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Archive for April, 2008
Did you ever see the movie “The Italian Job”? Where the girl was drilling into a “Worthington Safe?”…..(I have looked on the net and can’t find them or anyone that has ever heard of them) Well, with the tools she was using she didn’t have a chance! She finally “cracked” the safe by dialing into it. I started hollering at the movie “Bull Poop” (this is a G rated blog) Because the dial was a bump proof dial. No way she could have done that. My lovely bride looked at me “Its only a movie”….
Well, the movies are full of entertainment but when it comes to facts they are misleading. However, when it comes to safes, Hayman Safes model MV15-2618 is anything but misleading. TL 15 rated safe with UL fire rating. Weighing in at over 800 lbs (this is one of the small ones!) you have to take this model seriously. A burglar could chew on this safe forever and not get inside. (Probably wouldn’t even leave teeth marks.)
* Fireproof Safe UL listed for 1 1/2 hours. (Your house will be gone but not the safe…thats good for your stuff but bad and sad for the house)
* Double holes in bottom for double bolt down. Thus increasing the safes protection by 100%.
*Internal hinge for a more durable longer lasting hinge. Giving nothing to pry on for the thief.
*Monster size bolts of 1 1/2 inches each. On both the door open side and the hinge side.
*Also a healthy size plate of drill resistant hard plate. This is too keep out locksmiths like me and intelligent thieves. However, I have never come across a safe that a thief has drilled open. I’m sure its been done in the bigger cities but I’ve never heard of it.
*Two remote relockers that add reinfocement to the bolts. More on this see my article on relockers: http://www.valuesafes.com/relocker.html.
In regards to size, pay close attention to the diffence in the inside vs outside dimensions. You will see a huge change between inside and outside depth because of the door.
Over all quality of this safe is Excellant. Great protection against burglary and fire. Did I mention its TL rated? UL listed TL 15. One of the top safes in the world. Made for jewelry shops, coin collections, family heirlooms, antique collectables, check cashing stores, home collections, and much more. This one gets highest marks on my ValueSafes seal of approval. Feel free to visit them for a closer look at this model at www.ValueSafes.com
| MV15-2618 | |||
| Outside Dimensions | |||
| Height: 29 1/2″ Width: 22″ Depth: 22″ |
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| Inside Dimensions | |||
| Height: 25 1/2″ Width: 18″ Depth: 15″ |
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| Weight | |||
825 lbs. |
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TL-15 High Security Jewelery safe. TL 15 safes are normally found in jewelry stores, coin dealers, and check cashing stores. You insurance company may insist on the purchase of one of these safes if want to get a rider policy for home jewelery as well. Very important to chat with your insurance company to find if it is a money saving purchase.
In regards to TL 15 safes, they are the more common of TL rated safes. You can find one used every once in a great while. Best place to check is your local locksmith. If he has a used one, make sure he puts on a new lock before you take delivery of it.
Speaking of locks. TL-15 safes are almost always equiped with an S&G Dial or you can upgrade to a “radiation attack resistant keypad”….which is really any battery operated keypad. This option for radiation proof is too keep someone from using x-ray equipent from trying to break into your safe. Personally I have never heard of anyone doing this…But there is always someone that “knew of someone, that knows someone, that read someplace, that this could happen. Go figure. The unit is equiped with spring loaded relockers and drill resistant hardplate hidden with the safe.
The hardplate cannot be drilled through, only melted. Limiting the amount of time a thief would want to spend in front of it. It normally takes me around 30 mins to get my equipment set up and the safe preped before I can even start working on a TL Rated safe. Note that the door is 5 inches thick and body is two inches think. Most thiefs when they see a safe like this just go past it and try for easier pickings.
