We completely understand! That safe was a sizable financial investment. Not to mention the production of getting it put into place. The thought of having to repeat that process is daunting at the very least. But no need to fear, the methods we employ neither compromise the integrity, nor irreparably scar that investment of yours. Below is a brief description and example of our process. If any questions still remain. Or you would like a more detailed and case specific description please do not hesitate to contact us!

The very first method we employ to open a safe where the combination has been lost is a technique called manipulation. This is the art of reading a lock's mechanical functions through dial feedback in order to determine the combination. This process can take anywhere from twenty minutes to two hours depending on the specific lock and it’s condition. Some locks scream at you, some locks whisper, and others have sworn an oath of silence. Regardless of how much time we spend manipulating, if we feel we are making progress then we will persevere. However, if it becomes clear we are going in circles then we will not waste any time in a futile pursuit.

Not all safe locks can be manipulated. Some are even designed to prevent and resist this technique. If your safe falls into this category for one reason or another then we utilize a drill rig fitted with the smallest diameter bit to get the job done. The large majority of holes we drill are a quarter inch in size. Sometimes, they even get as small as an eighth inch. We are not technicians who take uneducated guesses with large diameter holes. We guarantee the safe will work and retain it's rating afterward.

To give a clear understanding of our method to drill a safe open; here is an example of a job where the customer was concerned about the safe being cosmetically scarred. A rare antique Millers safe was passed on by the previous owners of an old house in Massachusetts, built in the 1700s. The safe had been locked for at least 40 years and now the new owner wanted it open. They were concerned about damage to the safe because of its rarity and age. Unfortunately, the more time a safe's combination lock sits the harder it becomes to read so manipulation was not an option in this case.

Please reference the gallery below. The first photo shows the full outside front of the safe. The second photo is a close up of the dial prior to drilling. The third photo depicts the hole that was made to open the safe. The final photo is a close up of the dial with the hole repaired. The safe was able to be opened through that single eighth inch diameter hole due to the knowledge of the mechanism.

Please review all 4 photos carefully before you read on.

To put this in perspective, take a closer look at the first photo. Zoom in on the dial and you will see that the hole has yet to be repaired. Very hard to detect by just looking at the full outside. After we drill a safe open it retains the original security and fire rating. When repaired it is undetectable to the untrained eye.