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 the handle on my safe broke off.it's a small home safe just for important papers.is there any way to get into the safe short of obtaining a locksmith?
Answer Victor,
Dial your combo to unlock the lock. If you can use a small drill bit drill slowly down the center of the handle arbor, the friction may pull the bolts back. If not after you have drilled the hole about 1/2" deep insert a sheet metal screw slightly larger than the drilled hole. As you screw it in, as it "grabs metal" it may retract the bolts.
You can also try tipping the safe towards the hinge side, gravity may cause the bolts to slide open. Warning: if the bolts slide open the door may suddenly open also spilling the contents out.
Note: none of the above techniques will work if the lock is not already in the unlocked position!!!!
Your other option, if the safe is small enough, would be to carry it to the safe company where they can perform the above listed operations.
