Though my welding skills are not up to the task yet, I was thinking of building a gun safe. With some iron plate and some concrete I would think one could build a functional (but in my case probably not too attractive) safe for a lot less than purchasing new. Anyone have any experiences?
Anyone build their own gun safe/security cabinet?
- Thread starter Harvster
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SSN Vet
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Unless you have an account with a steel distributor (and maybe if you do) and qualify for volume pricing, I think you will be shocked to see what the price of even 1/8" cold rolled steel runs.
You'll need a plasma cutter to get clean and straight cuts, though I guess a few dozen hours with a grinding wheel and you could clean up torch cut edges.
You'll need a plasma cutter to get clean and straight cuts, though I guess a few dozen hours with a grinding wheel and you could clean up torch cut edges.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
No
But once I relocate, I might give that idea some consideration~?
But once I relocate, I might give that idea some consideration~?
Remember a good fire rating is just as important as theft security. That means double walls doors and sides and good insulation in the spaces key places. If you want to save a few bucks watch the local classifieds. Sometimes you can catch commercial grades on the cheap when businesses go south. Of course if you are just in the mood for a big, heavy project, go for it, but me thinks about 1/3 way through, you will see the wisdom of the previous posts.
Bazooka Joe71
Member
HAHA,
I can see it now...<looking around the house>"Hmmm, hey honey, you know what this place needs?" "Whats that?" "A good tornado shelter...You never can be too safe....HEY, while I'm at it, I can store my GUNS in there!! Brilliant idea huh?
Gord
Member
As with flatbed trailers, it's hard to "roll your own" for less than you can buy one premade. For both, the price of steel is what will stymie you. You'll probably already be saving a few bucks buying premade just based on material costs - much less your time and the equipment needed to put it all together.
I suppose if you can find some beefy steel plate somewhere as cheap surplus it might be cost-effective to do an ugly-but-functional DIY safe - otherwise, just look around for something used.
I suppose if you can find some beefy steel plate somewhere as cheap surplus it might be cost-effective to do an ugly-but-functional DIY safe - otherwise, just look around for something used.
pinstripe
Member
I haven't built any gun safes, but I have built wooden gun cabinets. I would like to build a metal safe, but the price would probably be more than one already made.
Good luck if this is the path you take.
Good luck if this is the path you take.
I too agree that the best method would be a permanent, built-in-place, concrete vault. Reinforce the walls and maybe install additional thermal barrier. Use a vault-type door. Still could be defeated, but it would deter most. Would probably have to do some demolition to pour proper footings, though.
Horsesense
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You could find some heavy scrap iron for cheep. I thinking "I" beams welded together and concrete pored in the voids, or the top and bottom of an old oil tank. My brother-in-law made a storm shelter out of a 15X24 oil tank, the thing is about one inch thick and he got it for free.
How about a 30 gallon steel drum, inside a 55 gallon drum, with concrete in between? You don't have to build a "vault" to make a concrete safe. You could make something small and safe shaped out of concrete, maybe easier to use cinder blocks and fill the voids with concrete. Maybe just go down to a scrapyard and see what they have laying around for cheap?
Personally, I'm just gonna build a 3/4" plywood box with a couple locks on it. Will it stop a determined criminal? No, but it will give me enough time to shoot him.
Personally, I'm just gonna build a 3/4" plywood box with a couple locks on it. Will it stop a determined criminal? No, but it will give me enough time to shoot him.
shouldifail
Member
What about perhaps using an old locker, like the ones you might find in a school or gym?? I would assume if you looked around at some scrapyards, or estate sales, you could find one for even a fraction of what a metal gun cabinet would cost. My mother is a teacher and they are auctioning off TONS of old school fixtures from a school that they just closed. I'm looking into getting a couple lockers for myself.
Depending on price, you may be able to pick up 2 or 3...use one for pistols, one for long guns, and one for ammo....add some reinforcements, or a long bar that would padlock over all the doors and you'd be set.
Just a thought.
chris
Depending on price, you may be able to pick up 2 or 3...use one for pistols, one for long guns, and one for ammo....add some reinforcements, or a long bar that would padlock over all the doors and you'd be set.
Just a thought.
chris
230RN
2A was "political" when it was first adopted.
That's funny, Chris. Just a couple weeks ago I was thinking of getting a locker for my guns. Not much of a fire deterrent, nor of a burglary deterrent, but maybe just enough to save some guns.
I figured I could lag screw it to a couple of studs from the inside back wall, but I kind of gave the idea up because I couldn't figure out how to enhance the fire-retardant qualities...
Any practical ideas for how to fire-"resistify" a school locker? Or the guns within it?
I've got some ideas on this toodling around my noodle, but I don't want to salt the idea mine.
I figured I could lag screw it to a couple of studs from the inside back wall, but I kind of gave the idea up because I couldn't figure out how to enhance the fire-retardant qualities...
