Flooded Gun Safe

[barbarossa]

Helping a friend clean out his flooded house, here"s one small lesson to learn from this: Do not buy a gun safe with an electronic key pad lock. If it goes underwater, you won't be able to get in. The lock is dead, even with a fresh battery. They don't just have guns in there, but family jewellery, documents, etc. We can't get it open. It's bolted into the concrete foundation. Anybody have any ideas?

 

[JeeperCreeper]

Call either a locksmith or safe company... Brunson is a safe company van I see riding through my neighborhood.

Cutting wheels and sledge hammers?

 

[barbarossa]

Cutting wheels and sledge hammers?

I guess that will be the last resort.

Just something I never thought about before. Get a safe with a mechanical lock.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

Yeah I have the electronic lock, and have been thinking about issues it could have for years. I guess I will start looking into pricing on getting it switched if possible.

 

[Blue Diamond]

My safe and most modern safes have a key override for this kind of issue. Think back about a key somewhere. It will be one of the round type and the lock may be hidden by a plastic panel.

 

[noob]

What kinda safe is it? I know canon advertises that they will drill it open free of charge, and even freight it and repair it free of charge for a natural disaster.

http://www.cannonsafe.com/warranty.html

 

[barbarossa]

What kinda safe is it? I know canon advertises that they will drill it open free of charge, and even freight it and repair it free of charge for a natural disaster.

http://www.cannonsafe.com/warranty.html

It's a Sentry.

 

[DBMJR1]

Cut the top off with an angle grinder and a metabo blade.

 

[noob]

It's a Sentry.

I've seen a video where a sentry safe was opened with a VERY strong magnet.

 

[lpso708]

Hate to say it but they have ways of getting into a safe on you tube.

 

[John_]

Exactly why I bought back my old 800 lb safe with a Sargent and Greenleaf combo dial when I could. **** on electronic locks.

 

[CHW2021]

I can recommend a locksmith who will open it, send me a message I will give you my #

 

[coltaholic]

several videos on YouTube on how to open a sentry safe with a magnet---

 

[Hattrick 22]

What kinda safe is it? I know canon advertises that they will drill it open free of charge, and even freight it and repair it free of charge for a natural disaster.

http://www.cannonsafe.com/warranty.html

Never knew that but... hot damn! I like it since I own one....

 

[noob]

Never knew that but... hot damn! I like it since I own one....

I own one also, with *gasp* and electronic lock. But it's one of the reasons why I went with cannon.

 

[Dave328]

Funny electronic lock story:
When I first got my safe, i put all of my valuables in it including our passports. Fast forward almost a year, and i go to the safe the morning we were to leave on a cruise to gwt our passports. Lock clicks but won't unlock! Heartrate shot into the stratosphere as I'm thinking how i can rip this thing open in 2 hours. Turns out the 9 volt was too weak to cycle the solenoid fully. Replaced battery and all was good. Now it gets a new fresh 9 volt every 4 months! Even after that, i still prefer electronic since i can get into it way faster than a mechanical.

 

[DAVE_M]

Funny electronic lock story:
When I first got my safe, i put all of my valuables in it including our passports. Fast forward almost a year, and i go to the safe the morning we were to leave on a cruise to gwt our passports. Lock clicks but won't unlock! Heartrate shot into the stratosphere as I'm thinking how i can rip this thing open in 2 hours. Turns out the 9 volt was too weak to cycle the solenoid fully. Replaced battery and all was good. Now it gets a new fresh 9 volt every 4 months! Even after that, i still prefer electronic since i can get into it way faster than a mechanical.

One thing I will never understand is people that buy crap batteries. Not saying you did, but if it isn't Duracell or Energizer, you are wasting your money.

 

[Hattrick 22]

I own one also, with *gasp* and electronic lock. But it's one of the reasons why I went with cannon.

Yeah I have an electronic lock on mine as well. You can't prepare for everything mechanical stuff fails too (guns for example) you can't tell me that all of that flooding wouldn't rust/damage all of those fine enternals needed to work the locking mechanism on dial safes... just sayin.

One thing I will never understand is people that buy crap batteries. Not saying you did, but if it isn't Duracell or Energizer, you are wasting your money.

I had the same issue awhile back (that Dave328 did) and I used a lithium energizer for mine.

However, I didn't replace it until it went dead which took a little over a year.

 

[Dave328]

Top of the line Duracell. Same type used at my wifes hospital for life sustaining equipment. Was a little surprised it lasted only a year, but oh well, lesson learned.

 

[DAVE_M]

you can't tell me that all of that flooding wouldn't rust/damage all of those fine enternals needed to work the locking mechanism on dial safes... just sayin..

This.

No matter what, a rusted safe will be difficult to open, and from my experience with quality mechanical locks, if you don't operate them with precision, they won't open. Most safe companies won't warranty flood damage anyway, so get to destroying that safe, because the flood waters have ruined any fireproofing anyway.