Drilling Holes Into Your Gun Safe (Best Hacks)

Need to drill holes in your gun safe? By using the proper techniques, you can effectively and efficiently drill holes into your gun safe.

If you come across this article, you might want to figure out how to drill into your safe the right way. Gun safe owners have several reasons why they need to do such a thing. 

You may want to mount or anchor your safes to prevent thieves from removing them. Some safes have no power access holes that you may need to make yourself. 

Moreover, the worst-case scenario is a lock failure.  It happens when you fail to remember your safe’s access combo. Whatever reasons you have, there are safe and effective methods when drilling a hole into your safe.

Is It Safe To Drill Holes Into My Gun Safe?

Before grabbing your tools, you must be aware that drilling holes into your gun safe have certain risks. Let us elaborate on the pros and cons.

Advantages

1. Safety and Security

As mentioned above, thieves can steal your safe when not mounted in the right place. Anchoring your gun safe in a secure place provides optimal security. You can mount it on your wall or bolt it on the floor. Make sure that the safe is intact and secure.

2. Lock failure solution 

In case of a lock failure, you should first contact the manufacturer to assist you with the matter. Your last option is to crack the safe by drilling a hole. If you cannot do it yourself, you may want to call a professional for help. It can be possible for them to drill a hole without leaving a visible trace.

Disadvantages

1. The warranty might get void

Before taking the next step, always consider the product’s warranty. Call your gun safe’s manufacturer to confirm whether drilling would invalidate its warranty. Once they give you the information you need, it is up to you to decide whether to proceed or not.

2. Fire security compromised

Most top-of-the-line safes come with superior fire protection design. These safes are often made with multiple-layer protection. They have thick steel walls that are fire-resistant. 

Drilling holes into your safe may compromise its fire protection features. You may call your manufacturer to find out whether it would be safe to do so.

3. Damaged safe

Drilling holes into the safe can cause irreparable damage when not done the right way. If you are not knowledgeable about drilling on steel surfaces, call a professional to do it for you.

What Are Gun Safes Made Of?

Gun safes today are usually made of a steel alloy of iron and carbon. Steel provides greater strength and protection. Quality gun safe uses high-strength steel that is heavy and thick. This can guarantee greater protection. 

These types of gun safes may be harder to drill. Which is why it is necessary to learn the basics before doing so.

Why Do People Want To Drill Holes Into Their Gun Safes?

Gun owners may want to drill their safes for fortification. This measure helps prevent thieves from stealing the safe. Mounting the safe on the wall or bolting it on the floor are some of the few ways to secure it from robbers.

You may need to drill holes to run power into your gun safe. Even if it comes with power kits like cords, outlets, and ports, you will still need to install them. Most safes have power access holes. Others don’t have one, so you will need to drill them yourself. 

In case of a lock failure, drilling holes into your safe should be the last thing you can do. This only applies to safe owners. However, holes could compromise your gun safe’s fire protection and could void the warranty. Call the manufacturer before you start drilling.

Best Hacks in Drilling Holes Into Your Gun Safe:

Drilling holes into your safe should not be a hell of a task. Here are some incredible hacks you can follow. 

1. Choose the right tool.  

Gun safes have different layers. Use a normal drill for the outer layer. You can also use a hole saw if you want a cleaner cut. In the case of hard steels, use special drill bits to get through.

2. Locate the anchor holes. 

If you want to mount or bolt your safe, look for anchor holes. Most gun safes have anchor holes located at the bottom part. Some place the holes at the center. 

Traditional safes come with anchor holes found in the corners. You can drill the safe with ready-made anchor holes as your guide.

How to Drill Holes into Your Safe

1. Prepare your materials. The tools you will need may vary depending on the type and thickness of the metal. Twist bits are often used for general types of metals.

For wood and carpets, most drill bits can do the job. A 9-inch or 10-inch drill bit is the most recommended size to drill to create holes in the safe. You will also need safety glasses to protect your eyes from metal debris.

2. Make a Dimple. Measure where you want to drill a hole to prevent the drill bits from wandering. Create a small dimple that will serve as a mark. You can use a hammer and a center punch to make one.

3. Start Small. When you want to make a bigger hole, you need to start small. Begin drilling using 1/4 inch diameter twist bits before succeeding to a 1-inch diameter. Afterward, you can use a larger size if needed. 

4. Take it slow. Use a slow speed when drilling through steel or metal. The harder the metal, the slower the speed. Most metals must use a speed of 3000 rpm for smaller twist bits

5. Attach anchor bolts. This is only applicable if you want to bolt down your safe on the floor or mount it on the wall. Use a screwdriver to secure the safe in position.

Make sure to secure it right. When it comes to wooden floors or walls, you can buy heavy-duty wood screws from your local hardware store.

Dos & Don’ts When Drilling Holes Into Your Gun Safe:

Drilling holes into safes are generally safe. Yet, you still need to follow certain precautionary measures. Here are the do’s and don’ts when drilling into your safe.

1. Plan ahead. 

Whatever your purpose in drilling your safe is, it is important to have a plan before getting started. Planning involves the preparation of materials.

2. Do not take risks when you are unsure. 

When your knowledge of drilling is not enough, it is necessary to ask for help from a professional. You may also watch a couple of instructional videos before grabbing the drill.

3. Consider the warranty. 

Most gun safes come with a 5-year warranty. Check the warranty coverage.  If your gun safe is still under warranty, call the manufacturer beforehand.  Drilling holes may cause physical damage to the product. Physical damages including holes could compromise your safe’s warranty.

4. Keep safe. 

Drilling into steel may cause minor to major injuries. Make sure to wear safety glasses. Do not wear loose clothing and before you adjust the drill setup, make sure that the drill stops running.

5.  Avoid too much pressure when drilling. 

It may lead to damage to the steel surface and the drill bit could snap.

6. Do not adjust the drill or loosen it when the power is on.

Adjusting or loosening a drill while the power is on can be dangerous as it can cause the drill bit to suddenly spin at a high speed, potentially causing injury to the user or damage to the drill. It is important to turn off the power and unplug the drill before making any adjustments or changes to it.

7. Use a brush when removing chips. 

Using a brush when removing chips is important because it helps to prevent the chips from being forced back into the drill’s internal mechanism, which can cause damage to the drill or make it less effective.

8. Lubricate the bit with lightweight machine oil when drilling deep holes. 

Lubricating the bit with lightweight machine oil when drilling deep holes can help to reduce friction and heat buildup, which can prolong the life of the drill bit and make the drilling process easier.

9. Ask for professional help.

If you can’t do it yourself, you may hire a master safecracker or a locksmith to do it for you.

Conclusion

Drilling holes into your gun safe is a task that anyone can do. As long as you have the common tools and the correct procedures, you can drill holes in no time.

Gun-safe owners may drill holes for several reasons. You may want to fortify your safe by mounting or bolting it in a secure area. Others want to install power access holes. At last, if you happen to experience a lock failure, then you have no choice but to drill a hole.

Before you get started, you need to plan ahead of time. Prepare the tools needed for drilling. Make sure that you are familiar with the do’s and don’ts. Check the warranty. 

It is also important to avoid making mistakes that you will later regret. Safety should also be your number one priority. And the most important thing to consider, if you can’t do it yourself, ask for professional help.

FAQs

Sources:

How to Bolt Down a Gun Safe: 13 Steps (with Pictures)

By Anon Container: wikiHow URL: https://www.wikihow.com/Bolt-Down-a-Gun-Safe.

“Drill Bit – Wikipedia.” Drill Bit – Wikipedia, 1 July 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drill_bit.