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Moving a safe, ideas?

PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 2:37 pm
by yukonjasper
Moving a safe from one room to another due to recarpeting.

I managed to get it on an appliance dolly but tipping it back and rolling it looks like a no go. Any ideas? Oh and the carpet guys are coming Tuesday.

Appreciate any advice.

Re: Moving a safe, ideas?

PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 3:05 pm
by MJY65
I chose a slightly different approach. Moved the safe a few feet, cut the carpet out of that area, put a piece of 1/2" plywood an inch smaller than the safe on the floor and pushed it back on top. The new carpet (and any future replacements) tuck under the edge of the safe and look like they go completely under. It is also more stable on the wood platform than on carpet.

Re: Moving a safe, ideas?

PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 3:07 pm
by Ghost
Could always hire a mover

Re: Moving a safe, ideas?

PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 3:17 pm
by westhope
I moved my safe by myself. I cut several pieces of 1-1/2 or 2 inch PVC the width of the base. Tipped the safe up to put the pieces under it and rolled it along the floor moving the pieces of PVC as they rolled from under the base. If needed, you can put 2x4's under the base if the base is hollow. To go around corners just change the direction of the rollers. I moved a 36 gun safe this way, of course I removed the guns first.

Re: Moving a safe, ideas?

PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 4:26 pm
by Jackpine Savage
westhope wrote:I moved my safe by myself. I cut several pieces of 1-1/2 or 2 inch PVC the width of the base. Tipped the safe up to put the pieces under it and rolled it along the floor moving the pieces of PVC as they rolled from under the base. If needed, you can put 2x4's under the base if the base is hollow. To go around corners just change the direction of the rollers. I moved a 36 gun safe this way, of course I removed the guns first.


I've done similar. I used a few old broom/mop handles, the wood variety.

Re: Moving a safe, ideas?

PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 4:41 pm
by Jackpine Savage
I just remembered another time when I borrowed a piano dolly from our school. You should be able to rent them down there, they work pretty slick.

https://www.kennebecrental.com/equipment.asp?action=category&category=69&key=DP

Re: Moving a safe, ideas?

PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 4:48 pm
by Ghost
Jackpine Savage wrote:I just remembered another time when I borrowed a piano dolly from our school. You should be able to rent them down there, they work pretty slick.

https://www.kennebecrental.com/equipment.asp?action=category&category=69&key=DP

Closer to home.

https://www.crownrent.com/m/equipment.asp?action=category&category=56

Re: Moving a safe, ideas?

PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 6:43 pm
by yukonjasper
I do like that Air Sled. I will have to call the rental company in the morning. It will be going over carpet, so thinking i could use a plastic office chair pad.

I am wondering if a pallet jack would work, but the carpet would probably need plywood under to work.

Awesome suggestions. Thank you. Like my Dad used to say, two heads are better than one even if one is a pumpkin head.
Yukon "Pumpkin Head" Jasper

Re: Moving a safe, ideas?

PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 10:45 pm
by linksep
Take the door off - It probably just lifts off when open and is probably greater than 25% of the total (empty) weight of the safe.

Re: Moving a safe, ideas?

PostPosted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 6:38 am
by BigBlue
westhope wrote:I moved my safe by myself. I cut several pieces of 1-1/2 or 2 inch PVC the width of the base. Tipped the safe up to put the pieces under it and rolled it along the floor moving the pieces of PVC as they rolled from under the base. If needed, you can put 2x4's under the base if the base is hollow. To go around corners just change the direction of the rollers. I moved a 36 gun safe this way, of course I removed the guns first.


This is how I rolled an 1100# safe out of a room and to the garage service door. I used closet rod cut into approx 18" lengths and put plywood down over the carpet and ceramic tile floor on the path out. Worked very slick. Fortunately the service door was about 6" higher than the garage and I was able to roll the safe right out onto a waiting pallet jack.

BB

Re: Moving a safe, ideas?

PostPosted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 7:01 am
by Bitter Bastard
I'll echo the others here that said to use dowels or pipes to roll the safe on. I've moved 850 pound safes myself using this method, although it is still easier with two people. One person can tip the safe back, the other kicks the wooden dowel underneath it. Use about 4 to move it smoothly, just keep transferring the one from the backside around to the front as you move it. Nice and easy, maybe $10 in materials. This is a great demo on why bolting safes down is so important once you get them to where they need to be.

Good luck!

Bitter Bastard

Re: Moving a safe, ideas?

PostPosted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 7:46 am
by Sorcerer
I think what you may want to try and rent is what’s called a stair step dolly. A appliance dolly is asking for a disaster when trying to move that kind of weight of a real safe. Trying to balance the weight could get ugly fast.

Re: Moving a safe, ideas?

PostPosted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 9:07 am
by Holland&Holland
Two big linebackers?

Re: Moving a safe, ideas?

PostPosted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 12:15 pm
by Inspiribomb
Just moved my 1100 pound Amsec. We first removed the door to reduce the weight. I laid down 2x4’s, then had some steel conduit cut to length and was able to roll the safe on them. Worked great and nobody got hurt.

Re: Moving a safe, ideas?

PostPosted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 10:30 pm
by yukonjasper
Update:
-door does not come off- bummer
- rented the air sleds but didn't use them.
- carpet installers recommended nylon pads for the 4 corners of the safe an push it where i needed.
- worked well.
-will return the air sled, down $40, never got it hooked up, maybe next time.

Thanks all for the input. Very much appreciated