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Posted: 10/16/2012 5:01:36 PM EDT
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Hey all!
I would like to take my first post to thank you all because I have LOVED the time I have spent reading and learning from this forum! Now, down to business... I want to share my gun cabinet build with you all. I know enough not to call it a safe as anyone who knows I have guns could easily get in it if they came prepared. I live in an apartment. A gun safe of the size that I would like will not fit in the apartment nor can it be bolted to the ground. So, I have decided to build a cabinet to fit inside of my closet while not losing much space. This cabinet will be 62" x 18" x 22" and will be made out of 3/4" plywood and 2x4s. I will have 10 deadbolts surrounding the door. As I have said, I am well aware that this gun cabinet will not stand up to prepared criminals, but it will stop crimes of convenience and will blend in to the closet well enough. I also will be coupling this with an alarm system. Enough talking, here is my sketch. Any questions, comments, concerns? http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/u657/PrepperInTheBurbs/Gun%20Cabinet/GunCabinet_zps3a3d2ae2.jpg Thanks guys! |
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10 dead bolts on a wooden box seems like over kill to me. if they want in just smash/cut the wood rather than defeating the locks. Fair enough :) I was thinking it would deter them. Being that it is in my closet, the door is the only thing facing them. I don't know that they could just smash/cut the wood that easily on the door. Plus, if it's a crime of convenience, would they have something handy to do so? I'm not disagreeing with you. Just thinking out loud :) |
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crowbar beats wood quite well. a hammer can be pounded through 3/4 inch plywood as well.
your cabinet might be a deterrent, but if they are already in your apartment they are going to be getting whatever they can get, and if there is a locked cabinet there must be something valuable and becomes the main target. |
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crowbar beats wood quite well. a hammer can be pounded through 3/4 inch plywood as well. your cabinet might be a deterrent, but if they are already in your apartment they are going to be getting whatever they can get, and if there is a locked cabinet there must be something valuable and becomes the main target. Well, alrighty then :) I believe you. I guess I will bank on the alarm system, haha. If anything, this is a nice place to store my guns/ammo and provide me some security. |
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well i will agree that your guns will be safer in your box than out in the open. provides modest security, but remember locks only keep the honest people out. By the way welcome to the site. Thanks man, loving the site so far! Yeah, I know the box is only modest protection. I will also have a stopper bar on the exterior door as well as between the two sliding windows. A 2x4 securing the small sliding window. And last but not least, a security system. This apartment is as secure as can be. Not to mention that I NEVER have the blinds open where people can see belongings. So, needless to say, I think the steps I have taken will deter most thiefs. The ones which it doesn't deter... Well, that's what my renter's insurance is for :) |
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Consider getting one of the ~$300 Stack-On double door cabinets and building a nicer wooden cabinet to enclose it for looks. Less work, more security. Not a bad idea :) I'll look into those. I just don't know if I can find one with a similar configuration to my design. I really like my design (aka, the design of most gun safes) as I do need to consolidate all of my firearm related things. |
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Consider getting one of the ~$300 Stack-On double door cabinets and building a nicer wooden cabinet to enclose it for looks. Less work, more security. Not a bad idea :) I'll look into those. I just don't know if I can find one with a similar configuration to my design. I really like my design (aka, the design of most gun safes) as I do need to consolidate all of my firearm related things. With the exception of the full width top shelf, that Stack-On two door cabinet is nearly identical to your design with one side a series of shelves and the other with long gun cradles. http://stack-on.com/categories/security-cabinets-gun-cabinets/products/64 |
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Consider getting one of the ~$300 Stack-On double door cabinets and building a nicer wooden cabinet to enclose it for looks. Less work, more security. Not a bad idea :) I'll look into those. I just don't know if I can find one with a similar configuration to my design. I really like my design (aka, the design of most gun safes) as I do need to consolidate all of my firearm related things. With the exception of the full width top shelf, that Stack-On two door cabinet is nearly identical to your design with one side a series of shelves and the other with long gun cradles. http://stack-on.com/categories/security-cabinets-gun-cabinets/products/64 Nice! It's just too wide for where I was planning on putting it. I have a lot to think about it seems. |
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Too small. If you're in an appartment, you just aren't going to be able to put in one of the big fat boy type safes. You need to make due with what is practical and a basic security cabinet dressed in a nicer enclosure is a resonable alternative that at least provides some level of security against easy access. Honestly, for even a semi-pro burgler getting into one of the low end "safes" isn't much mor difficult that one of the security cabinets. |
| Why not do two or three layers of 3/4" on the outside, screwed together on a 3" grid pattern of screws....reinforced holes for the deadbolts (I'm not sure 10 of them is necessary), should end up being pretty sturdy. Have you ever tried to bust through 3" of solid wood? It's not super easy. Bolt it to the floor so it can't be dragged out and it should do for most people's uses. |
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Too small. If you're in an appartment, you just aren't going to be able to put in one of the big fat boy type safes. You need to make due with what is practical and a basic security cabinet dressed in a nicer enclosure is a resonable alternative that at least provides some level of security against easy access. Honestly, for even a semi-pro burgler getting into one of the low end "safes" isn't much mor difficult that one of the security cabinets. Agreed. I long for the day when I can build my gun room. It'll be a few years. |
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Why not do two or three layers of 3/4" on the outside, screwed together on a 3" grid pattern of screws....reinforced holes for the deadbolts (I'm not sure 10 of them is necessary), should end up being pretty sturdy. Have you ever tried to bust through 3" of solid wood? It's not super easy. Bolt it to the floor so it can't be dragged out and it should do for most people's uses. I'll take that into account. I think I could do something like that. |
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Why not just reinforce the closet door? You can get a fabrication shop to cut some steel to fit the interior side, put in security hinges and a door handle that links on the inside to upper and lower bolts into the floor and header.
Or do that to the door you are building. |
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