That cheap padlock on my shed froze solid in 20 degree weather

I bought a $5 padlock from the hardware store last month for my backyard shed. Two days ago the temperature dropped to 20 degrees and the lock completely seized up. I tried wiggling the key, spraying WD-40, and even tapping it with a hammer but nothing worked. Turns out cheap locks use low-grade metal that contracts in the cold and traps moisture inside. I ended up having to cut the shackle with bolt cutters just to get my lawnmower out. Has anyone else found a budget lock that actually handles winter weather without freezing?

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wren2171d ago

Cheap locks use low-grade metal that contracts in the cold" - that's exactly the problem I ran into with the same kind of lock last winter. You want something with a brass body and a stainless steel shackle, brass doesn't contract as much and won't trap moisture the same way cheap pot metal does. Master Lock makes a decent one for around 10-12 bucks that has survived three Midwest winters without freezing on me.