1. Drainage: protecting the lock from hidden water damage
Padlocks are often used outdoors, where they face rain, humidity, morning condensation, and even snow and ice. Over time, moisture can find its way inside the lock body through tiny gaps and seams.
If that water gets trapped with no way out, it doesn’t just “dry up.” It can start to corrode the springs, pins, and other internal parts that allow the key to turn and the shackle to release.
This is where the bottom hole comes in. It acts as a built-in drainage channel, allowing water to escape instead of pooling inside the lock.
Without that exit point, the lock’s internal mechanism would rust faster, become stiff, and eventually seize up completely. That small hole quietly extends the life of the padlock by:
– Reducing internal rust and corrosion
– Preventing frozen or jammed mechanisms
– Helping the lock keep working in changing weather
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