Potential for theft of the machine severely limits where we can use it.They will almost certainly not last long enough for the combination to be found. It is not worth hooking up the machine to locks with plastic or nylon parts.Even when the machine opens the safe we frequently replace the lock due to wear from the process. If the machine needs to run a long time, that by itself will be more work than most locks see in a hundred years. The very process of using the Auto Dialer can wear out the lock before finding the right combination.Parts can also be too worn for the machine to work. Dirt in the lock or old grease can prevent proper movement of parts. Certain parts inside the lock might move too freely or may bind up. The lock needs to be in good working order.If the first or second number is known for certain, that dramatically reduces the number of combinations that need to be dialed. If it is known that the safe owner only used “zero and five” numbers for ease of dialing, these possible combinations can also be run quickly. For instance, if it is suspected that the combination was a “MM-DD-YY date”, these can all be run quickly. Some locks, for a number of reasons, need to be run at slow speeds so it can actually take as long as two weeks! Occasionally the process can be shortened. But when set on the fastest speed it can still take three straight days if the first number is high. You might get lucky and get the combination in an hour if the combo’s first number is low. Think about how many combinations “a million” really are. Auto Dialers can work fast and don’t take breaks, but they can still take a long time to find the combination.Sometimes the type of lock on a safe is difficult to determine, which makes a safe tech’s knowledge and experience important. They do not work on Group 2M, Group 1, Group 1M, and many old locks. They work on standard three wheel Group 2 locks, locks that mimic Group 2, and several other types. Auto dialers only work on certain types of mechanical locks.While the Auto Dialer is great for some situations there are many limitations which keep it from being an “every day” tool: In fact, I have always suspected the FBI has a file on me as a result of owning one. For obvious reasons not everyone is able to purchase an Auto Dialer. They are expensive and a traditional locksmith is unlikely to own one. Very few of these machines are out there. The advantage of opening a safe this way is that there is no drilling, no holes at all to compromise the unit’s security. When everything works properly the machine comes to a stop at the right number, and a display shows you the combination. When turned on the Auto Dialer will systematically dial every one of the 1,000,000 possible combinations on standard Group 2 mechanical locks. The Auto Dialer is mounted on the front of the safe, gripping jaws are attached to the lock dial and electronics are then programmed. These specialized machines are great for some situations where a safe with a mechanical combination lock is in good working order but the combination is unknown. The pictures show an Auto Dialer connected to a gun safe that we recently opened. They also have specialized tools to do the work properly. Safe technicians have more knowledge and experience in this area than a traditional locksmith. This is especially true if the safe is locked shut and needs to be opened. When your safe or gun safe needs service you should contact a real safe company, rather than a locksmith.