Mosler Cannonball Safe (Parts Missing)

[djed]

Gordon,

Your point is exactly the reason why I'm going to need to think about how to move the safe (with the come along). Right now, the garage is being held together by termites holding hands. I'm thinking I'm going to need to sink an anchor into the foundation.

D

[GWiens2001]

Gordon,

Your point is exactly the reason why I'm going to need to think about how to move the safe (with the come along). Right now, the garage is being held together by termites holding hands. I'm thinking I'm going to need to sink an anchor into the foundation.

D

Make sure your foundation is not a post tension slab. Drilling in that can get ugly if you nick one of the cables.

You may be able to rent a small, electric forklift. (Think like a pallet jack). A friend used one to move a couple cannonball safes about a year ago.

Gordon

[djed]

The drain on my compressor failed so sand blasting is on hold.

I was thinking about the safe wheels and was wondering how I am going to tackle them.

https://imgur.com/XmJQEgQ (Front of wheel sandblasted)
https://imgur.com/DfE09et (Rear of wheel in as is condition)

I can see where the wheel bracket is screwed into the safe but am uncertain how the wheel comes off the axle. It looks like that thing was hammered/pressed on with no thoughts to it ever being removed.

Anybody care to chime in?

[Squelchtone]

Lock case cleaned up nicely. It took a lot more compound due to the build up, including rust.



If it tarnishes now, that is fine.

Squelchtone or anyone else with a 5H, are the screws brass or nickel? The ones I have are nickel.

[GWiens2001]

wow - that is purty!

Gordon

[00247]

Hey David, did you get your door apart? I hope the pictures helped. I joined this site, now I have three safe sites to watch for minimal action. Sometimes I think we are the only two fools to be messing with this stuff. Besides Matt of course, but he makes a living at it...

[djed]

Not yet. I want to finish sandblasting before I move it into the garage. Once in the garage, I'll have the ability to use a chain hoist (just in case).

I just got my compressor back online so I'll try the sandblaster again in the coming days. I've got some work obligations that are keeping me busy at this time.

[Squelchtone]

Lock case cleaned up nicely. It took a lot more compound due to the build up, including rust.

https://imgur.com/N4k9561

If it tarnishes now, that is fine.

Squelchtone or anyone else with a 5H, are the screws brass or nickel? The ones I have are nickel.

hi djed,
my lock case is cast steel with a black enamel finish and nickel screw for the friction fence. Do you think yours is brass or plated?

here's a photo of it sitting on top of my restored Protectall safe

[djed]

As much as I cut into it with compound on the buffing wheel, I would have guessed brass. However, the traces of rust had me scratching my head.

[averagejoe]

As much as I cut into it with compound on the buffing wheel, I would have guessed brass. However, the traces of rust had me scratching my head.

In the bottom right of the case in your picture there is an area that is darker. Is that a high spot with something coating it, or a low spot that was gouged out.

Rust could have been put on there just like the time lock or it could have been heavily plated.

[djed]

That was just some dirt I hadn't yet cleaned off. It was on pretty thick in some places.

Here are some old pictures:

https://imgur.com/fVegK8h
https://imgur.com/8KZSfw6
https://imgur.com/6BOZyPz
https://imgur.com/taLejMY

[averagejoe]

Ah ok, so then the rust that you had everywhere would just be from the rusty water in the rest of the safe coating the lock.

[djed]

One side sand blasted.

https://imgur.com/dE4icvj
https://imgur.com/jAHBT8l

Would've gone faster but the Harbor Freight blaster sucks (it keeps getting clogged). I am using the HF aluminum oxide media.

[00247]

Not sure what blaster or how big an air compressor you have, but when it come to sandblasting rusty heavy iron there is no such thing as to big. You have a challenging project. I have a 7.5 hp V4 compessor and a 100 lb pressure blaster and would have to psych myself up for that job. Switch to silica sand for a project like that, much more cost effective. 100 lb bags at the building center. Such hobbies we choose...

[djed]

I have an 80 gallon compressor and the 110lbs Harbor Freight blaster. I keep sweeping up the blast media from my driveway and straining it through a sifter I bought from Bed Bath and Beyond. I'm guessing I lose about 30% each time. I also heard that the media loses efficiency each time it is used. I also heard that using silica sand is dangerous (even though I'm wearing a ventilator, ear protection, a hoodie with a drawstring hood, and the HF pullover hood).

I love the picture by your username. Did you have the cover etched or did it come that way?

I thought I saw a reference to an "expert" etcher/engraver in Santa Ana, California on Matt's website but I can't find the reference any more.