making my own gun safe/cabinet??

[xbox360]

2 (wide)feet by 16inches(deep) feet by 5-6 feet high. would this work? have 2 shelfs if its 6 foot or 1 shelf if its 5 foot?? (for ammo)This probbly cost around $50 and safe $100+! towards another gun.

I think it would be a 4-7 gun cabinet?? show pics if you made your own safe/cabinet

 

[CoRoMo]

What do you plan to make it out of?

One of my next wood working projects is going to be a gun case. It won't be a "safe" in any sense. Just a wooden cabinet with some glass and a couple dim lights inside. Should make for a lovely piece of furniture.

Go shopping at sportsman's type stores and look at their cabinets and take a tape measure. That is the best way to design one for your needs.

 

[PT1911]

I personally hate the idea of a gun Cabinet... nothing more than furniture... there is no functionality to them whatsoever... if you are making a SAFE, it should be made out of steel, have no outwardly accessible bolts or screws (optimally none at all), a hidden hinge, and a recessed door with small gap to prevent prying with some sort of "crowbar." a simple stack on bolted to the floor is adequate for most applications if you cannot afford better. In most cases you are just making taking your guns more inconvenient anyway. If someone really wants it, they will get it... though they may need a tow truck and steel cable to do so.

 

[jackstinson]

I converted an old DVD cabinet into a gun cabinet. It had DVD shelves inside the two front doors which are perfect for storing 20+ pocket pistols and it holds 8 rifles in the rear section after I removed the full shelves and added barrel and stock rests.
It is merely an overflow expedient, it doesn't hold all my stuff by a long shot. But it was a quick way to get the extras into an innocent-looking, locking cabinet.
No, it is not a safe. If I wanted to make things "burglar-resistant", I'd weld 3/4" steel plate around my house, string razor wire, make my cats wear pitbull costumes, and place claymores in the yard.

 

[ambidextrous1]

Before you start, I'd recommend a bit of "research": Look at the sheet metal gun cabinets usually on display at Walmart and Academy Sports, et al.

I think 2 feet deep is a bit much; if you can make it 4 feet wide and 1 foot deep, you'll have the same volume; you'll also probably need two doors.

It would be a good idea to make a "mockup", using cardboard boxes and duct tape (or glue). The cost of a mockup is negligible, and can result in a much better final effort.

Be sure to keep us informed on your progress; how about some photos when you're finished?

Good luck!

 

[maskedman504]

Buy a used chest freezer, throw a padlock on it. No one will likely check it for guns.

 

[dirt_j00]

Not a safe, but something to get the guns out from under the bed. Didn't cost much and was a fun project.

 

[Nate1778]

Shoot go for it, make it out of 4/4 white Oak or Hard Maple. Add a decent Locking system. going to be as hard to get into as a Stack On, anybody willing to put in that much effort is going to get into it anyway. Otherwise get a safe.

I would make it larger than that though.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Most sheet metal shops can bend you a box for less than $100, I was talking to one of my local places, they offered to make me a 1/4 Hard Ox safe, but that has to be fabricated from plate steel, so about $200, but 1/4 non-mild steel is the MINIMUM to get an actual UL safe rating, and not a "residential security box" (most "gun" safes) The only problem was that I couldn't figure out the lock mounting, and a S&G lock cost about $100, so all told, you could make your own safe for less than $500 that kicks the **** of some $2000 name brand. That includes paint (auto body shop, fire lining and shelve system)

On the other hand, a nice gun case shows that want to keep honest people out of your guns, and takes about as long to break as "gun" safe.

Read some articles about gun cabinets and safes, you want a minimum depth to keep it from tipping over easily, a 4' by 1' is dangerous as it could tip over and squash a little 2 year old pulling on the handles.

 

[Packman]

make my cats wear pitbull costumes,

HAHA! I like it!

Seriously, If you want it for the security factor, anything you can build will only make them a little bit more annoying to get to, should someone try. For not all that much money you can get a safe. Mine's nothing special, I've only got about 350$ in it. If someone really wants into it, It'll only slow them down. But, it works great for keeping curious hands away.

 

[bigione]

I was wanting a safe, then thought of a better idea for my situation. I'm miles from closest neighbor so someone could spend plenty of time getting into onything I build or buy, using a torch from the shop. I am going to build a hidden spot into the wall and leave the gun furniture loaded with a few old, cheaper guns for decoys. When i'm home, I'll use it for the guns I have out for current use.

 

[Shadow 7D]

If your going to the trouble of building a permanent spot, why not build a cinder block vault in your basement? if you do the door right it is the next thing to fire proof

 

[greg531mi]

I have heard some people use an old Coke machine into a gun safe....Tear out the interior, and you have lots of room...make sure you get a key, and don't tell anyone about it, and down the basement, most theives would go right by it......

 

[musick]

I have heard some people use an old Coke machine into a gun safe....

Hidden in plain sight...usually a good plan.

Keep an eye out on cragslist or and going-out-of-business sales...could pick up a quality safe for a fraction of retail.