Help removing a safe

[MrFeetZ]

hoping for some advise. I am remodeling a room and have a safe that i need to unbolt from a conc slab. It is secured with two red heads. The nuts can be removed from each anchor from inside the safe. But that leaves the bolt sticking up and lifting the safe over is not an option.

It appears that during installation, one of the anchor holes was drilled all the way thru the slab and I have been able to hammer it down using a punch and hammer so that it is just below finished floor. However, the second anchor does not seem like the hole was drilled all the thru the slab as this bolt sticks up much higher. I've tried hammering it a few times to see it I can drive it further down but zero movement.

A friend suggested trying to over tighten the nut with the hope of snapping the bolt. Ive tightened it about as much as I can with a breaker bar but it hasn't snapped yet.

From inside the safe, there is very limited room to access the anchor bolt. The diameter is just large enough for a deep socket to fit so I can't cut or saw the bolt from inside

Was wondering if any other ideas or suggestions out there I could try. I've thought about a long reciprocal blade to stick between safe bottom and finished floor but all the blades I have or have seen seem too thick to fit.

Thanks in advance.

[freonr22]

Safe jacks, from the rental yard?

[roc_my_tims]

Take the door off, empty the safe. Try to lift it over bolt. About the only option I see

[eviioiive]

Why can’t it be lifted?

[SanDiego619]

Why can’t it be lifted?

The only thing I can think of is a clearance issue, like the safe was put in and then anchors were drilled into the concrete.

OP is that the case?

I just googled a little about removing anchors, one suggestion was to simply pound the anchor with a sledge hammer until it breaks through the concrete at the bottom. Maybe you can try that, it is probably close...

[MrFeetZ]

Im not sure a safe jack would work. The pics I've seen of safe jacks show two lifts on opposing sides. My safe is located in the corner of the room so the two lifts would have to be adjoining corners. I don't know if that would work??? Also, since the safe is in a corner, I dont think tilting it until the bolt is clear would be possible. My assumption is that the safe would need to be lifted straight up approx 3" to clear the bolt.

[SanDiego619]

Im not sure a safe jack would work. The pics I've seen of safe jacks show two lifts on opposing sides. My safe is located in the corner of the room so the two lifts would have to be adjoining corners. I don't know if that would work??? Also, since the safe is in a corner, I dont think tilting it until the bolt is clear would be possible. My assumption is that the safe would need to be lifted straight up approx 3" to clear the bolt.

What if you cut the bolt off to the bottom of the safe then you only have to tilt it a little. You might bash the wall up but hey, you're remodelling anyway...

[jorgi23]

Take the door off, empty the safe. Try to lift it over bolt. About the only option I see

agree! door off

get some pvc 40 3/4 or 1/2

lift with a HD hand truck and try to get pvc under and use as rollers, or get a wedge and hammer in and get that saw blade

Id say the hell with it, just get help and tilt that bastard straight down on its side put on pillows and catch the fall and the move with the pvc

[Gutz]

Use thermite

[MrFeetZ]

Unfortunately, unable to get a cutting blade to the bolt... see attached.

Yes, the safe was initially set in place then anchors installed.

Regarding pounding the bolt thru the concrete, It looks like it need to go 4" before it flush with floor. I gave a few really good hits and I dont think it budged, although it does appear to be a little (ever so slightly) wobbly. I wonder if prying the bolt up might yield better results.

I may have access to a genie lift I could use. If I can't remove bolt, I would really only need to lift it 4" or so.

[MrFeetZ]

Forgot attachment

While it is hard to tell from photo, from the carpeted surface to the washer at the bottom is about 3" to 3-1/2".

[SanDiego619]

What a pain. The good news is, no one could steal that safe

You could mangle the safe and cut the bottom out around the hole, and make a new hole when you reinstall it.

[MrFeetZ]

What a pain. The good news is, no one could steal that safe

You could mangle the safe and cut the bottom out around the hole, and make a new hole when you reinstall it.

Yes a little frustrating, but I dont mind challenges every now and then. Funny enough, I thought the hard part would be sliding the safe around and thought removing the bolts would be the simple part.

[MrFeetZ]

agree! door off

get some pvc 40 3/4 or 1/2

lift with a HD hand truck and try to get pvc under and use as rollers, or get a wedge and hammer in and get that saw blade

Id say the hell with it, just get help and tilt that bastard straight down on its side put on pillows and catch the fall and the move with the pvc

This sounds like a good option. Thanks for the suggestion.

[dovehunter]

I had the same problem when i sold my last house. Told the seller, $500 and I will leave it. Done.



Hope you get it handled.