Fireproof Safe of 1 1/2 hours UL listed and rated. This is important. Often times a UL fire label of 1 1/2 hours is better fire protection than a “factory tested 2 hours”. (Sounds odd I know but let me explain) UL is a non-biased testing center based here in the US. While a factory test is done in the factory in China or Korea. They have a vested intrest in the safe being fire rated for longer. I have heard of some factory tested safes that were tested for two hours BUT UL only says they are one hour! That should make you stop and think a while about what you are buying. Please note that while I am on the subject of quality. Buy from American Manufacturers not from overseas makers of TL rated safes. Because TL15 rated safes are hard enough to work on WITH help from an American company. I have seen too many people purchase an affordable overseas safe just to have the import company close down and leave zero information or help when it comes to servicing your safe. The safe ends up locked up and being expensive to get into and then its normally ruin and unrepairable.
This is why I have chosen to sell only Hayman Safes. Gary Hayman is the 2nd generation of designer and manufacturer of safes in the Hayman family. They are available with support and service and have been for decades! The reason I’m telling you this is because the MV15-2016 is designed to last a lifetime. Sure it may need some repair or adjustment from a locksmith years from now. But this is really made to pass down to the grandkids.
One last thing, this model is made with two predrilled bolt down holes. So that it can be attached to the foundation. Most safes only come with one. But this one will be twice as secure so rest easy with one of these. You can see one of these Magna Vaults at www.valuesafes.com or just follow this link to go to the right page: SAFES
| MV15-2016 | |||
| Outside Dimensions | |||
| Height: 24″ Width: 19 3/4″ Depth: 19 1/2″ |
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| Inside Dimensions | |||
| Height: 20″ Width: 15 3/4″ Depth: 12 1/2″ |
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| Weight | |||
| 610 lbs. |
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MV30-6028 is the largest in our TL 30 safe series. Call Valuesafes.com before you order this one. The weight is over 2000lbs! Shipping is free from them but you should have all the details before you buy.
MV stands for Magna Vault. 30 stands for TL-30. 60 stands for interior height. 28 is for interior width. This safe is a built to the exact standards of the all the TL30’s in this section. With the exception of being over 2000 lbs of steel keeping in place. BUT, it still comes with a bolt down. Bolt this monster down as the final layer of security.
Below are the details on this unit. Note it has a second lock option. All TL-30 models that we sell have an option for a second lock. This adds accountablity for when the safe is opened. Two people must be present or one person must know both combos.
Fireproof material is of the highest grade composite material. This will look like cement to you and me but I assure you it is not. I point this out because many safes use the name composite material for their fireproof material and its only sheetrock! If you have read my other material you will hear me stress Layers of Security and this unit is biggest and bestest safe we sell on www.valuesafes.com
| MV30-6028 | |||
| Outside Dimensions | |||
| Height: 63 1/4″ Width: 31 1/2″ Depth: 24 1/4″ |
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| Inside Dimensions | |||
| Height: 59 1/4″ Width: 27 1/2″ Depth: 16 1/2″ |
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| Weight | |||
| 2210 lbs. |
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TL 30 Safe 1 1/2 hour rated Fireproof Safes model MV30-4120 from Hayman Safes. As I write this passage, I am reminded of just how well built a safe this unit is! Top of the line in TL 30 rated Safes. But before I jump in let me explain the how the model number works. “MV” stands for Magna Vault, which is Hayman’s model series name. Such as Eldorado would belong to Cadillac. “30″ stands for TL 30 and then “41″ stands for the interior height of the safe. (Pay attention to exterior…it is larger) Then the last number is “20″ which is the width of the model in the interior of the safe. Thus we get MV30-4120 kinda cool huh? Always nice to know what you are looking at and hopefully you will find it helpfull in your search for safes. As a side note, most manufactures do something like this with their model numbers but some stand for outside deminsions and some for inside.
Back to the safe, which is also know as a vault. This of course is the next to the largest model of TL 30 that Hayman makes. Though they can get much larger if you special order…its just a little more pricey. The unit is built the same as their other TL30 Vault models with internal ball bearings between layers of hardplate as well as other unmentionalbles. Great protection for any kind of jewelry or cash. I think its important to point out at this time what a TL30×6 is. That is a TL30 on all sides of the safe. Where the door on this model is rated TL30 only. Now, just because a TL30 is not TL30 on all sides of the safe doesn’t mean that ANYONE in the right mind can break into it. They can’t. Its just on x6 they make the walls ALL like 4 inches thick. Instead of 2 inches on the walls and the door being only 6 inches thick.
