Help with an old hotel safe

[hotel_safe1]

Thanks high_order1,

Here's the story to date. I bought an old safe deposit lock that looked similar to the ones in the safe, took it apart and saw how it worked. Then I practiced with it. I could fairly easily open the guard side several times (it only had 3 levers). I could almost but not quite get the "customer" side to unlock (it had 5 levers). So I moved on and tried opening a few of the boxes in the safe with no luck. I was pretty gung ho at first spending maybe an hour or so each day over several days. I thought, and still think, if I could get just one open, I could make or have a guard key made which would leave just one side to pick for each other lock. I used the windshield wiper technique mentioned earlier in the post and it works great as a tensioner. I did buy an inexpensive set of picks which seemed to work fine for the guard lock. However, like you mentioned maybe the picks are just a little big to hit each lever individually. The guard lock had 2 #3 levers and one #2 so maybe that is why it was easy to open. I'll look into it a little closer and maybe I can grind down one of the picks to work properly. Thanks very much for the tip!

[MartinHewitt]

I am sure you will manage if you are persistent. And I do really suggest you having a look at impressioning. If you can get blanks or make them and can get it tensioned the bank side is probably done quickly.

Btw. can you tension (and pick) both locks?

[high_order1]

Hey Hotel_safe!

Sounds like you have a great plan of attack!

I wish I could help you more on the topic; I have typically just drilled those out, because people seem to accept physical damage, but if you manipulate a lock, they turn to the caretaker and say, 'well, my stuff can't be too dang secure if he can stuff something in there and open it!'

Since you appear fairly sincere and devoted in your efforts, have you considered buying an otoscope or borescope? You can get some of them very, very cheap. You're not trying to learn how to defeat the system, just trying to open them, so open is open, right? lol

Apparently, you may be able to tension one side, put a pin pick (like a shrub or travelers hook, but thinner in diameter) in the other, then get like a cheap USB ear scope, put it on a jig, point it at the nontensioned lock core, and try to observe the lever positions.

This would be the soft methodology of my choice were I sitting in front of your security container.

I don't think raking would produce much in the way of results, but I would try it and rocking with a city rake just to rule them out.

Only thing I ask, is if you get it figured out, video how you did it and further our knowledge!

hang in there!