HOW TO MOVE A SAFE OR GUN SAFE

Moving a safe or gun safe can be a tricky and potentially dangerous proposition so unless you have 4 strong people and the proper equipment it’s probably better to defer to the expertise of heavy moving specialists, machinery movers, or commercial movers with a background in handling heavier items.Ā  If you decide to try it yourself, follow these tips to help complete.Ā  Rent, buy, or borrow an appliance dolly with stair rollers, and a tripod extension so the safe can be attached to the dolly in a free standing position.Ā  Then get enough sheets of Masonite to put down inside the residence to protect the floor.Ā  You can get the weight of the safe by checking with the manufacturer, just make sure you have the make and model.Ā  Once you get the weight, make sure the dolly is rated high enough to accommodate.Ā  Anything over 700-800 lbs is probably too big for amateurs, even strong ones.

  1. Measure the safe and all stairways, hallways, and door openings to make sure the piece has a clear path to its final resting place.
  2. Make sure the Masonite is down on all floors (not stairs) overlapped in a descending fashion so the dolly doesn’t catch on a seam or lip sticking up.
  3. Outside the home, strap the safe to the appliance dolly tightly with the door pointing out.Ā  You can wrap in a pad first or place protection (like cardboard) under the strap to protect the finish from scratches.
  4. To move upstairs, put 2 men at the top and 2 men at the bottom of the safe and tilt back when going up the stairs.Ā  The ā€œtiltingā€ engages the stair rollers and helps the safe move up the stairs easier.Ā  Always do one stair at a time, reposition, and a dead lift, the safe up again with everyone using their legs to provide the push.Ā  When moving downstairs you have to make sure the momentum of the piece doesn’t take over so ā€œone stair at a timeā€ is even more important.Ā  You can even add an extra person or 2 at the top of the piece holding a rope that runs through the middle of the appliance dolly. This can act as a type of safety net.
  5. When moving within the home on a flat floor engage the tripod feature within 2 people behind and 2 people in front of the safe. Once you reach the desired area, set the piece down on a piece of Masonite with its door pointing out.Ā  Reposition the appliance dolly to the door side and move back into its permanent location.Ā  Detach the dolly.

As stated before a safe or gun safe move can be difficult, but if you decide to try it yourself, these tips can help make the moving process a little easier.

PACKING ARTWORK

Artwork requires special handling and packing before you move

Moving artwork can vary between a simple self move and needing professionals.Ā  Art size and type and move type can help you determine whether you can move the pieces yourself, you need furniture movers, or art moving specialists.Ā  The next tips can help you choose the proper move option.

First determine the type and size of the artwork that is to be moved.

Smaller pictures

8×11ā€ or smaller should be treated like china, wrapped up and packed in a carton with like sized pieces.Ā Ā  Wadded newsprint should be used as a base and used at the top of the carton as a shock absorber.Ā  If the art is oil on canvas, gloves should be used to avoid oil from the hands getting on the art, ā€œacid freeā€ paper should also beĀ used to wrap the piece to insure the art is not affected by wrapping materials.Ā  ā€œAcid freeā€ paper can be purchased at most craft or art supply stores.

Larger Artwork:

Up to 48ā€x60ā€ can be packed in a 2 piece picture/mirror carton, a flat carton that can telescope to fit the artwork better.Ā  Cardboard corner protectors, or wadded newsprint can be used in each of the 4 corners to provide a shock absorber.Ā  If the artwork is thin enough, 2 pieces can be packed back to back in the same carton for efficiency.Ā  As with smaller pieces, if the art is oil on canvas, a layer of acid free paper should be used to wrap the artwork.

Extra Large Pictures:

Larger pictures up to 60ā€x80ā€ can fit into a 4 piece picture mirror carton.Ā  The same rules apply as with a 2 piece picture mirror carton.

With both types of picture/mirror cartons, when shipped they should be placed in the upright position and not laid flat.Ā  Actually if the move is local and very close, more durable artwork can be wrapped and stood up in the back of an SUV, or placed by a mover in what’s called a speedpackĀ  (a 2 ½ ā€˜ x 4’ open topped bin)Ā  wrapped or separated by cardboard and shipped.Ā  The farther the distance usually means the more secure the packaging.

Special, extremely fragile artwork:

This refers to pieces (like gold leaf frame or valuable artwork) can and should be crated by a mover with fine art experience or an art moving specialist.Ā  These types of pieces are not for amateurs or do it yourselfers.Ā Ā Ā  If a high value article is being moved by a professional, a high value inventory should be filled out, and potentially an appraisal should be obtained prior to the move.

These tips should help in sorting out some of the art moving questions.

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