Personally, I know of very few locksmiths that will even work on a TL30 (read know how to work on a TL30) Much less, I have never even heard of a thief getting into a TL30. (This is the stuff locksmiths talk about at the annual ALOA convention…intresting for locksmiths but my wifes eyes roll back into her head as we talk shop) So you can rest easy that you schtuff is secure in any of the Hayman Safe models rated as TL30.
Its important to point out that this TL30 has a weight of almost 1400 lbs. You are getting to the top of the weight limit (which 1500 lbs) for most liftgates on trucks and readily avialable moving equipment. After this size, you better want to recieve the safe and never have it moved again. Because it will become costly to do so. Riggers must be called in as well as a team of Brutus like men to move it. If you are in a high rise and need to take it up an elevator. Check the weight limit on the elevator. I have actually had safes returned because they were too heavy to go up the elevator! Ouch, that was an expensive mistake!
Don’t forget to bolt this unit down. Even if it weighs over 1000 lbs. Remeber, bolt down is the last layer of protection. In your layers of security. Oh, wait. Many people will also add a door alarm contact to the safe door and include it as a constant “alarmed” zone on thier system. So they must deactivate the zone everytime they want inside. Which is an other “layer of security”.
This unit is top of the line in quality. For more information on Hayman safes please read our other blogs on this subject.
MV30-3020 TL 30 Safe is number 3 in the line up of TL 30 safes. 1 1/2 hour fireproof UL listed and tested Safe. Size is the only variable between this model and the others. It is important to note that you should read my other postings on the safes in this line up. I will try not to repeat my self much in this blog. (My wife wishes that was the same around the shop and at home! I do love her!) At this size, this big thing is getting heavy! You will need a moving crew or VERY heavy duty handtruck to move it. I suggest ramps and elevators. Forget the stairs unless you are using a crew. BUT, and this is a big but. Check out the quality of the steps. Remember the steps will need to support the weight of the safe, which is just over 1000lbs, plus the weight of movers. Normally 3-4 guys. Which will be around 1600lbs - 1800lbs on your stair case. If the stairs are in a new home and made of wood. I would get an expert opion before I toted this thing up them. The last thing you want is the TL-30 Safe to damage or break the stairs. Concrete steps are ok. Steel steps…hmmm…get another opinion. Most of the time a good moving crew can be a good judge. But be carefull.
Valuesafes normally has these on sale with free shipping included. But I know they will not take it inside at the prices quoted on their website. Just down to the ground and either back or front door. My suggestion is get them to send it to a local moving company. Then have the moving company bring it to the house and place it inside. If you don’t want to man handle this beast yourself. Oh, some locksmiths in many cities specialize in safe moving and installing. They even have equipement that would climb stairs with a safe like this. Really, its called a “stair climber” and its a motorized handtruck. Works great but not every locksmith has made the investment to purchase one of these.
I was speaking with Gary Hayman of Hayman Safes the other day and he was laminting the price of steel. It keeps going up. Especially with the devaluation of the American Dollar. So if you are thinking about purchasing a safe. TL 30 or any other model. Do it soon. Inflation, fuel for shipping, as well as other factors are only going to increase the price of safes over the long run. Speaking of over the long run. A TL30 is normally kept for a lifetime. Passed on to future generations. You will not find any used TL30 Safes on the market. Or at least I never have. Another factor in this is your chain Jewelry stores when they need a Jewelry Safe just purchase a TL15 safe. So once in a blue moon you can find one of those used. But not very often or in very good condition. Rarely fireproof as they just guard jewelry and no paperwork. Always replace the lock with a brand new unit when you get a used TL rated safe. Because you don’t know if it was having problems before. Even intermitantly. The last thing you want to do is have a locked up TL 30 on your hands. Other than that. Stay with an American based manufacturer of TL rated safes when it comes to service work, you will be very glad you did.
