Not cave gates!

pitchead

New member
Hi All. Without trying to start World War 3 on cave gates. I'm after information on combination locks for existing gates please.
Have you used these before? Are they easy to use? are, were, they durable? And did they require excessive maintenance schedules?
Thanks in advance for any assistance.
 

PeteHall

Moderator
There is a combination lock on the car park at Fairy Cave Quarry on Mendip. This is a popular site with cavers and climbers, so presumably the lock get's plenty of use.

I believe there is also a combination lock on Foxes Hole in Burrington Combe (Mendip). This is unlikely to get much use at all as it's a bit of a collectors piece, so will give the opposite end of the spectrum to FCQ.

I can put you in touch with those responsible for both if required.
 

mikem

Well-known member
FCQ combi lock is on the main gate to the quarry, not the car park (& the code changed recently)
 

PeteHall

Moderator
FCQ combi lock is on the main gate to the quarry, not the car park (& the code changed recently)
My mistake, however as a case study in a well used combination lock in an outdoor environment, it still ticks the box.
 

alastairgott

Well-known member
Most combi locks are set with 19##.

So if you're trying to deter people, then making sure the first two numbers are not 19 and if you really must have 19, then the final numbers do not fall into the 60-99. it reduces the odds of someone guessing(/T&E) the code quickly from 1/49 to 1/9999.

*T&E - Trial and error.
 

PeteHall

Moderator
For FQC, contact details are here for Martin Grass: https://access-guide.cscc.org.uk/sites/view/204
An email address is also provided in MU5, which I will send you by private message.

For Foxes Hole, the CSCC recommends contacting the C&A officer, however since he is new in post, Wayne may not be able to answer questions of longevity or operation for this particular lock. Also, the lock is not maintained by the CSCC and is I believe maintained by UBSS, so probably best to go direct. Again, an email address is provided for the UBSS secretary in MU5, which I will send you by private message, along with direct contact details for the persons most likely to know about it.
 

phizz4

Member
Devonshire, Matlock Bath, has/had a combination lock fitted, was trashed, and another one fitted and, last time I was there had either been picked or left open. To be successful I think they need to be fairly robust. I've had one of these on my kayak securing cable for a while, and on my garden shed, without any weather damage.

MASTER LOCK Heavy Duty Disc Padlock [Combination] [Stainless Steel] [Outdoor] M40EURDNUM - Best Used for Storage Units, Sheds, Garages, Trailers and More​

 

Cantclimbtom

Well-known member
Most combi locks are set with 19##.

So if you're trying to deter people, then making sure the first two numbers are not 19 and if you really must have 19, then the final numbers do not fall into the 60-99. it reduces the odds of someone guessing(/T&E) the code quickly from 1/49 to 1/9999.

*T&E - Trial and error.
Do many people attempt to open combination locks (and combination outdoor key safes) with trial and error as opposed to using a feeler gauge, key extractor etc or by direct and indirect feel? To see what I'm on about a good explanation of indirect method on phiz4's lock (but adding spaces to spoil the URL intentionally) https :// youtu.be/a_HP1XWCfy0
 
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