Reading up on the many methods of remaoval, thought I remember how one guy said he went to his tire and wheel shop and they removed them easily without damaging the wheel lock. However, he didn't mention how it was done. Universal lock removal tool? How do those work again?

As for welding, the conical portion of the lock/lug sticks out, but not by much. Still, I'd like to hold off on that because: a. I'd have to hire someone to do that; b. they're tight enought to cause a permanent bend on the crow bar, would the welds even hold?