Below are some of the great features of this TL 30 Fireproof Safe:
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While I’m on the idea of security. You will often hear me discuss “layers of security”. Safes are always your final layer of security. But don’t forget about the other layers. Such as Personal Security Products from www.AmericanSecurityWarehouse.com. They carry a huge assortment of Stun Guns, Tasers, StunMaster Stun Guns, Mace, Pepper Spray, Personal Alarms, Diversion Safes, Spy & Surveillance, and a lot of other really great stuff such as Voice Changers and Telephone Recorders.
To really dig into the “Layer” called “personal security protection.” Check out the blog www.ScreamforSecurity.com. Its new so its not filled with a bunch of rambling idiots talking about human growth hormones or some other junk. Its just personal security. Don’t forget to check back here for information on security cameras and systems.
But before I stop let me give you pause to think about Stun Guns and Tasers. They really are a very important feature in personal weapons. It levels the playing field when it comes to size and strength. Its also the most humane way to deal with an attacker. Yes, an attacker! It happens all across this country of ours. Every day someone is molested, robbed, rapped, and the list goes on! Very sad and very real threats.
Often after a home owner or shop keeper shoots a robber and kills him with a gun. You don’t have the TV cameras rolling. Just the police and morgue to clean up the mess. Its not until weeks later that the guilt sets in. Like a dark cloud that follows the person just trying to protect their property. Yes, he was in the right in killing the attacker. It was him or his family that may have been dead if the guy was not shot. But like most of us, we have never felt the feelings that come afterwards. And its most of us are willing to do whatever is nessesary to protect our families and life. Don’t get caught in this downward spiral of death.
Now you don’t have too. Get a stun gun. They are very affordable and easy to use. American Security Warehouse even has free shipping available. Keep one in your purse, glove compartment, boat, and even your SAFE!
Hayman Safe Model MV30-2618 one and half Fireproof Safe TL 30. The second largest in our TL 30 safe series. I’m not gonna put a picture of it up on the blog. However follow the link to have a good look at the different TL-30 safe models.
This is a top of the line safe for jewlery and jewelers vaults. If you are a coin collector or just like to keep a lot of money or gold at the house, this is the best one to consider. You will note that the TL-30 safes are only just a small step up in price when compared to TL 15 safes. Maximum security protection per UL (underwriters laboratory). I cannot emphasize this enough. Maximum SECURITY PROTECTION!!!!!
When it comes to TL-30 rated safes there is not alot of choice in the market. But on the ones to choose from I always push the American Manufacturing companies. Not just for the quality materials but also for the design engineering of the safe. This unit has a interior ball bearing casing encased in steel. Making it, in my opinion, “A better than TL 30 rating” .
Dual remote relockers make this one an absolute MONSTER SAFE when it comes to try to gain entry. What are dual relockers you ask? Good question. When a professional thief, like you see ONLY in the movies, or a locksmith tries to break into this safe. They will fire a relocking devise which adds support to the bolts in the door. Basically adding a bunch more time to open the safe. I mean a BUNCH more time! These two relocking devises will need to removed before the safe can be opened. To top this off, the good folks at Hayman Safeshave hidden these relockers inside the walls and aren’t telling where they are. Cool Huh?
Several months ago I sold one of these models to guy living in a remote area of the world on an island. No banks. No alarms. No police. He was his own bank with over 200k of gold bullion inside his TL-30. Nope I’m not telling which island either! But in regards to your last “Layer of Security” this is the best.
A must do is: Bolt down the safe! This is the last step in security for all safes not just TL30 rated safes. If you are not inclined to bolting down your safe. Just call your local locksmith and he will do it at a very affordable rate. If you interested in prices take a look at www.ValueSafes.com we actually keep these units on sale year around.
