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7/5/2016 4:42:52 PM EDT
I just took delivery of my new safe last week and had a moving company place it into the basemant. Pretty exciting! Upon inspection and working the combo on the  lock I unlocked the bolts. I gave a pretty good yank and the door seems to be really stiff. The door is almost a half inch of steel and it weighs a bit. But it's just pretty stiff to move. Even the mover made a comment about how stiff it was and that I need to wd40 it. The hinges are external so i took some lubricant and gave it a shot. Worked the door a bit but the damn thing remains stiff.

Upon inspection of other safes (manufacturers)  with the same steel thickness, they move like they are on ball bearings.

Does anyone have any ideas  to why this sucker wont open smoothly or remedies?
7/5/2016 9:44:31 PM EDT
[#1]
Most safe doors with external hinges ARE on ball bearings. What brand? Did they remove the door to deliver it? Sometimes the balls get stuck with the grease and fall out when the door is off the hinges.
7/5/2016 9:46:09 PM EDT
[#2]
That's actually a really thin light door in the safe world. I think there's a possibility it won't function correctly until it's square and properly supported.

Perhaps call the manufacturer and ask.
7/5/2016 11:22:29 PM EDT
[#3]
Which manufacturer?

There are several things that could cause "stiffness" when opening.

7/6/2016 8:13:12 AM EDT
[#4]
We did not have to remove the door to have the safe moved. I did call the manufacturer (sturdy) and they said that the door was normal but I'm having a hard time with that. I have a smaller safe of thiers and the door swings like a normal safe door I've seen at stores. It's something I could lve with but my wife has a hard time trying to open the door which sucks. Christ sake

Do you guys think that the door will loosen up over time or deteriate.?

What kind of remedies or trouble shooting can I do to try to make this swing easier.
7/6/2016 12:58:42 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote History
Quoted:
We did not have to remove the door to have the safe moved. I did call the manufacturer (sturdy) and they said that the door was normal but I'm having a hard time with that. I have a smaller safe of thiers and the door swings like a normal safe door I've seen at stores. It's something I could lve with but my wife has a hard time trying to open the door which sucks. Christ sake

Do you guys think that the door will loosen up over time or deteriate.?

What kind of remedies or trouble shooting can I do to try to make this swing easier.
View Quote


Did they level the safe when it was installed? If the safe is on a backward angle, you might be fighting against the weight of the door, and gravity.

My door weighs quite a bit more than yours, it requires a good bit of muscle to open, but is decently smooth.
7/6/2016 6:19:18 PM EDT
[#6]
Sturdy safes have a pretty tight door fit.  Sounds like yours is too tight though.

Rub the entire door edge with chalk and see if you can find out if it's rubbing somewhere.
7/6/2016 8:28:50 PM EDT
[#7]
Is the door dragging (stiff only when opening/closing), or is it stiff throughout the entire swing?

7/6/2016 10:30:42 PM EDT
[#8]
The door swings ok but not great u til 90 degrees. After it hit 90 degrees it's like a brick.
7/6/2016 10:35:16 PM EDT
[#9]
I don't recall if Sturdy has adjustable hinges or not.  If they do, there will be a hole with a set screw on the bottom of one or both.  If you find that, let me know and I'll walk you through adjusting it.  If not, I bet somebody put the door on without lubricating them first.  A little grease will do the job, but you will need to lift the door off to do it.  This is dangerous, and not a one man job.

7/6/2016 11:57:46 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote History
Quoted:
That's actually a really thin light door in the safe world. I think there's a possibility it won't function correctly until it's square and properly supported.

Perhaps call the manufacturer and ask.
View Quote


Half inch of steel is thin in the safe world?
7/7/2016 12:28:04 AM EDT
[#11]
 Half inch of steel is thin in the safe world?  
View Quote


Indeed it is.

So that sure puts those safes using 1/8" into perspective, doesn't it?  
7/7/2016 7:53:07 AM EDT
[#12]
What is a good procedure in lifting these doors off? Is there a way to lift the door half way off the hinges and expose them to grease?

I don't understand why it's swings ok (not great) at the beginning and really stiffens up at about 90 degrees.
7/7/2016 9:31:35 AM EDT
[#13]
 What is a good procedure in lifting these doors off? Is there a way to lift the door half way off the hinges and expose them to grease?
   
View Quote



The best procedure is a welded rack that attaches to a pallet jack and allows you to strap the door to the rack preventing it from falling.

Absent that, I would roll a floor jack under the door, near to the hinges in the event the same resistance you feel opening the door will be present when lifting it.  Open the door 90 degrees, and slowing jack it up.  Two people.  Once it breaks free from the pins it's going to want to fall, especially with the jack being off center.  Shouldn't be so heavy that two of you can't maintain control of it, but you may need quick reflexes.

Lifting it partially may work, but you don't know how high the hinge pins are.  You may think you're only lifting it a little, and may end up pushing it over the top.
7/8/2016 12:17:28 AM EDT
[#14]

Quote History
Quoted:
The best procedure is a welded rack that attaches to a pallet jack and allows you to strap the door to the rack preventing it from falling.



Absent that, I would roll a floor jack under the door
View Quote View All Quotes
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Quote History
Quoted:



 What is a good procedure in lifting these doors off? Is there a way to lift the door half way off the hinges and expose them to grease?

   






The best procedure is a welded rack that attaches to a pallet jack and allows you to strap the door to the rack preventing it from falling.



Absent that, I would roll a floor jack under the door

They make a bar that bolts to a floor jack and gives you two contact points instead of one if you go the floor jack route.




 
7/8/2016 9:30:43 PM EDT
[#15]
If I decide to make the move and jack the door up, what's the recomended grease for the pins and hinge?
7/8/2016 9:41:31 PM EDT
[#16]
Any.  

I usually use wheel bearing grease.  We pulled a door on a gun safe years ago that simply refused to go back on.  We used a small tube of TW25B that came with one of the customer's new handguns.  Worked like a champ.

7/8/2016 10:50:33 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote History
Quoted:


Half inch of steel is thin in the safe world?
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Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
That's actually a really thin light door in the safe world. I think there's a possibility it won't function correctly until it's square and properly supported.

Perhaps call the manufacturer and ask.


Half inch of steel is thin in the safe world?


The outer plate of the door on mine is 1"...
The body is 1/2" outside, with 2" of cement with another 1/8" of steel on the inside.

I am sure a real safe tech like Frank has seen monster safe doors with double or triple that, plus cement...
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