Bernardini Safe Trapped Hinge

[Jazlaan]

Hi, I have a Bernardini JV5920 which I bought new a number of years ago. It has worked flawlessly, but I saw posts about trapped hinges. I don't even know what this term means. Is it a design of hinge or problem which plagues hinges on Bernardini safes.  If the latter, is there any preventative mantenance which might preclude the problem?  Many thanks.

Andrew

[Ainsworth]

Andrew,

It is a "design" of a hinge.

With regular hinges, generally you have the bottom "flag" on the body of the safe and the top flag on the door of the safe(both top AND bottom).   With a trapped hinge design, one side set are opposite, so for instance on a Bernardini the top flag on the top hinge is on the body, and the bottom flag on the bottom hinge is on the body, esentially "trapping" the door on the safe.

With standard hinges, the door can be simply lifted off the hinge to clean, lube or service the hinges.  with a trapped hinge this is not possible.

The Bernardini trapped hinges can still be service though,  the paint and "bondo" must be chipped away, until the mounting screws are located.   This type of hinge simply requires a lot more "labor" to perform similar services.

Some of the trapped hinges do have an adjusting screw, through which lubricant can be introduced into the hinge, however most owners simply don't understand what "ANNUAL" maintenance actually means.   Similarly to a car needing basic maintenance every 3 to 4 months.  Safes which are in commercial use, need service AT LEAST on an annual basis, more often if necessary or required.   Safes which are in residential use, can wait about every 3-5 years.   Though the caveate to both would be, "OR, when ever you notice a problem"!!!!!

I don't know how many locked up safes I see, where there was NO NEED for the headaches, where owners indicated that "I didn't know they needed service"!    HELLO!  If it isn't working as smoothly as the first day it came home from the factory, then it PROBABLY needs service.

The trapped hinges DON'T become a major issue, UNTIL they become worn and the door begins dragging, by this time maintenance is NOT an issue - this safe needs REPAIR!

Hope this answers your question.  If you happen to have a safe, and are uncertain whether or not your safe needs service, contact a local safe company to inspect it for you.  

[shen86]

Hi, I have a Bernardini JV5920 which I bought new a number of years ago. It has worked flawlessly, but I saw posts about trapped hinges. I don't even know what this term means. Is it a design of hinge or problem which plagues hinges on Bernardini safes.  If the latter, is there any preventative mantenance which might preclude the problem?  Many thanks.

Andrew