AboutTerry Andreasen (Andy) Expertise Safe and Vault related Questions;
Antique Safe Repair and Restoration;
With over 37 years in the Safe & Vault industry, if I can't answer your question I know where to get the answer.
Current Project: Restoration of three, 36 ton steel vault doors and drop floors, in the old Federal Reserve Building, San Francisco.
Experience 37 years in the Safe & Vault Industry. Service Manager for one of the largest Safe & Vault companies on the West Coast. Graduate of Lockmasters Safe Lock Servicing, Safe lock Manipulation and Safe Deposit Lock Courses. Graduate of Locksmith Institute.
Certified Instructor for the California Locksmith Association teaching Basic and Advanced Lock Servicing, Basic Safe opening and Repairing.
Factory Trained by AMSEC, LORD Safes, LeFebure, Mosler, KabaMas, LaGard and Sargent & Greenleaf
Organizations SafeCrackers International
Education/Credentials Graduate of Locksmith Institute 1972
Graduate Lockmasters Safe Lock Servicing 1974
Graduate Lockmasters Safe Lock Manipulation 1975
Graduate Lockmasters Safe Deposit Lock Servicing 1985
Instructor Certified - California Locksmith Association - 1985
Awards and Honors Retired US Army, with many decorations and awards from Vietnam, Desert Storm and Op Iraqi Freedom.
Past/Present Clients Secret Service, FBI, Dept. of Homeland Defense, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Navy, US Marine Corps, Lawerence Livermore National Lab, Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, various local banks, credit unions, state agencies, Jewelers, and many commercial and residential customers.
Service Area is Northern California (Fresno to Oregon and Western Nevada)
Question i have a remington rand 4 drawer fire proof file cabinet with a combination lock on second drawer that i had a new combo made because i didnt have the orginal, but i cant get the other three drawers open,what can i do ? thanks alot. jim
Answer Jim,
Can you get the drawer (#2) with the combination lock open?
Normally this drawer must be slightly open or unlocked in order for the other drawers to open.
If this drawer does open but the others still will not open, remove this drawer completly. There should be a locking bar that runs up and down one side of the container. If this locking bar is jammed it will keep the other three drawers locked. With the second drawer removed, you should be able to move this bar up and down. If rust has gotten inbedded along the bar it can also jam it.
Note: Rust is a major cause of problems in these older containers. It may not be a locking bar problem, the drawers may simply be rusted shut, or the casing may be swollen by the rust, jamming the locking bar or the drawers.
Once you have gotten the locking bar free and are able to open all of the drawers, remove the drawers and clean or service the locking bar. It needs to move freely.
If you are not able to perform the above tasks, you may need to have a locksmith come out and look at the unit.
A second item to consider is the age of the container. It is probably close to 50 years old. It may be time to replace the file cabinet depending on what the problem actually is.
