have had something to do with your PM being full.
I had also sent you one earlier I got a message back on that one saying your box was full.
It’s good to see Aussie has come on board with this…. As I said earlier he was the first to put a post in on the forum about wooden locks that’s to my recollection but I could be wrong I was once in 1948

Col

PS I have just been walkabout in the shop/forum had a look at some video on marquetry plus a bit of a chat to chrisb691 I am just going to nick over the to the gardening section to have a yarn to Tonto hrisb691

Col

Yeah, Col, I keep getting messages that my storage is full, go and empty it, then it happens again almost immediately. Turns out that only the Inbox was emptied and not the Sent Items folder. I just emptied the lot and changed settings so that Sent Items aren't stored any more.
Shouldn't be a problem again.

I think AUSSIE's might have been first. If not, I think he's the most prolific lock maker here, as far as I've seen. Great advice.

**crowie** · 30th August 2012, 09:53 AM

G'Day Steve,
No advice from me,
It's nearly done my head in just looking through the thread.....WOW, very will detailed WIP photos & build notes, thank you.
Cheers, crowie...

PS: Don't some of you blokes sleep regular hours???

**Hermit** · 30th August 2012, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by crowie

G'Day Steve,
No advice from me,
It's nearly done my head in just looking through the thread.....WOW, very will detailed WIP photos & build notes, thank you.
Cheers, crowie...

PS: Don't some of you blokes sleep regular hours???

Sleep??? What's that?
Seems such a waste of time so I try to avoid it.

**colbra** · 30th August 2012, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by crowie

G'Day Steve,
No advice from me,
It's nearly done my head in just looking through the thread.....WOW, very will detailed WIP photos & build notes, thank you.
Cheers, crowie...

PS: Don't some of you blokes sleep regular hours???

Hay Pete you Pat snores

Col

**Dalboy** · 30th August 2012, 11:43 AM

Padlock is coming along great.

Sleep well it is time I went to bed it is 1:40am here by the time I get up this will be finished

**Hermit** · 30th August 2012, 06:58 PM

The shackle, cut out, rounded and cleaned up a bit. I didn't round much because my Dremel round-over bit is tiny and I didn't want to spend forever shaping by hand with sandpaper and block. I didn't trim the faces at the business end yet, neither did I cut the hole for the end of the latch bolt: -

Attachment 221587

And a quick test fitting. Without the latch bolt in place at this stage. (When I put the top lamination on, the 10mm hole lines up beautifully, too.) So far so good.: -

Attachment 221588

I realised this afternoon that I'm out of 10mm dowel for the shackle pivot, so I can't do any more on that for now. I'll get some in the morning.
This took longer than expected, (4 hours), so I haven't started on the key yet.
I'm a bit slow, but getting faster.

**Hermit** · 30th August 2012, 07:22 PM

Same pic as before, but with the latch bolt laying on top.
(I took this pic for someone else, but thought I'd add it here as well.): -

**Hermit** · 1st September 2012, 12:58 AM

Latch bolt recess cut into shackle: -
Attachment 221861

Shackle test fit, closed: -
ay. Shackle test fit - closed.JPG

And open: -
az. Shackle test fit - open.JPG

I'll quickly finish the key in the morning, then onto the all-important spring material testing.

**AUSSIE** · 1st September 2012, 07:28 AM

Looking good Steve.I cant wait to see finished lock

**colbra** · 1st September 2012, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by Hermit

Latch bolt recess cut into shackle: -
Attachment 221861

Shackle test fit, closed: -
ay. Shackle test fit - closed.JPG

And open: -
az. Shackle test fit - open.JPG

I'll quickly finish the key in the morning, then onto the all-important spring material testing.

Good morning Steve I have just seen you latest Post of the W.I.P. your skill level and presentation are a bench mark for all. Superb effort I am sure your other projects will all be a pleasure to look at

Colbra

**Hermit** · 1st September 2012, 06:05 PM

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

So, I went to buy my 10mm dowel yesterday, only to find that the nearest they sell is 9.5mm. Shame I'd already drilled 10mm holes for the shackle pivot.

I could have sworn I'd bought 10mm from them in the past.
I re-drilled to 12mm and shaved some 1/2" dowel to fit. (Don't tell anyone.)
Makes no difference in operation, at least. In fact, I got to move the hole 0.5mm, so the shackle fitted even better.

I made the test springs this afternoon. On top of the planned ones, I added some Tas Oak, (Vic Ash). I'll try them out tonight.: -

**bj383ss** · 1st September 2012, 11:15 PM

Steve you are flying through this project. Looking good.

Will you be putting a finish on this lock?

Bret

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