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    Padlock Information & Glossary


    Security Rating:

    Use this rating to guide how well a padlock will resist attack, either forced (cutting, drilling, etc.) or surreptitious (picking, bumping, etc.) At the lower end of our 1 to 5 scale, Padlocks should be used only as a deterrent in well-supervised environments.



    Corrosion Resistance:

    This rating indicates how well the padlock will endure exposure to weather and corrosive environments. While corrosive elements in the environment will do little in the short term, they can compromise the mechanical integrity of the padlock in the long term. All of our padlocks can be used in dry, indoor environments. However, padlocks with a 3 to 5 star scale are more appropriate for outdoor use and in more severe weather applications.



    Keying Options:

    Keyed Alike (KA) Keyed Different (KD) Master Keyed (MK)

    Each padlock has a different key that will not open other locks, even if they are the same model; locks are commonly sold this way.

    All padlocks in a given set have an identical pin arrangement and open with the same key.

    In a master-keyed system, a single master key opens all locks, although each lock has its unique key. Master-keyed locks are intended for supervisory or emergency access.


    Dimensions & Specifications Key:




    Padlock Glossary:

    Barrel-Key Lock is a lock using a cylindrical pin arrangement and a barrel-shaped key with key cuts around the circumference of the shaft. Barrel-key locks are tough to pick.

    Body refers to the lower part of the padlock housing the cylinder and the shackle locking mechanism.

    Boxed style packaging is where the locks are boxed in a bulk package; usually keyed alike and for facility use.

    BumpBlock is an exclusive Move ’N Store technology that prevents using a bump key to open the padlock.

    Carded packaging is where the locks are packaged for retail sale in plastic clamshell packaging.

    Case Hardened refers to a layer of tempered metal applied to the outside of the shackle for added cut resistance.

    Combination Locks are locks opened by pushing buttons or by the rotation of dials or disks.

    Cylinder refers to the core of a padlock where the key is inserted. Better quality locks have brass or bronze cylinders to resist corrosion.

    Double-Locking Plates or Heel-and-Toe Locking means the shackle is secured at both ends, referred to as heel and toe, with plates or balls that slip into indents at each end. Better padlocks offer this increased security feature.

    Hardened means that the entire shackle is heat-treated for added strength.

    Key Differs is the mathematically possible number of different key cuts or pin arrangement combinations with a given number of pins and differing pin lengths. For example, a 5-pin lock that uses five different pin lengths would have a possible 3,125 key differs.

    Key Retaining means the key cannot be removed while the lock is still open.

    Keyed Alike (KA) means all padlocks in a given set have an identical pin arrangement and open with the same key.

    Keyed Different (KD) means each padlock has a different key that will not open other locks, even if they are the same model; locks are commonly sold this way.

    Master Keyed (MK) means a single master key that opens all locks in the system, although each lock has its unique key. Master-keyed locks are intended for supervisory or emergency access.

    Mushroom Pins is a pin design that makes picking more difficult. It is a pin cylinder design where some or all the pins have a “mushroom” shape that will allow the pin to move slightly from side to side and create a false “feel” to the picker.

    Paracentric Keyway is a key design with a curved rather than straight cut edge, which, when used as random left and right curves, effectively doubles the number of key differs.

    Pin Tumbler is a cylinder that pushes down four to six pins to their correct positions, opening the lock when the key is inserted. An incorrect key will pushpins too far or not far enough, and the lock will not open.

    Retail style packaging refers to items being sold to the public.

    Shackle describes the looped portion at the top of the padlock, which swivels open and closed. Some models offer different shackle sizes to accommodate door hardware.

    Shear Line is the point at which the top and bottom pins of a pin tumbler lock meet to allow the cylinder to turn.

    Wafer Lock is a lock similar to the pin tumbler but uses disks that must be raised to a certain height to allow the cylinder to turn.