Re: [Paddlewise] Thief-proofing methods?

Sorry to hear about your stolen kayak.  My dad, now a retired journeyman
machinist, was once trained as a locksmith, use to say, "locks only keep
honest people honest".  No matter the method, a determined criminal, will
find a way to defeat any security lock you can devise.

I am partial to a case hardened chain, though the cables are convenient and
light, they are easily cut.  As pointed out, anywhere you buy bulk chain or
cable will have a hand held tool that cuts it in less then a minute.  here
is what I did, with my dads help, when in grade school:  Buy as heavy a
chain you want to carry at the hardware store at your desired length and
then harden it yourself.  If you have a source of heat like a torch with a
large burner head, or access to a high temp. oven as used in firing clay or
other crafts, it is easy to do.  You simply heat the chain up to a uniform
dull red color, and drop the heated chain in a metal bucket full of motor
oil (used oil works fine).  The oil quenches the metal faster than water
because it does not boil off the surface.  I then used a old bicycle inner
tube to protect the chain so it will not scratch my bike.  The hand held
cutters would not likely cut a chain after it is hardened this way.

I have never had a bike stolen when I used this chain.  Almost everyone I
know had a bike stolen at one time or another growing up in the Los
Angles/Long Beach area, including my wife, even when they diligently locked
it up with chains or cables.  Somewhere in my garage I still have this
chain, and heavy as it is, it has never been cut.

Peter

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