Sentry® Safe Fire-Safe® 1.3 Cubic Ft. Capacity Waterproof Security File

Comments about Sentry<small>®</small>Safe Fire-Safe® 1.3 Cubic Ft. Capacity Waterproof Security File:

I purchased fire safe F3300. Upon receipt, lid stuck shut. Latch would not move. Factory said to press on lid. It took several attempts of 200 + lbs. down force on lid at latch end to get latch to unlatch. It's simply a cheap, flimsy, sheet metal / plastic, sloppy tolerances latch that is too short. I fixed with small rat tale file and reshaped the half moon notch (movable part) by filing away approx. .020 inch keeping the same profile. This made latch in effect slightly longer. Caution - metal bends easily. File cautiously. Made several attempts filing little at at a time. Now works good, with 10 lbs. downward force on lid to open latch. Don't believe factory story about cold temp., vacuume, as to why lid won't open. I very disappointed with Sentry and their inexpensive latch. Not very secure - I think burgler could bust open with 2 heavy screwdrivers in 2 minutes. This entire fix process took 2 + hrs. and wife yelling at me to return this broken safe... My nerves are shot. Not recommended unless willing to fix it yourself. jlk- project engr.-[...]

Comments about Sentry<small>®</small>Safe Fire-Safe® 1.3 Cubic Ft. Capacity Waterproof Security File:

We store all of our documents - children's immunization cards, car titles, insurance information, passports etc... We have had it for 3 years and access it about once a month. We tried to get into it the other day and it would not open with all of our valuable documents in there. The key would turn to unlock the safe but the latch would not release so the safe was locked and not accessible. We called and they said this has happened before and that we would need to take a screwdriver and hammer to it and pry it open. So now we have a firebox that does not lock. It is not covered by warranty yet they knew exactly our problem and where to hit it with the screw driver and hammer combination... You would think that there would be a product re-call if the latch lock system fails. That is sort of the purpose of a safe... Do not buy !

Comments about Sentry<small>®</small>Safe Fire-Safe® 1.3 Cubic Ft. Capacity Waterproof Security File:

I've had 2 of this model. The lock on the first ones broke the first day, before I even got to use it! The locking mechanism was broken in the "locked" position, and was unable to be opened. I returned it, and got a new one....same model.

I've used it for about 1 year, accessing the contents about once or twice per month. The lock occasionally did not operate properly. I tried to open it the other day, and found that the lock was now inoperable...the key turned, but did not unlock it. A friend of mine who is a licensed lock-smith came by, and ended up using a large screw driver to pry it open....in less than 30 seconds. He said he quit selling Sentry safes specifically because of the low quality locking systems.

This safe may be OK for protection against fire and water, but is certainly NOT good for security!!!

As you can read in other reviews here, the lock problem is known to the manufacturer, but they don't improve it, or correct the problem. They just give you instruction to how to use a screwdriver to gain access, while destroying the safe in the process. Save yourself the headaches of broken, malfunctioning locks, and buy a different brand!!!

Comments about Sentry<small>®</small>Safe Fire-Safe® 1.3 Cubic Ft. Capacity Waterproof Security File:

I live in a flood plain, so the waterproof feature is nice. The safe itself is well-built and heavy, but the lock is more like something you'd expect to find in a crackerjack box. My problem, which started to occur about a year after I bought the unit, is that it's difficult to lock because the mechanism is imprecise; i.e., when the top is closed, it is sometimes difficult to engage the lock ( I think it's because the hook in the lower half of the unit is not properly aligned with the lock bar in the lid). I usually have to fiddle with it for several minutes before it catches and locks. A friend of mine also has this safe, and her problem was even worse--the safe wouldn't open because of the junky lock. She finally called the company and received instructions for prying it open with a hammer and screwdiver. Sentry needs to upgrade to a better, higher-quality, more dependable locking mechanism. By the way, this lock style seems very similar to the Krypton bicycle locks that were recalled a few years back when it was discovered that they could be easily opened with a Bic pen.

Comments about Sentry<small>®</small>Safe Fire-Safe® 1.3 Cubic Ft. Capacity Waterproof Security File:

Nice fire and water proof safe. Large inside. Can accomodate all file sizes. Buyers just need to recognize this safe is larger than most "home safes". Not something that you could place on a shelf. Also, it's heavy and very awkward to move without either the help of two people or a dolly. The water tight door present challenges to opening it quickly. It doesn't just pop open.

Comments about Sentry<small>®</small>Safe Fire-Safe® 1.3 Cubic Ft. Capacity Waterproof Security File:

I also had the latch problems with this. It has always been difficult to get to latch (slamming it, pressing down on the lid, etc.) and finally would not latch at all. By the time it would not latch at all, it was no longer under warranty. [...]