I can't say how many times I have heard those words or something similar. Many times when a Safe Technician mentions the word drill, the customer imagines death and destruction for their old safe. Not So! The reason that a Safe Technician drills a particular safe is to do a reasonable job for a reasonable price. Many jobs that would require 10 or more hours of key fitting, dial manipulation, or lever lock picking can be finished in an hour or two by drilling a small, easily repaired hole, in a non vital area of the safe door. Since safe labor can cost from $60 to $200 per hour the savings are easily imagined. The door shown had (2) 1/4" drilled in it to open a malfunctioning lock. Can you spot the repair?

If you are faced with a decision like this, before you refuse the drill, ask the Technician for his plan of action. A good Technician will have several references to guide him to the best spot to drill your safe if that is necessary. If he or she are members of Safe & Vault Technicians of America or National Safe(mans) Organization they will also have reference services to assist them identify and properly service units that are unusual or seldom seen. In addition most Safe Technicians will have access to many thousands of dollars worth of reference materials in his own library.

If you have a safe that truly is a museum piece that must not be drilled for any purpose, be sure to be up front with that information as well. In those cases your Safe Tech will either settle terms of the job if he or she is qualified or refer you to one of a very few Super Technicians that may specialize in the type of lock on your safe. Jobs like these start at $2000 for plane ticket and hotel room, and go up from there.

I hope this article has been helpful, let me know if I can be of service to you anywhere in the St. Louis Mo. area.

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