How hard is it to cut a Kensington security cable?

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658 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3380172 3-Jun-2025 13:48

Ge0rge:

If you've got the time, the patience and want to reuse the locks, 0000, 0001, 0002...

this, i have done a few times over the years. perhaps most commonly on locks for luggage only used for occasional travel. used to do it passively, while watching tv/movie.

nova

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#3380178 3-Jun-2025 14:15

Gordy7:

If you are patient and you are dexterous it may be possible to feel the play in each rotor as they are rotated and using a bit of tension on the lock.

With any luck the combination may be found in 10 x 4 tries. But then again maybe more tries 😃

This works well on old-school combination locks, if you start with the barrel closest to where it comes apart, and work inwards once you have found the number that gives the most play. I've opened locks in under a minute by doing that. But if that fails, you want bolt cutters. Hacksaws don't work well...

nztim

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TEAMnetwork

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#3380179 3-Jun-2025 14:39

kiwifidget:

@gordy7 also, I dont have time or patience to be all Mission Impossible about it, quick simple destruction is where I'm heading.

Simple yes, quick no

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Xile

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#3380186 3-Jun-2025 14:47

How to recover lost combo Kensington laptop lock:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxEJalhC3qI

Kookoo

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#3380188 3-Jun-2025 14:54

This is the lockpicking lawyer, and today I will be... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9Fqzq1yqbA

Hello, Ground!

mattwnz

20173 posts

Uber Geek

#3380191 3-Jun-2025 14:57

If you know any farmers or tradies, they will sometimes have some very long handled bolt cutters. The long handles give lots of leverage.

Goosey

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#3380216 3-Jun-2025 16:34

mattwnz:

If you know any farmers or tradies, they will sometimes have some very long handled bolt cutters. The long handles give lots of leverage.

this. If in Christchurch I have a rather long heavy pair of bolt cutters.

(acquired for free when a company left them behind. After many days and weeks of waiting for collection….they are now mine).

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Gordy7

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#3380232 3-Jun-2025 18:37

So, the big mystery.

If you cut the cable there will still be a lock barrel sticking out of the side of your devices.

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

kiwifidget

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#3380239 3-Jun-2025 19:14

Gordy7:

So, the big mystery.

If you cut the cable there will still be a lock barrel sticking out of the side of your devices.

Yes, and that is fine, they are being retired.

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kiwifidget

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#3380241 3-Jun-2025 19:29

mattwnz:

If you know any farmers or tradies, they will sometimes have some very long handled bolt cutters. The long handles give lots of leverage.

I'm married to a retired farmer, and he does have said long handled bolt cutters, but I did wonder if they would be either "good enough" or "overkill".

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nitro

658 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3380284 3-Jun-2025 20:37

kiwifidget:

I'm married to a retired farmer, and he does have said long handled bolt cutters, but I did wonder if they would be either "good enough" or "overkill".

easy way to find out. then tell us!