Have you ever looked at the bottom of a padlock — not while cursing it open in the rain, but just… while it was sitting there?
I did — and I noticed something strange.
A tiny hole .
Then another.
Small, precise, and oddly placed at the bottom of the lock.
At first, I thought it was a flaw.
Maybe a casting vent from when it was made.
Or a weird design leftover from the industrial age.
But no.
That little hole?
It’s on purpose.
And it’s doing more than just letting water out.
Let’s explore what that small hole really does — and why it might just save your lock someday.
🧪 The Real Reason Padlocks Have a Small Hole – Water Drainage & Lubrication
Padlocks are tough.
They’re built to survive rain, snow, and years of outdoor exposure.
But they’re not waterproof.
And when water gets inside — from rain, humidity, or even a quick hose-down — it doesn’t just vanish.
It sits.
It pools.
And over time…
It causes rust , corrosion , and a lock that won’t open when you need it to .
That’s where the drainage hole comes in.
It allows:
