Padlocks Technical Advice Centre

This this our dedicated help, advice and testing results section for padlocks. Every time we get a good question from a customer, or asked to test a product, then we post the answer or results here. Use the list of Categories or the Search Box below to find the answer you're looking for. Don't worry you can get back to your basket our products by clicking our logo above.

We've also created a concise guide with the most commonly asked questions to download and print here:

How to keep your keys safe when stored outside your home or car.

There are times when you need to leave a spare key to allow visitor access. Gone are the days where you can simply pop a spare key under the flowerpot or doormat. Instead you could install the Masterlock key safe which is available in both small and large sizes. This simple box can easily be […]

Outdoor cables ideal for general use

  There are times when you cannot simply use just a padlock to secure items. This is when a cable can offer a neat solution. We stock a number of different types but here we look at two of them. The Abus Cobra 10/200 cable is tough, flexible and versatile with two looped ends so […]

Which small outdoor padlocks can we use to secure ladders onto a vehicle roof?

Our workforce have to carry ladders on the top of their vehicles and we need to be able to lock them into place. This has been requested by one of the sites they are visiting/working on. We want it so that any of the teams can access the ladders and that they do not need […]

A good quality weatherproof padlock that suits many applications.

Sometimes you need a good quality all-purpose padlock that is robust enough to be used outdoors as well as indoors. The laminated Abus 41 series is one such padlock that is available in a number of sizes. These laminated padlocks are not to be confused with the cheaper alternative you can now find on the […]

Do you have weatherproof padlocks with keys we can use on our beach hut?

We have three long shackle padlocks on our beach hut and someone has tried to cut through one of them. Luckily they didn’t get in but we have decided to change them for closed shackle ones to make it as hard as possible. As the hut is right on the coast we need the padlocks […]

Do you need a high security padlock that is happy in all weathers?

For those wanting something from our higher security range there is the Abus Extreme 83WP/53 padlock, complete with high security features and yet highly weatherproof. The hardened alloy steel shackles, anti-pick barrels and the increased security technology of the double ball bearing locking mechanism, makes this lock an ideal high security measure. The incorporation of […]

Is there an outdoor combination padlock I can use by the sea?

We have some wooden storage bins that site visitors can use to dispose of their rubbish. The inner bins need to be accessed to be emptied but we need to be able to secure them at other times. As we have a number of staff that might need access we would need prefer to have […]

Do you have a combination padlock for a gym locker?

I am joining the gym this month and I need to take in my own padlock for the locker. They have said that a 30 or 40mm padlock is fine but I am not sure what this means. I would rather not have one with a key as sometimes I have a swim or sauna […]

Can we get a weatherproof combination padlock for the storage boxes on our boat?

We have some storage boxes on the roof of our narrowboat which are used for items we do not need everyday. Although it does not need to be high security, we do need to lock them off, especially when we are away from the boat. We really want to avoid having keys if we can […]

A padlock for all seasons with this multi-purpose lock

The Abus Silver Rock range is an excellent all round performance padlock complete with zinc body and hardened steel shackle. Traditionally, zinc is known as a ‘soft’ metal given to corroding easily so is usually found combined with other metals in alloys. However, Abus have developed this special type of zinc solid bodied padlock that […]