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First Safe Opening

PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 10:26 pm
by chieflittlehorse
I opened my first safe, sort of.....

My coworker actually did the drilling of the hole, then he told me to open it by looking thru the hole.

It's simple when you know where the drop point is and I didn't even use a standard safe technician's scope. We used a welch allyn medical scope.

The safe was a Major TL30 High Security Safe which was drilled within 24 minutes.

I'm glad I have a coworker who doesn't mind sharing his secrets.

We are now practicing opening safes by viewing the change key hole.

I opened one today using this method for the first time in about an hour.

Re: First Safe Opening

PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 10:56 pm
by muddassarusa
Good Job keep it up

Re: First Safe Opening

PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 6:56 am
by jharveee
Tl-30 is tool resistance for 30 minutes but you got it open in 24 minutes. :smile:
Did you use a drill rig? So now you are going to repair it? Photos would be nice.
I have not Repaired a safe. Is the old lock trash now?

Re: First Safe Opening

PostPosted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 1:20 am
by chieflittlehorse
Sorry I don't have photos of the repair but we used something that looked like a steel playdough and stuffed it into the hole.

The hardplate wasn't that thick and we used butter bits.

No drill rig was used, only a portable Milwaukee hammer drill.

A 1/4" hole was drilled.

Re: First Safe Opening

PostPosted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 7:19 am
by Jaakko Fagerlund
chieflittlehorse wrote:Sorry I don't have photos of the repair but we used something that looked like a steel playdough and stuffed it into the hole.

The hardplate wasn't that thick and we used butter bits.

No drill rig was used, only a portable Milwaukee hammer drill.

A 1/4" hole was drilled.

Sorry to be blunt, but that is not a repair. That is now just a heavy box for storing kids toys, not a safe and not to any standard.

Re: First Safe Opening

PostPosted: Sat Apr 30, 2016 3:08 am
by chieflittlehorse
Yeah, your right, I shouldn't have called that a safe repair but rather a cosmetic repair.

The client only wanted the safe open and they knew nothing was in it.

We gave them a combination and instructions but they did not really request a repair or paid for one. They only paid for an opening.

My coworker just covered up a few small holes with some type of steel compound that drys up. The hard plate was pretty thin though.

I really was disappointed because I know this wasn't really a repair but I said nothing as I'm just learning by observation.

Same thing happened when I noticed a relocker still had a cotter pin to prevent it's firing. We didn't fix it but left it the way it is.

But I still learned a few things and I just do what I'm told as it's not my business and my coworker has his own reasoning as to do what he does.

I've seen him go beyond what's called for and not charge so I can't really say anything bad about him.

I know he knows what you say is true though.

But like I said, they only paid for an opening and if he did repair it properly I know it's coming out of his own pocket as our boss would not pay out his own pocket for the extra service.

But I know your right.

CLH!

Re: First Safe Opening

PostPosted: Sat Apr 30, 2016 7:46 am
by Jaakko Fagerlund
chieflittlehorse wrote:But I still learned a few things and I just do what I'm told as it's not my business and my coworker has his own reasoning as to do what he does.

By asking questions and more improtantly the reasons ehind of doing or not doing something will gain you invaluable experience and problem solving skills. Now you are just learning that the ends of the steak must be cut off but don't know why.

Re: First Safe Opening

PostPosted: Sat Apr 30, 2016 1:44 pm
by chieflittlehorse
Thank you for your comments.

I do want to be a professional in safes.

I've spent money on Dave McOmmie books and joined the NSO.

I'm now thinking of joining SAFVTA.

And yes, I sometimes do ask questions as to why or why not do you do things.

Their reasons for why and why not do astound me sometimes.

Like I ask my boss why he is he so much in a hurry to get to a service call, even if it's just down the block.

He told me that if we take too long then they might call someone else, which does make sense.

So yes, as an individual, I'm trying to learn in all fronts. If I was a mind reader it would be so easy for me.

But as a man with little experience out in the field, I observe and participate when asked.

I'm more of a shop locksmith, and I take care of routine business as putting accounts into Quickbooks and mundane office workl

Thank you for your words of Wisdom, I do appreciate it!

CLH!