MV30-2016, the MV stands for Magna Vault. This is the smallest model in the TL 30 line of safes that you may consider when it comes time for meeting the needs of the High Security Safe. Not everyone needs one. Normally this is reserved for jewelry stores, pawn shops, check cashing stores, credit unions, and people that are paranoid about the U. S. Banking system. (Yes, there are quite a few of you that call us on a regular basis, especially since Bear Sterns bailout)
I have to say this is the “Best of the Best” in regards to safes. UL (underwriters labratory) has given this one their seal of approval. One and a half hours of fireproof material all around. TooL (note the large T and large L for TL) rated against an attack for 30 mins. Now 30 mins doesn’t seem like a long time for protection against a theft attack. But I can tell you this is 30 mins against ANYONE getting into it. That anyone is someone that has all the proper tools and the know how on how to get into it. Which translated means that UL has a stop watch that they start and stop when a tool is being used on the safe. It does not include time it takes to prep the safe to start working (which can take as long as 30 mins) or breaks to discuss what has happened. They stop the watch often to look at schematics and check on thier progress. So this 30 min time period is actually a MUCH longer period of time. Personally I have seen one of the best locksmith take about 2 hours and myself, with years of training, take as many 5 hours.
A normall or intelligent theif doesn’t stand a chance. You could even leave the tools next to the safe with a set of instructions and they still would not be able to get into it. However, they might scratch the paint.
Most like the electronic locks but some still use “bump proof” dial locks. If you a government regulated industry such as a drug manufacturer you will want the keypad for it is not vulnerable to “radiological attacts”. This will meet that requirement.
Now, are you ready for some bad news? If this needs repair or service you may have a difficult time finding a locksmith to work on it in remote rural areas. However, they can call Hayman. |
The best part of this is that its made by the Hayman Safes Corporation in Florida. So help is only a phone call away. Please note that there are imports of TL rated safes that may be cheaper. But you will be left in the cold when it comes time for service work! TL rated safes are made to last for generations. They will need service work! Hayman is here in the good ol’ US of A. |
Which brings me to a story of a local pawn shop that had one of these in use. They were remodeling the store so the safe was empty as well as the store. The owner put a note on the front of the safe stating the safe was empty. But someone attempted to break into it. Fired the relockers and broke off the dial. The safe was an import from Brazil that was no longer being imported or made. I talked with several locksmiths in the state as well as Lockmasters (wholesale lock maker and museum) they all had heard of the safe but nobody had any type of drill points or suggestions on how to get into it. So it was hauled off for scrap metal! The safe was worth thousands of dollars but if you can’t get help and support, it becomes a great anchor for a boat. My point is, stay in the US when it comes to all high security safes. You will be happy when it comes time to get it serviced.
Since there is no “Consumer Reports” that rates safes. None even in the locksmith industry in regards to quality, price, and over all value. What we will doing is giving a model by model testimony or professional rating. If you have used one of the following models in the past or currently using any type of Fireproof Safe, TL 15, or High Security Safe….or well, any safe for that matter. We are going to try and cover it here.
Please note that over the next year I hope to touch on over 450 models of Safe. From all kinds of manufactures from Sentry Safe, Honeywell Safe, Cobalt Safes, Gardall, Fire Fyter Safes, American Security Safes, Hayman Safe, Diamond Back Gun Safes, Cannon Gun Safes, Pacific Security Products, and Protex just to name a few.
I’m going to be going over the Firproof ratings and what it means. Defining the difference between “sticky fingers” and real burglary ratings.
So if you have a safe or security question please feel free to chat about here! All are welcome.
This is the Cobalt Fireproof Safes model SB-03C. This is a favorite model of mine. Take a look at the outer part of the door. Notice the over 2 inch thickness in the door. Then notice the bolt work assembly behind the outer door.
Thats about 5 inches of fireproof and theft resistance. Very nice and very difficult for a thief to get a crowbar between the wall and the door of the safe to get some leverage to start prying.
Next I want you to look at the hinges. These are heavy duty ball bearing hinges designed to last a life time. Also note that in other brands of safes that are not of this quality. The hinge is the first thing to go. But not on this “hunk a hunk a fireproof steel” as Elvis might have put it! The Cobalt SB-03c Safe also comes with a Sargent and Greenleaf Dial. Made in Kentucky by American hands. Got love that. This dial is also exported all over the world as one of the top dial locks in safe manufacturing. Real quality with this lock. Next notice the wall of the safe and the step up into the safe. This is designed to chanel water from a fireman’s hose away from the inside contents.
Did I mention the glass relocker? Well thats another story all together. See my paper on glass relockers . I won’t bore you hear with it. But its a great feature for real burglary protection against sledge hammers and crowbars.