How To Crack A Safe Like James Bond

How To Crack A Safe using Magnet: The Foolproof Guide

If you have been wondering where you can find out how to crack a safe, then you have found the right spot. We have collected the best tips, techniques and methods of cracking a combination safe.

These safes typically feature a dial mechanism which can be hacked. It goes without saying, don’t be a loser and break into other peep’s safe’s alright – don’t be a douche bag. With that out of the way, let’s learn how to crack a safe.



Safe’s are awesome because forced entry is not an option like is is for almost any house-based lock or padlock. The only way to crack a safe is to input the correct numbers in sequence and you know what that means, time for some math baby.

The Innards

First, the type of safes we are talking about are ones where there is a circular dial that rotates with numbers along the circumference of the dial.
There is one main part of the dial that makes it move, called the spindle. This is on the inside and moves as the dial itself moves even though you can’t see it.
Drive Cam
The next most important component is called the drive cam which connects to the spindle. It sits on the side opposite of the dial at one end of the spindle where it is threaded and rotates with the spindle.

Drive Pin
From the drive cam, there is a small drive pin that stops the tumblers (wheel like objects) from rotating.
Tumblers or Wheels
It goes around the spindle and are not attached. Rotation can only be achieved when it gets caught by the drive pin and then they will begin to spin. There is exactly one tumbler for every number. If you don’t know how many numbers are in the combination, then we can figure that out too down the page a ways.
Tumbler Flys
Tumbler flys are little tabs on the tumbler. The purpose of these flys are to catch against the drive pin or the adjacent tumbler and makes them move in a rotational direction.

Just Use a Magnet

Example of a safe

A safe puts all sorts of measures in place to protect your valuables and important documents. This safe has an electronic lock, four 1-inch bolts to keep the door firmly in place, pry-resistant hinges, and it’s able to withstand drops of up to 15 feet.

That all sounds great, until you find out that you can open this safe and pretty much every safe like it—in a matter of seconds using only a magnet. A rare earth magnet, to be precise.

Nowadays, most rare earth magnets are made of neodymium but there still may be some from the ’70s kicking around which were made of a samarium-cobalt alloy. The magnets are fairly cheap and you can pick one up in the stores such as Amazon, Home Depot and Lowe’s for under $20.

Just be warned that neodymium magnets are extremely powerful. It can quickly wreck your electronics (seriously, they’ll destroy and hard drive or phone almost instantly) or even lead to bodily injury or death if you’re not careful.

What You’ll Need

  • Large neodymium magnet
  • Gym sock or something similar to handle the magnet with
  • Device you need opened (safes, hotel doors, push button locks, etc.)
  • Enemies (optional)

Man showing the Large neodymium magnet, Gym sock or something similar to handle the magnet with, Device you need opened (safes, hotel doors, push button locks, etc.) and Enemies

How to Build the Safe-Cracking Device

  1. Grab the gym sock.
  2. Grab the rare earth magnet.
  3. Put the rare earth magnet into the sock.

Man showing hot to put the magnet in the stocks.

How to Crack the Safe

All you have to do to open up the safe is take your trusty sock and magnet device, then attach it to the safe. Well, it’s actually not quite that easy.

Man trying to open the safe.

Many of these inexpensive safes use a nickel solenoid to activate the locking mechanism. So, you’ll need to locate the solenoid. There isn’t too much surface area to these safes. It should be on the front door so just slide the magnet around using the sock until you’re able to open the safe.

You used to have to bounce these kinds of safes around to get them open. That was simple enough, but this method is quieter and won’t leave any signs of damage.

Man was able to open the safe using the magnet.

Now, you might be wonder about why we need the gym sock at all. Because the magnet is very strong, the sock makes it easier to move the magnet around and detach it when you’re done. In addition, if you’ve ever had a small neodymium magnet on your fridge, then you can use that.

Not only does this method make it easy to bust into a safe or a standard push button lock on a door, it also won’t leave any trace of intrusion, as long as you’re careful.

And speaking of careful, neodymium magnets are extremely dangerous. They are very powerful and can quickly do harm to you or others around you. Therefore, stay focused when using them.

Well, that’s all you need to go out and get cracking. Just don’t be dumb and do something illegal. If you decide to do something illegal, 100% of your own free will, don’t be an idiot and get caught.