Myth Busters (2009 Season) - Episode 131 - Myth Evolution - Liquid Lock Pick

Liquid Lock Pick

Fans requested having this myth tested after the original Liquid Nitrogen myths were shown in the Hurricane Windows episode.

Myth statement Status Notes
A padlock soaked in liquid nitrogen is easier to break. Confirmed It took Tory four seconds using a hammer and crowbar to break a padlock at room temperature. After a second lock was sprayed with liquid nitrogen for five minutes, he was able to break it in one hit. The Build Team then tested a door locked with a deadbolt; Tory required over five minutes to smash it at room temperature, but less than two minutes after it had been frozen. Grant pointed out that the method would require so many people, and so much time and specialized equipment, that it would not be a practical or stealthy way of breaking into a building. Nevertheless, the team declared the myth confirmed.

In a test shown only in the MythBusters website (and aired in versions of the episode shown outside the US instead of the deadbolt test), a second padlock test was done using a large heavy-duty padlock. There, Tory was unsuccessful in breaking the room-temperature lock after four minutes; he only broke part of the bunker's lock hasp. When a second lock was dipped into liquid nitrogen, it took Tory only five hits and 14 seconds to smash it.

Read more about this topic:  Myth Busters (2009 Season), Episode 131, Myth Evolution

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