Wanting to practice with my American Security safe

[Nitro-Nicky]

I am so confused as to how you guys are establishing the initial Contact Points for the dial. What is the starting point idea? This safe of mine is a 4 number code, in case that makes a difference. There is also a 'Firemans' safe at my local dump for sale (locked of course) that they want $60 bucks for. It's about 3' x 3'. Is this worthwhile as a practice item? Thanks, Nitro-Nicky

[mastersmith]

Establishing a contact point, or 2, is easy. The problem you are having I think, it doesn't work with Sentry safes. I believe you said in your earlier post that you had a Sentry? There is a ton of info on this site. Start with how a combination lock works. That is essential to understanding why , and how, contact points happen. Your Amsec safe will work for practice. It is much different than a Sentry.

[MartinHewitt]

Safes come with a lot of dead weight when it comes to practicing manipulation. I would buy a lock on ebay or perhaps craig's list for starters and mount on a wooden panel. That is how I started. The locks you can buy that way do have contact points, your Sentry probably not, because it is a much simpler lock. The locks with contact points are still very helpful to understand how a lock works. On Amazon is a book about manipulation of Sentry safes. It might be the very same model as you have, but it should give you ideas how to proceed.