Armory Sponsor
Posted: 2/21/2010 4:43:27 PM EDT
| Im curious as to how hard it would be to build your own safe, and build it how you want it. I would bet the steel and insulation wouldnt be that expensive.The locking system would be something of a headache to design for a do it yourselfer. anyone ever try this? |
|
you can buy the doors....or make them.
it really depends on the security level you're going for...if you want just dead bolts....you can go with good ones like medco....plenty high end commercial choices. the seals can be had from trailer supply companies....weather stripping is easy to adapt. Hinges can be purchased....interior hinges are better. insulation is the easiest....fire rated drywall.....layers....each layer is rated...and add up exponentionally. the steel is relatively cheap by comparison....plus you can make it to fit your needs. or.... you can go all out and build a vault.....a dedicated room to secure all your goodies. cinderblock walls..filled w refractory....joist and deck roof w/ poured concrete....steel reinforced everytthing.... The vault is the direction I'm headed.....with the safe inside it 
|
|
Quoted:
you can buy the doors....or make them. it really depends on the security level you're going for...if you want just dead bolts....you can go with good ones like medco....plenty high end commercial choices. the seals can be had from trailer supply companies....weather stripping is easy to adapt. Hinges can be purchased....interior hinges are better. insulation is the easiest....fire rated drywall.....layers....each layer is rated...and add up exponentionally. the steel is relatively cheap by comparison....plus you can make it to fit your needs. or.... you can go all out and build a vault.....a dedicated room to secure all your goodies. cinderblock walls..filled w refractory....joist and deck roof w/ poured concrete....steel reinforced everytthing.... The vault is the direction I'm headed.....with the safe inside it Why are interior hinges better? |
|
me and my pops built a basic safe out of 1/4 steel we had left over from a trailer build... holds 27 guns on top and has a shelf on top that hold 10 to 15 pistols....
down side no fire protection and has a couple of pad locks that are surround with a steel protecter...(cant get bolt cutters in there) it wouldnt be to hard to get it open if you had the right tools but i know it is tuffer that the wally world safes... used piano style hinges for the door..... cost probably hundred bucks.... |
|
Quoted:
me and my pops built a basic safe out of 1/4 steel we had left over from a trailer build... holds 27 guns on top and has a shelf on top that hold 10 to 15 pistols.... down side no fire protection and has a couple of pad locks that are surround with a steel protecter...(cant get bolt cutters in there) it wouldnt be to hard to get it open if you had the right tools but i know it is tuffer that the wally world safes... used piano style hinges for the door..... cost probably hundred bucks.... Any chance you could post up a few pics? Thanks |
|
Quoted:
you can buy the doors....or make them. it really depends on the security level you're going for...if you want just dead bolts....you can go with good ones like medco....plenty high end commercial choices. the seals can be had from trailer supply companies....weather stripping is easy to adapt. Hinges can be purchased....interior hinges are better. insulation is the easiest....fire rated drywall.....layers....each layer is rated...and add up exponentionally. the steel is relatively cheap by comparison....plus you can make it to fit your needs. or.... you can go all out and build a vault.....a dedicated room to secure all your goodies. cinderblock walls..filled w refractory....joist and deck roof w/ poured concrete....steel reinforced everytthing.... The vault is the direction I'm headed.....with the safe inside it Sounds like you have a pretty good plan. Is there a thread here already for your build? |
|
The concrete vault route + buying a vault door is the easiest thing for a homeowner to do...
As far as making your own real steel freestanding gunsafe sized safe, there is no way to do it for less than you'd pay for a real tested and rated commercial safe. And unless you've got a great source for free steel plate forget it.... Go ahead and price out large sheets of hot-rolled 1/4" and up. 3/8" would be even better.... Just the reality of handling 60"x30"x1/4"(or up) sheets of steel is daunting. Welding large quantities of thick steel requires a lot of skill to prevent the entire mess from warping. And going through the expense and difficulty of making a giant 3/8" steel box and putting a padlock or two on it seems a little silly... |
Armory Sponsor