Any locksmiths on the forum?

Black_Sheep

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After numerous phone calls and email exchanges I've come to the conclusion that the S&G electronic lock on my safe is kaput. Local lock and safe guys have quoted around $500 to crack the safe and replace the lock, does this sound like a reasonable price? I'm seriously considering having it converted to a dial type combination lock so I don't have to worry about this again...
 
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Something to check on your keypad. take the keypad off the front of safe and wiggle the wires going into the safe. Then try using the keypad again. If it doesn't work try moving the wires again. You don't need put the keypad back on the safe between tries. This may not be your problem but it was on mine. I didn't find the problem till after a lock smith replaced the keypad with a combination lock. That cost me around $375 parts and labor. If I hadn't left the door open the last time then yes it could have cost me around $700 to have locksmith get it open and replace the lock.
After having the keypad and lock off the safe I found the loose wire caused the intermittent problem. Well at least I don't have to worry about the electronic lock failing again. I will never buy another safe with electronic keypad.

Depending on replacement cost for your safe you might take a grinder and grind through the front safe door around the keypad mounting till you can get at the locking mechanism to release it. If you have an expensive safe then that's not a good idea.
 
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After numerous phone calls and email exchanges I've come to the conclusion that the S&G electronic lock on my safe is kaput. Local lock and safe guys have quoted around $500 to crack the safe and replace the lock, does this sound like a reasonable price? I'm seriously considering having it converted to a dial type combination lock so I don't have to worry about this again...


Did you put a new battery in? Must use Duracell or Energizer.

If so, can you hear the solenoid click? If so wiggle the handle back and forth a bit. If not use a block of wood and a mallet and TAP on the front of the safe just above or below the lock to try and help the solenoid.

And as suggested, check the wires. There is a telephone wire type connector that may have come loose.

If you get the safe open, leave it open. It will save you the cost of having it drilled open.

Is it under warranty? If so the manufacturer may cover the cost of opening, repairing, and replacing the lock.

If these methods fail, then yes, time to call a locksmith or safe tech. Check their reputation first.

$500 isn't a bad price. I would go with a mechanical lock. I like the convenience of a digital lock but for this very reason, I will not own one.

If you need help finding a reputable locksmith/safe tech go hear. Associated Locksmiths of America. Click on "Find a locksmith". Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) is an international organization of professional locksmiths. With emphasis on "professional".

Just so you know, they will have to drill a hole through the door into the safe lock. Don't freak out. If they start drilling multiple holes, then freak out. One or two holes should do it to gain access to the solenoid. The hole is usually repaired by driving a tapered carbide pin in the hole and breaking it off. Then grind flush.

Good luck.
 
I tried a new battery first, Duracell with a 2020 expiration date. I also tried the other measures you suggested and some other steps suggested by the customer service folks at Liberty safe, all with no success. The folks at Liberty safe gave me a name of a shop they recommend so I have a call in to them, waiting for a response. I will definitely go with a mechanical lock when they perform the repair as that is my personal preference. If you say $500 is a fair price, I am ok paying it since I got the safe for free about 10 years ago.
 
I tried a new battery first, Duracell with a 2020 expiration date. I also tried the other measures you suggested and some other steps suggested by the customer service folks at Liberty safe, all with no success. The folks at Liberty safe gave me a name of a shop they recommend so I have a call in to them, waiting for a response. I will definitely go with a mechanical lock when they perform the repair as that is my personal preference. If you say $500 is a fair price, I am ok paying it since I got the safe for free about 10 years ago.

You can also have them change the combination while they are at, if desired. I can tell you what to change it to if you want. :D
 
I tried a new battery first, Duracell with a 2020 expiration date. I also tried the other measures you suggested and some other steps suggested by the customer service folks at Liberty safe, all with no success. The folks at Liberty safe gave me a name of a shop they recommend so I have a call in to them, waiting for a response. I will definitely go with a mechanical lock when they perform the repair as that is my personal preference. If you say $500 is a fair price, I am ok paying it since I got the safe for free about 10 years ago.

