Author Topic: home made gun safe-anyone? (Read 1191 times)

spispeza · « **on:** March 31, 2005, 02:25:10 PM »

anyone ever make their own gun safe.i would like to make a big safe in my basement.have plenty of space.need suggestions on type of steel,thickness,how to join the walls,bottom,top,type of locks,any other needed materials for the safe.type of welder.i spend 10 hours away from home working,sometimes longer,a few days when im not home.i live in the boonies.3 miles from the nearest population of people.one thing suggeted to me was a flammable sticker on the safe.so some will be hesitant to cut it with a torch?thanks

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #1 on:** March 31, 2005, 03:22:30 PM »

Just buy one, the one I have is fire rated, holds 28 long guns, cost about $600 through TSC and most importantly, the manufacturer guarantees your guns against theft. If someone places shape charges and blows your safe into the next county, your guns are paid for. If a crooked locksmith drills a 1/4" hole in the right spot and just opens the door, same thing... paid for. I bought the safe not for the fire resistance, hoorah lock, or the fun it was getting it into the house but for the gun insurance that came with it.

Ian

Dali Llama · « **Reply #2 on:** April 01, 2005, 02:14:05 AM »

Quote

the one I have is fire rated, holds 28 long guns, cost about $600 through TSC

What be "TSC," inquire Dali Llama??? :? :? :?

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #3 on:** April 01, 2005, 05:51:35 AM »

Tractor Supply Co, kinda like a smaller Farm King.

Ian

Dali Llama · « **Reply #4 on:** April 01, 2005, 12:32:28 PM »

Quote from: Haywire Haywood

Tractor Supply Co, kinda like a smaller Farm King.

Ian

Thank you, reply Dali Llama. Dali say he not previously familiar with that acronym.

Curtis · « **Reply #5 on:** April 01, 2005, 03:18:25 PM »

spispeza, this is all I could find: http://home.flash.net/~wamco1nm/gsp.htm

I've been thinking too, but instead of a safe, I am thinking of hardening my closet (metal cladding on the inside walls and roof and a steel door with deadbolts). I'll have to visit the steel salvage place to see what is available before I know if it is feasable.

Haywood, that insurance is a good reason for buying one alright. I love to build things though and can't resist a new project.

Curtis

Don Fischer · « **Reply #6 on:** April 01, 2005, 03:53:00 PM »

Well if you want a safe in the basement, build it out of cinder block reinforced with re-bar. Get a steel fire door and pour the ceiling. My brothers boss did that in his basement. Got himself a walkin gun safe.

DaveP · « **Reply #7 on:** April 02, 2005, 02:02:54 AM »

If someone wants in ,they're getting in! All we can do is slow them down.I have a cheap safe,loaded with cheap guns, in an obvious place.My best safes,and best guns,are hidden,or rather,clevery disguised.I build around the safe,after I have it in place.It's secured to the a block wall in the back,and to the floor.It can only be accessed thru the front (or top).The door is always the strongest part.Most safe bodies are at best 10 ga ( roughly 1/8").Many are only 12 ga.You can get thru them with a circular saw and a carbide blade.Or a plasma cutter.Or a torch.Or an axe,if you
're detremined,and have room to swing it.Hell,no matter how strong your safe is,they can always put a gun to your head and make YOU open it!Time is the thiefs friend.If you live in the boonies,time is on his side.Make the safe hard to find,and don't give them room to work.My brother made a few safes using sheets of 10 ga.Of course,he was working at a place where he could make the bends.The back,both sides,and a 2" lip on the front were all bent from one piece.He then welded on the top and bottom,and welded 1/4 " angle to the front lip,all around.Then built a door to fit.The locking mechanisms were strong,but coarse.It was a lot of work for what he wound up with.Better to find a commercial model on sale.A gun room or vault may be the ultimate.Poured concrete with hardened rebar,and a vault door ($$$).If you only have a small collection,I'd go with a commercial safe,hidden if possible.I know people who keep their guns in the attic, under the insulation.False wall,etc.Dave

ironglow · « **Reply #8 on:** April 02, 2005, 02:29:17 AM »

Although I live in a rural area where crime is not generally a major problem..
Combined with the fact that there is a ski resort town over the hills about 20 miles away and the hunting is good right around here..there are quite a few recreation cottages in "them thar hills".
Some of these are quite large, plush affairs.
One fellow has a large 3-wing chalet style place...but someone else knew he was only there weekends etc.
He had 17 long guns and a few handguns in his heavy, controlled atmosphere safe....
The crooks didn't steal his guns...they stole the WHOLE SAFE !

Guess he should have subscribed to ADT...

I have acouple of the lighter, locker type cabinets...I bolted them through the wall, one inside, one outside of a closet ( 9 guns & 12 guns ).

I could easily build a strong safe in my blacksmith shop using a cam effect to throw bolts into each side of the door...
The two trickier things to surmount would be a strong lock tumbler setup and the air exchange...

bwana · « **Reply #9 on:** April 03, 2005, 06:59:05 PM »

I have made several out of discarded refrigerators. I still use one for ammo, reloading supplies and handguns. I have since bought a decent safe but my old ones are still in use and serving well.

Attach a good padlock and it will keep the kids out, crooks in a hurry and protect from the elements. A determined crook would make short work of it though.

I also use one for storing power tools and one for hardware, parts, etc. I tell folks I like to keep my tools fresh. :grin:

bwana

P.S. I remove the consdensor and ALWAYS keep the light circuit intact. It is nice to have a light go on when you open the door.