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What's in your safe cracking kit?

Forgot how to dial the combination on that old safe? Think you got the right numbers but the handle is stuck? What safe should you buy? Ask your safe questions here!
Forum rules
You are posting this in This Old Safe, a public area of the forum.

Safe manipulation discussion is allowed, but safe drilling or other destructive entry is only allowed in the Advanced - Safes and Safe Locks area.

If you are a guest of the forum and have a safe you need to open, but you do not have the combination, we cannot tell you how or where to drill it.

What's in your safe cracking kit?

Postby Darter » 19 Nov 2024 19:08

It's one thing to crack a safe in your own shop or garage, but another when you have to travel someplace you've never been. Recently, I had the opportunity to travel about 2 hours away to crack a safe and I wanted to have everything with me that I might possibly need that day. My list is at the bottom of this post.

What am I missing? What have you found to be helpful to have in your toolkit for safe cracking or just for your comfort while manipulating?

I filled my backpack with the following (not in any particular order):

- Gloves
- Head lamp
- Masking tape and electrical tape
- Narrow indicator that I cut out of aluminum
- Ruler and/or long yardstick
- Recording paper and pens
- moving blanket
- magnet
- Lock pick sets
- laser (I don't have one yet, but I'm getting one)
- Umbrella (for sun)
- Glasses
- Water Bottle
- height adjustable stool and cushion
- layers and hats
- stethoscope
- graphite and a syringe in case I needed to direct it more finely.


What else?
Darter
 
Posts: 5
Joined: 13 Aug 2024 16:58

Re: What's in your safe cracking kit?

Postby MartinHewitt » 19 Nov 2024 19:55

- something to stay warm as some basements or garages are cold
- tools for the care of the lock/safe after the opening, e.g. change key(s), screw drivers, some grease, paper towel
- some basic food in case it takes longer (apples, crackers or so)
- lamp with magnet to attach to the safe
- camera to document the safe, also rulers for this
MartinHewitt
 
Posts: 922
Joined: 16 Nov 2016 18:11

Re: What's in your safe cracking kit?

Postby Darter » 19 Nov 2024 21:46

MartinHewitt wrote:- something to stay warm as some basements or garages are cold
- tools for the care of the lock/safe after the opening, e.g. change key(s), screw drivers, some grease, paper towel
- some basic food in case it takes longer (apples, crackers or so)
- lamp with magnet to attach to the safe
- camera to document the safe, also rulers for this



Squelchtone inspired me to ask for a GoPro for my next birthday. And the magnetic light is a great idea. Thank you!
Darter
 
Posts: 5
Joined: 13 Aug 2024 16:58

Re: What's in your safe cracking kit?

Postby Squelchtone » 21 Nov 2024 17:36

This is a fun thread, I'll add what I normally bring in addition to your list:

a 4lb deadblow hammer https://www.amazon.com/Titan-63164-Dead ... 09SZRGSG2/
a Sharpie
a regular #2 pencil
spare batteries for the head lamp
bungee cords to put on the handle in case it is a direct entry fence
one of these Rubbermaid stools https://www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-Rough ... 000VAZ4AU/
Bluetooth speaker to play some tunes while dialing
phone charger in case it's an all day affair
my magnetic pick up mic/equalizer/headphones in case I want to listen to the lock
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Squelchtone
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Re: What's in your safe cracking kit?

Postby MartinHewitt » 21 Nov 2024 18:51

Spare batteries for the pick up mic.
MartinHewitt
 
Posts: 922
Joined: 16 Nov 2016 18:11

Re: What's in your safe cracking kit?

Postby Darter » 21 Nov 2024 19:36

Great additions to the list! Thank you!

As for a bluetooth speaker, I don’t think I could listen to music without getting lost in what I'm doing. I have to say the number I'm testing out loud, and the say, "OK - pick up wheel 3, pickup wheel 2..." etc. Every. Single. Time. Or I completely forgot where I was. :)

Perhaps, I'll get better with more practice, but I kinda think my ADHD brain dooms me to this forever....
Darter
 
Posts: 5
Joined: 13 Aug 2024 16:58


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