If Liberty recommends them then they should be ok. But don't wait too long for a return call. My shop is extremely busy but we do return calls in a timely manner.
 
I have a front door lock the type you enter 4 numbers, it clicks and opens. When it quit, I took out the mounting screws and gently pulled it out to where I could see all the wires. I found a flat spot where one wire got pinched when the unit was installed, and it eventually separated inside the insulation. Cut, soldered and sleeved, back in business. Worth a look.
 
If you tried the combo more than 3 times you may be in lock-out mode...... Company should give you the steps to get it out of lock-out mode.... They did it for me over the phone step by step.
Mine went into lock -out because battery was weak not dead, tried the combo to many time and went into lock-out mode.
Went through the sequence via telephone with new battery and everything has been fine.
Check to see the maker of the touch pad lock and contact them.
 
I take it that all safes with electronic locks don't necessarily come with a "lock-out" key. One of mine came with a 11 lever double-bitted emergency key that will bypass the electronics. The keyhole is behind the external button panel and is exposed when the panel is removed. (Same as replacing a battery)
I keep one key in my safety deposit box and the other stashed away in the back of my mechanically locked safe.
My safes are not armored security vaults that will withstand a serious assault, but will keep the average smash and grab shoppers at bay......

Safekey.jpg
 
If the safe was given to you then I probably would not spend $500 to fix it. Depends how big the safe is and how much replacement with new safe would be. How big is your safe? Have you priced new safes the size of yours?
 
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If the safe was given to you then I probably would not spend $500 to fix it. Depends how big the safe is and how much replacement with new safe would be. How big is your safe? Have you priced new safes the size of yours?

It is 59H x 40w x 22D so it's not a small safe. Comparable safes are considerably more than $500 not including delivery charges so it is worth fixing IMHO. Not to mention, I still need to access the contents of my safe. The safe tech called back this morning, he'll be over Thursday morning to do the job.Thanks to everyone that offered their opinions...
 
Something to check on your keypad. take the keypad off the front of safe and wiggle the wires going into the safe. Then try using the keypad again. If it doesn't work try moving the wires again. You don't need put the keypad back on the safe between tries. This may not be your problem but it was on mine. I didn't find the problem till after a lock smith replaced the keypad with a combination lock. That cost me around $375 parts and labor. If I hadn't left the door open the last time then yes it could have cost me around $700 to have locksmith get it open and replace the lock.
After having the keypad and lock off the safe I found the loose wire caused the intermittent problem. Well at least I don't have to worry about the electronic lock failing again. I will never buy another safe with electronic keypad.

Depending on replacement cost for your safe you might take a grinder and grind through the front safe door around the keypad mounting till you can get at the locking mechanism to release it. If you have an expensive safe then that's not a good idea.

And people wonder why I required my safe to have a mechanical lock! Never had a problem in over 20 years of use.
 
Update for anyone interested, the tech came out and cracked the safe and replaced the lock. The process was very interesting to watch, one small hole in the correct location was all it took.
 
And how does that make you feel about the security of your safe? :confused:

Not that great to be honest. We discussed that very point as he was working, his response surprised me because the same basic technique would work on almost any safe, it just takes longer if exotic metals are used for the hardened plate.

That said, without the right tools, knowledge and decades of experience it wouldn't be as easy as he made it look. I don't think a typical burglar would have the specialized tools needed or be willing to spend the time necessary to gain entry.
 
I have aLiberty safe and when I ordered it we were steered away from the electronics. I have the manual dial and never had a problem with it and still feel it's a good safe. :cool:
Glad to hear it worked out for you! ;)
 
It surprises me that there is not some relatively simple "fail-safe" way to get around an electronic safe locking mechanism that fails to operate properly. Maybe drilling a hole in the right place is that way.

On several occasions I have needed to open locked file cabinets, those with the little push-in locking button on the upper left hand corner. Those are also easily defeated by drilling a small hole in the cabinet just above the lock and sticking a paper clip in. Works every time.

There is a locksmith here in San Antonio named Ty Pippin who claims there is no safe he cannot open, and has a 100% success rate. Apparently his whole business is cracking safes that people have lost the combinations to.
 
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