doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Drilling a Browning enameled safe?

Just picked up a nice used Pro-Steel 2436 with the glossy enamel finish. I need to drill a hole through one of the walls to get the wire for my Goldenrod through. What's the best way to avoid chipping the enamel when drilling?


thanks,

Rob

Rob, are you sure there's not a hole already drilled in the back of it near the bottom? Might be a knockout plug in it.

No holes there Joe, this safe is probably 15 years old and I don't think they were doing that back then. No provision for bolting it down to the floor, just instructions to drill if needed.

Interestingly enough there is a threaded hole smack in the center of the top to thread a bolt into to brace it to a rear wall. Kind of a goofy arrangement.

Use a very sharp drill bit and start with a pilot hole. You should plan on adding a rubber grommet to the hole before you pull the cord through and that grommet will hide the edge of the hole. Paint the freshly cut steel with some paint to keep it from rusting. Rust is more likely to blister the paint than is proper drilling. Drill your hole on a hot day with the safe thoroughly warmed up in the sun. Heat reduces the brittleness of the enamel and will also minimize chipping. You could also use a hair dryer or heat lamp to warm things up at the hole location. That's what auto body shops do for paintless dent repair.

Yep, I was thinking of a heat gun, the safe is already down in the basement. Good idea about the grommet too, thanks.

I have heard the hole in the top center is to help move the safe around during manufacturing. They put an eye bolt in it and lift it with winch.

I have a Browning Pro Steel safe and drilled the holes myself without any problems. I drilled a pilot hole first, then the full size one. There was no chipping of the enamel. I did not use heat first. I figured if I messed up, it wouldn't matter because the holes were on the bottom and back.

I just used that hole in the top.

Pilot first then a 1/2 hole, cord put through with a strain relief fitting, thanks guys.

tape the area you want to drill and start from the outside drilling in. Even if it does chip, it will chip less that way than from drilling inside out.