Any practical ideas for how to fire-"resistify" a school locker? Or the guns within it?
I've got some ideas on this toodling around my noodle, but I don't want to salt the idea mine.
There was a guy who used an old soda machine and converted it to a gun safe. It was posted on THR not that long ago, here's the link
http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=174612
http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=174612
sm
member
Under a floor, "somewhere" is a Steel Truck Toolbox. First you have to know where this place is, and then where in the structure to look. Oh, the folks act like they have no idea what a gun is.
Under the *something* covering the hardwood floor is a...it looks exactly like a lock for a key.
Fact is, it is. O-l-d lock was replace with an new style. This house was built with a hidden , lockable, storage area, a long damn time ago.
Steel Toolbox replaced the original "locker". Beefed up, neat locks, and done.
Tool box was bought "right" had a dent in it from shipping and handling, and only $30 at the time.
Oh, that Kmart gun safe, in that other room closet?
Just to give the BGs something to play with....
shouldifail
Member
I have no idea how to fireproof a school locker....
But on another note, what about using an old refridgerator??? They seem to keep things nice and cold, and while it may not offer the best protection against fire, they may shield the items inside enough to not have a total loss.
Besides, the various shelves and drawers might be helpful for organizing things.
Throw a nice big hasp and padlock on it, bolt it down and let thieves think its just for beer!
I suppose an old chest freezer would also work....most already come with some sort of lock on them.
But on another note, what about using an old refridgerator??? They seem to keep things nice and cold, and while it may not offer the best protection against fire, they may shield the items inside enough to not have a total loss.
Besides, the various shelves and drawers might be helpful for organizing things.
Throw a nice big hasp and padlock on it, bolt it down and let thieves think its just for beer!
I suppose an old chest freezer would also work....most already come with some sort of lock on them.
BridgeWalker
Member
I have a bomb shelter in my basement. Was thinking of putting a door on it.
Right now it has a baffled entry but no door. But we're holding off because it would probably be cheaper to buy an RSC than to put a vault-type door on it and because the basement is fairly damp.
Right now it has a baffled entry but no door. But we're holding off because it would probably be cheaper to buy an RSC than to put a vault-type door on it and because the basement is fairly damp.
230RN
2A was "political" when it was first adopted.
Well with respect to the school locker idea, I was thinking of using wallboard as a fire retardant, either by covering the locker or lining it.
Besides its plain insulating properties, I figure the decomposition of the plaster in the drywall would absorb heat.
I figure if you put it on the outside, an accomplished craftsman could finish it off fairly nicely.
If it were insulated only on the inside, it would end up just looking like a plain old locker, but the wallboard would give up water on heating, possibly leading to rust problems.
Again, this would be intended only as a deterrent to theft and fire. I live on the second floor of an apartment, and hauling a full-blown safe up here would be out of the question.
Would have to do something about the chintzy locks on the usual locker, though.
Besides its plain insulating properties, I figure the decomposition of the plaster in the drywall would absorb heat.
I figure if you put it on the outside, an accomplished craftsman could finish it off fairly nicely.
If it were insulated only on the inside, it would end up just looking like a plain old locker, but the wallboard would give up water on heating, possibly leading to rust problems.
Again, this would be intended only as a deterrent to theft and fire. I live on the second floor of an apartment, and hauling a full-blown safe up here would be out of the question.
Would have to do something about the chintzy locks on the usual locker, though.
mjrodney
Member
Even a thin steel locker gains added security when bolted into the corner of a closet, with a cheap to build wall added alongside. The "deeper" into the corner of the closet, the better.
Most smash and grabs aren't going to dismantle or go through a wall just to get a pry bar on that locker.
See attached.
This was installed in a rental. The added wall looked permanent, but in fact was temporary. It required four 2x4's, one sheet of drywall, a few screws and a bit of drywall mud, tape & paint. I don't think it cost much more than $25.
Two screws into the floor thru the carpeting, two into the ceiling above. The locker was only attached to the temporary wall, but jammed into the corner like it was, that's all it needed.
When moving day arrived, the locker and the wall came out. A few holes to touch up and no damage left behind.
No fire protection, though.
Most smash and grabs aren't going to dismantle or go through a wall just to get a pry bar on that locker.
See attached.
This was installed in a rental. The added wall looked permanent, but in fact was temporary. It required four 2x4's, one sheet of drywall, a few screws and a bit of drywall mud, tape & paint. I don't think it cost much more than $25.
Two screws into the floor thru the carpeting, two into the ceiling above. The locker was only attached to the temporary wall, but jammed into the corner like it was, that's all it needed.
When moving day arrived, the locker and the wall came out. A few holes to touch up and no damage left behind.
No fire protection, though.
Attachments
Cannonball888
Member
+
Not really burglar-proof, but it is burglar-resistant. It's mainly for keeping the kids out.
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