Gun safe vs Log splitter

[AJMD429]

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A couple years back the mechanism on my small handgun safe broke internally, but I was able to rig something up and able to still work with the keypad. I assumed that the backup tubular key would still work.

A few weeks ago, I popped out the 12 V battery pack that uses eight AA batteries so I contemporarily use it to power my daughters car electronics while I replaced her battery, preventing her from losing her radio presets and all that stuff.

Unfortunately, I accidentally shut the door of the safe while the batteries were out, so the combination would not open the door. That’s when I found out to my surprise that the key was not working either. I tried various ways of getting it open, tricking the mechanism, but it became apparent that none of my methods were going to work. They do make tools for picking tubular locks, but the tool cost more than the gun safe.

So I thought maybe I could crush it just enough to pop the door open using my 26 ton wood splitter…

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A couple partial crushes still weren’t enough to get the door to open or even be able to be pride open, so I then had to resort to a cutting wheel which did work, but as I feared started to set fire to the contents of the safe because it’s lined with some foam cushioning.

In the end, I got everything out except one foam earplug disappeared into some crevice and I did manage to crack one of the grip panels on my single six revolver, so I’ll be needing a new set of grip panels.

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[jeepnik]

I think I would have contacted the safe manufacturer first. Key's mechanical taking out batteries and closing door shouldn't have effected it. Of course I have to ask, did you try to give the keyhole a good squirt of your favorite penetrating oil?

[GunnyMack]

Radio presets be darned, swap the battery and you wouldn't be needing new grips. Next time use the tractor battery to keep the presets.

The key should have worked wether or not the safe sensed electricity.

[AJMD429]

Radio presets be darned, swap the battery and you wouldn't be needing new grips. Next time use the tractor battery to keep the presets.

The key should have worked wether or not the safe sensed electricity.

The safe manufacturer said "since the mechanical lock is not working, your only option would be to return the safe to us for opening..." The safe was only $65 or so to replace, so not worth that, especially since the contents included three firearms so I'm not even sure how that would go legally were I to box it up and sent it somewhere.

Three mistakes/lessons learned:

1 - don't steal the battery from one thing to us in another thing (especially since I did have another battery pack I could have assembled and used).
2 - don't fix the main (electronic) part of the lock without making sure the backup (key) lock mechanism is also functioning.
3 - if the door shouldn't be closed, then put something physically there to make sure it cannot be accidentally closed.

[Mark in MO]

I have that exact safe. It stays by the bed for those “bump in the night” moments. Your story just caused me to go check my key to be sure it works. I didn’t realize that cheap safe was so secure.

[jeepnik]

For those that use these small "portable" safes. Do you bolt them down, or put them into a larger safe when you aren't home?

My safes are bolted to both the floor and wall. this is not an anti theft measure but an anti earthquake measure. If one did fall over, it would likely go right through the floor (raised foundation). Not to mention it would take three men and a small boy to get it upright again if it didn't. And a crane to get it out if it did.

[AJMD429]

For those that use these small "portable" safes. Do you bolt them down, or put them into a larger safe when you aren't home?

My safes are bolted to both the floor and wall. this is not an anti theft measure but an anti earthquake measure. If one did fall over, it would likely go right through the floor (raised foundation). Not to mention it would take three men and a small boy to get it upright again if it didn't. And a crane to get it out if it did.

One of them (bedroom) is not bolted. No gun in it unless I'm home anyway. The other (by back door) is bolted into the top of the tall gun safe there, which in turn is bolted to the walls and floor.