want to open a master lock

Borrow some bolt cutters or take it to a locksmith are your best bets.

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but do not have the

box and he took his

can't find it

It's a metal tool

tool-less... being a chic and

typical tools,

anything but this one

take it to your local lock shop or call them to come out and open it for you. for good reason, opening instructions are not usually given on this open forum. see the FAQ

Pretty simple process, actually, but not one I'm willing to reveal in the open nor to you (no offense).

Option 1: Boltcutters (destroy the lock)

Option 2: Call the pro's (more expensive, but lock stays intact)

The price of the box could very well be in the hundreds, so breaking the box would be a costly expedient.

If the box is small enough put in in the trunkl of the car and take it to the locksmith, if it is too big to move the locksmith can come to you.

As everyone else has said: Carry the box and lock to a locksmith (to avoid the trip charge), explain the situation, and pay to have the lock opened. Paying for this service will cost you much less than any solution you're likely to attempt on your own, do less damage, and be more likely to succeed.

I know many women who are engineers, mechanics, machinists, etc. If you're tool-less, it's because you've chosen to be, not becaue of your gender. If you want to change that, all it takes is time and money and determination. If you _don't_ want to change it, that's fine too; if you don't need skills on a regular basis, and won't get enough enjoyment out of developing them to justify the investment, hiring expertise when you need it is an entirely legitimate alternative.

We suggest that you call a couple locksmiths in your area (look in the yellow pages phone book) and ask them to come out and unlock it for you.

For reasons that should be obvious, we don't teach lock picking or bypassing on this forum.

Regrets on your husband's passing.

Judging from your post, you are not mechanically inclined, so I won't try to tell you how to open the lock itself. Besides, tools are required in almost all cases and you have none.

On the cheap, ask your neighbors if they have bolt cutters. They may have some big enough to cut the lock. One may have an angle grinder that he can use on the hasp.

If it's a small tool box, you can take it to a locksmith who will probably pick or cut the lock off at a minimal cost. If it's a big tool box (mine's 5 foot tall) you would pay to have the locksmith come out. Once open, a 5 foot tall toolbox will likely have everything you need to open other locks :-)

Daniel

If there is an inked or stamped number on the lock below the keyway, just about any locksmith can make a key for it from the number. It will cost about $5 to $10. This is probably more than the lock istelf is worth. A neighbor with a "Dremel" tool or bolt cutters can cut the lock.

Just cut the lock off with bolt cutters. Borrow them from a friend or pick up a cheap pair from Lowes or one of the other maga stores. Or take it to a locksmith and have it removed.

If she has to buy the cutters taking it into a locksmith will likely be the cheapest route, although the lock may not stay intact.