Gun Safe Plans

[Jakethesnake]

New member here! Just located your site and it looks great. I'm a "do it yourselfer" and would like to build my own gun safe. Anyone have any plans or can tell me where to locate plans for safe construction? I have all the tools and materials-just need a good set of plans.

 

[glockman19]

Don't waste your time. Just buy one.

 

[jpwilly]

Concrete and steel will keep most folks out. How it opens and how you keep it closed is the hard part.

 

[a1abdj]

I don't know if any other do it yourselfers have shared their plans, but you will be hard pressed to see any drawings of safes built by a safe company.

Security and all of that.....

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I think a double dead bolt steel commercial door (Hinge barrels in). Mounted in a hollow metal frame, grouted and anchored into a masory or concrete wall would be incredibly difficult and time consuming to get into. not to mention, it would be 2hour rated if typical materials were used. If you are in construction, these things can be had as left overs, surplus materials.

 

[krs]

What are commercial steel doors made of these days? The residential steel doors sold by the chains are thin, about 22 guage, steel with styrofoam inside that wouldn't stop a half decent hatchet swing/chop. Useless.

All of the wooden doors sold as "solid wood doors" are not - they are veneer over pressboard and only FEEL solid.

It's difficult to find strong construction parts these days.

 

[.308]

It's not worth it unless you need something of a very large scale. If you decide to do it this should help. http://www.vaultdoors.net/

 

[Leadhead]

I'm a "do it your selfer" as well and if I had the material and tools I'd just measure up my guns and the space available for the safe and go for it!

If you can hide the safe in your house you won't have to worry about it being "Fort Knoxx" even the lock mechanism could be some sort of trick or hidden latch...

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

18 gauge mostly, specifications may vary.... A 3'-0 door would approach 200lbs, and is reinforced. Definately not a quick hatchet job.

I will tell you, that there is precious little that could not be gotten into with a steel worker, a torch, and a partner saw. I have seen these guys do things with steel, cut, etc. that makes you realize, nothing is secure if these guys are determined to get at it. We can all be glad construction workers do not live up to their undeserved reputation, IMO.

I absolutely guarentee there are some guys out there that could get in any vault, or safe give some time & some tools & the inclination.

 

[wyocarp]

Don't waste your time. Just buy one.

I have to agree. Unless you are building a safe room to hold hundreds of guns, your time would be better spent buying one. You would spend more in materials and time than it would take to get a job and make the money. But, if you are thinking about a safe room, then reinforced concrete on six sides and then buy a safe door to close it off.

 

[Rembrandt]

Inside door latch mechanisms can vary, here's a few different designs. Making your own safe shouldn't be a problem "if".......you have access to a press brake, shear, welder, saw, lathe, mill. Anyone with metal fab experience will have no problem, it's just a simple box with a hinged door.

 

[cpttango30]

If you could get a SOLID steel door and some how machine the spots into it for dead-bolts then put in 14 of them (5 on each long side 2 top and 2 bottom) that would keep smash and grab guys. If you do this in to a solid concrete wall I would think that would be a rather good deterrent to many people looking to get your guns.

 

[hso]

Purchase a real vault door and build the safe around it.

 

[Davandron]

Answer your needs first

I've thought about this too, and the first question to answer is "What do I want my safe to do?" (note, safe is in italics because it may be a display case / safe / vault / etc).

Some typical answers might be:

• Protect my guns from a house fire for 1 hour
• Keep kids away from the firearms, but still show them off
• Defend against a 5 minute smash and grab
• Protect and display my 500 rifles / $100,000 collection

Any and all of those could be accomplished by a do it yourself, even if it isn't cheaper than buying.

To the OP, you can find plans for display cases or safe-rooms / vaults if you use Google. You'll also find that a box lined with an inch of Type-X drywall will give you lots of fire protection. Finally, searching for how to build a hidden safe will show you lots of stuff.

Make sure you post what you've found and what you think you might try!

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

Graffunder makes solid plate steel doors for vault rooms. I'm a Graffunder dealer.

A typical unit includes the frame, flanges, sill, and door, built to spec. from your supplied dimensions. The width of flanges, sill height or flush, etc. is all up to you. They are large, by heavy, by expensive. But, they are the real deal, not a tarted up Therma-tru type clad door.

If you should have an interest, please PM me. Budget in the mid-thousands.

900F

 

[vulturez]

Graffunder, Champion Crown, or Summit Everest???

After reading your very informative posts, I am now totally confused as to which safe to purchase. I was set on the Graffunder Bishop B6032 but am now wondering if the price of this safe may be better spent on the less expensive (but apparently high quality) Champion Crown or Summit Everest in approximately the same size. What in your opinion is the best value of these three units? Is the AMSEC safe a viable option as far as price and quality in the same size? I know alot of the answers to these questions directly relate to what one's uses for a safe is, however I wish to know your opinion as it relates directly to price versus qualtiy. Thank you for your input.