I remove the doors from my 2 external-hinge "safes" every time I move them -- they come OFF very easily but do go ON a bit harder due to lining up a HEAVY door precisely on the same plane/axis as the pins, but I do it. It's not difficult nor is there any danger unless you're careless.
Maybe it just depends HOW you do it as there are several ways to take the door off, and I HAVE to do it by myself as I have no one to help. I even move them up stairs by myself (and no, I don't use a rented battery-powered "stair-climber," nor do I own one). Of course, the safes are lightweights at 540lbs and 165lbs respectively, and since the door is about 30% of the weight, moving the safe's door and body separately make it much easier for me, although with my tools (and a basic grasp of physics) I could move them even with the doors installed. But why make it harder than necessary? So the doors come off.
Anyone handy with tools and leverage issues should be able to figure out safe ways to move small to medium-weight safes. If you can't, then of course, don't do it. For safety's sake.
Whatever, the point remains: Internal-hinged safes seem to have non-removable doors. Leave them on and move the whole safe. NEXT time, buy a safe with external hinges.
My 920-lb Liberty Presidential is now someone else's "moving problem." I don't miss it at all...especially when I HAD to move THAT one by myself (the "hired help" -- huge muscle guys from Gold's Gym -- never showed up), and I DID move it myself (with the non-removable door ON) from inside my apartment out to the truck waiting with the lift-gate to ship it to my next residence in anther state. Had no choice so *I* did it.
I won't describe here how I do it for 2 reasons: (1) I don't want anyone trying something that works for me but ends up not working for them and they get hurt (liability), and (2) how I do it is a "trade secret." I HAVE to do it because I found years back I can't depend on anyone but myself, so I've no choice but to figure out HOW to move heavy items alone as I move (usually to another state) every 4 years. But as mentioned, it's just common-sense application of physics, not even approaching Rocket Science. ;-)
It's just tools and leverage...working smarter, not harder.
I first had to learn how to move heavy things when I was in the RVN (10 Armored Cav, 4th ID, 1969-70) and had to replace broken M48 A3 battle tank track that had come off (was blown off by a mine or slipped off/derailed in rugged terrain) out in the field using only a long railroad-type crowbar and the tank's engine to turn the drive wheel. And do it before it got dark so we could get OUT of there or else we were in trouble. I probably only weighed 160 lbs then, and wasn't very strong -- never have been, so I HAD to use brain, not brawn. Those sections of track are VERY heavy by themselves, but put sections of track together and it's even heavier -- but it's just simple physics to "manhandle" that weight by working smarter, not harder.
It's amazing how much weight ONE person can move using principles of leverage. Which also is one reason a safe needs to be bolted down even if you think it's "too heavy" to move. Trust me: You're probably wrong and it isn't "too heavy" to move...
BTW...the so-called "professional safe movers" I've experienced were CLOWNS...did NOT have any "expertise" (what a joke) or proper safe-moving equipment. And, they even hired ex-cons/gangsters. Their "work crews" were so undermanned the customers had to HELP move the safe or it didn't get moved. They probably didn't even have liability insurance in case a customer got hurt (let alone insurance for their gang-bangers). And there was no "labor discount" given when customers DID help move their own safes they paid SOMEONE ELSE to do. Think "2 guys and a truck" and you get the idea. Well, 2 guys if you were lucky...they really needed 4.
Don't ask me how I know all that. :-(
In MOST cities/towns, there AREN'T ANY real "professional safe-movers" even if they SAY they are...you're better off doing it yourself IF you can, and unlike my situation, MOST people have plenty of friends to help. If not and you have to hire a "professional" crew, expect to pay BIG BUCKS and repeat that EVERY time you move.
But some advice: Lay off the beer until AFTER the safe is moved! ;-)
And be careful, for everyone's safety.
Happy Thanksgiving to all,
-- c
