Combination safe how does it work

Here is a video which can serve as a helpful reminder of how to do this. When a dial seems to stick on a certain number or it stops rotating altogether, this is the sign of a more serious problem with the lock. Before taking further measures, check with the manufacturer. For safes that are no longer under warranty, the next step should be to call a locksmith.

Learn more about Burglary and Fire Safe Ratings. It may seem impossible to open a locked safe, but locksmiths have a few tools of the trade they can use assess the problem, free the lock and repair it or, at the very least, allow the owner to access and retrieve the contents. Using either a torch or a saw, they simply cut into the safe. This process is messy, noisy, slow and destroys the safe. Depending on the material used to construct the safe, several sets of saw blades may be needed as they are dulled down.

A tiny hole can be drilled into the safe for the locksmith to pass a small instrument inside and see how to open the lock. Many manufacturers now equip safes with advanced interior technology which can make the job challenging, but this is often the preferred method because of the relative speed of the process and the minor repairs needed to render the safe usable again.

After drilling a small hole in the safe, a locksmith inserts a borescope into the hole to get an idea of how to open the lock. This is an effective and relatively inexpensive method to utilize when added security measures — such as glass re-lockers or manipulation-proof mechanical locks — are present. Some issues are complex and will require the help of a locksmith. When all the wheels line up, their notches align to form a gap.

In a padlock, this gap allows the hasp of the lock to release. In a safe, there is a piece called the fence resting just above the wheels. The fence falls into this gap under the force of its own weight. With the fence gone, the bolt can slide freely past and the safe can be opened. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Home Improvement.

Each disc has a notch in it called a gate. When you pull down on the handle, a rod sometimes called the fence hits the three dials. If the three gates are lined up correctly, the rod slides into the notches. This allows the handle to travel far enough to disengage the lock on the door, and the safe can be opened. Turning the dial on the outside of the lock directly controls disc C sometimes called the drive wheel.

But, how do you move the other two discs? Each disc has a raised plastic tab. When the discs are next to each other, a disc can move freely for about degrees until its raised tab hits the tab on the next disc and begins moving it.

If you turn disc C a full turn, the tab hits the tab on disc B and begins to turn it. Turn the dial far enough, and C will pick up and start turning B, which will then pick up and start turning A.