safe manipulation

[franko452000]

um, what can i tell ya ! when i opened my : master padlock:the first time !i said :well how much harder can it be to manipulate a safe. so i got a book on the matter. & a must have cut-a-way lock. $$$. i'll let ya know how it goes.

[bushd]

Actual safe lock manipulation gets very much harder because they employ much better machining and techniques to fool you. Before you get up into a safe lock I'd suggest trying another padlock. It will save you some cash and give you better experience. Dudley and some others make them I believe and I personally plan on giving a local, and not-so local, smithy a ring to see if they have more then just masters.

[bushd]

Also, you could make your own cutaway combination padlock if you have the right tools. Dremel and heatgun for forming the new casing would work. It is much better then paying the multi-hundreds for a cutaway.

[32768]

If you just take the back plate off you can see the mechanism through the existing holes- no drilling or fabrication needed. The brightly colored master combos are aluminum bodied so they're easier to work with. You should be able to get the back cover off in a few minutes by filing off the crimped ring that holds it on. When you file it off, leave a few sections that you can bend back later to hold the casing on.

Master padlocks are fun as far as they go, but I'd suggest picking up a cheap group 2 lock on ebay to play with. I'd actually recommend this over a better combo padlock since it's so much easier to disassemble a safe lock and see what's going on. They regularly go for under $20, so it's not a major investment.

And I'll stop there since this isn't safecracking101...

[WhiteHat]

mind if I ask what book you got?

[SFGOON]

Tread with caution on this one guys, discussion of safe manipulation tends to go over with the mods like a turd in a punch bowl...

[Dr Money]

well said

[sojal]

My 2 Eurocents on safe manipulation:
- get a group 2 lock (make sure it is not a 2M).
- understand how the wheels move and what is going on inside. A cut-away lock will not help much, so just get a lock on ebay and remove the back plate. Make sure the lock picture on ebay has the sticker that says group 2 to make sure it is genuine.
- get to understand what your book is talking about (which one is it?). It's a pain, but unless you understand what the wheels do and what makes manipulation possible then you won't get far.

Now unto manipulation itself:
- get a very confortable chair.
- make sure you have good lighting.
- try and do it in one session. Get some drinks and food next to you, it will take a while. Moving around too much will screw up your readings. You can take a break after finding a number though as the readings will change.
- do not expect it to be quick. If you do not have the patience to try for a few hours in a row then don't bother.

Good luck.

PS: my views on safe manipulation: non-destructive safe entry (ie: safe lock manipulation) is a full part of lock picking. If the lock was used to open someone's door nobody would have a problem with it, or if someone attaches a Sergeant and Greenlock on a padlock, then it would also be lock picking. Anyway, I don't think I have told anything here, just a few pointers that I haven't found in books.
I do agree that destructive entries of safes are a no go area. I know nothing about it and couldn't care less. That would be like teaching breaking and entering and alarm bypass methods, etc...

{edited by Varjeal: Specific methods best left to secure forums. Thanks.}

[xlr8ed1]

i manipulate safes in around 45 minutes sometimes a little more some times alot less if all numbers set on 0 or 5's

If your book tells you to use graphs and check for a wiggly snake picture send it back and ask for your money back you just got sucked in

there is an easier way i got taught by a old locksmith who got taught by some high up guy at S&G - haven't looked back. Will concede that i have never opened a four wheel or a chubb - for various reasons.

But find out by looking real hard at the wheels and it will become apparent