quote:

You could always partially unlock it, then just dial to the last position to open, should you want easier access.

Is this at all detrimental to the mechanism?

quote:

So the question is: Why not use a dash of at least Loctite "purple," their weakest thread-locker, on these screws? Or even "blue?"

No problem doing so. I do it on occasion myself. Most of the lock mounting screws are made of a soft metal, so anything too aggressive may result in them stripping the next time somebody tries to remove them.

If the lock mounting screw is "full length" and properly torqued they tend to stay in place forever. I tend to use thread lock when I have to use a shorter/more shallow mounting screw or a safe that has a history of loose fasteners.

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Is this at all detrimental to the mechanism?

No.

ensigmatic,

How much use has your original lock seen? My dad has the same brand gun safe and I'm wondering if I need to change out his lock.

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Originally posted by trapper189:
ensigmatic,

How much use has your original lock seen?

Turns out I haven't had that safe as long as I'd thought I'd had it. Bought it in late 2006, so about 13-1/2 years.

Most of the time I've had it when I was still employed it got used at least twice-a-day on workdays--locking everything up before I left the house and taking something out when I got home. Then, on non-work days, locking everything up when we both left the house and getting something back out when we got home. Let's call it an average of once-a-day for 13-1/2 years: About 5,000 operations?

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
My dad has the same brand gun safe and I'm wondering if I need to change out his lock.

If it has that same "economical" LG lock on it, that might be a wise idea.

The good news is it's pretty easy if you're at all mechanically inclined.

If they assembled your dad's safe the way they did mine, you are going to need an impact driver to get the screws out, and to get the back of the door off.

Assuming he has pegboard on the back of his safe door, like I have, take the opportunity to mark the "no hooks" areas on the pegboard. There are areas where the boltwork is almost right up against that pegboard. Years ago I nearly "locked" myself out of my safe by placing a hook in a bad place. Luckily, I tested the boltwork opening/closing before closing it!

Thank you. It is peg board and I've had it off once already. He managed to lock the lock with the door open, so I took the peg board off thinking something was wrong with the lock work. Turns out he was using the wrong combination. He had found a card in a book with a combination on it and assumed it was for his current safe. It was actually for a safe he hasn't had for 20 years.