It’s safe to say that it’s unsafe to buy an unreliable used safe. A strongbox that is meant to contain valuables or other objects that need to be safely kept must be able to provide the protection expected from it. There’s nothing wrong with buying pre-owned safes or coffers as long as you exercise caution in examining and choosing the item to buy and are working with a highly reputable retailer like one in Downtown Los Angeles- First Security Safe Co.
The Expected Useful Life of a Safe
How long does a typical safe last? This is one detail you may want to know to determine if a used safe is still worth buying. However, in most cases the estimated useful life of a safe is not really that important. Safes remain useful when the locks are still dependable and when the overall structure is still capable of providing the right level of protection for the things stored inside them.
If a pre-owned safe has one of its parts no longer as strong as it is meant to be, there’s no reason to get it unless it is still repairable. The corroded walls of a safe, for instance, should not be severely damaged. Corrosion or rusting should not make the walls weak enough that they can be easily punctured by something hard. Also, the hinges should remain to be strong enough to hold the safe’s door in place and to prevent forcible opening. Additionally, the lock and all mechanisms and boltwork should all still be reliable. A safe with a malfunctioning or erratically functioning lock is no longer dependable. Some safes have locks that can be replaced but others are not so they cease to be useful as secure containers for valuables.
Therefore, the expected useful life of a safe does not really have a significant impact on usability. What’s more important is the examination of the actual condition of the item.
How to Examine a Pre-Owned Safe to Buy
When buying a high security safe, it is important to evaluate the following factors: structural condition, durability of the moving parts and the lock, as well as the price.
As mentioned earlier, it is very important to assess structural condition. Everything doesn’t have to be nearly as good as new. What matters is the inherent ability to provide the features expected. A safe that is meant to be fire-resistant, for example, should continue to be fire resistant. They should not have leaks or dents that permit heat to easily penetrate the contents and cause damages.
The durability of moving parts also need to be carefully evaluated. These parts are mainly the hinges and the locking mechanisms and boltwork. They have to be repeatedly tested to ensure durability. Don’t hesitate to use force to test hinge strength by forcibly opening a closed safe.
Lastly, it is important to consider the price. You are looking for a used safe because of budget limitations. It does not make sense ignoring the price. If you want to get reliable safes, you have to exert some effort to find great options. Remember that cheap second hand safes are not going to serve any purpose if they are unable to provide the necessary protection expected from them.
