Posted: 7/3/2008 9:24:35 PM EDT
 This picture is only about 1/3 of the vault. Its a little on the narrow side, but it's about 15 ft long. I'll try to take progress pictures along the way. (I'm no mason and it shows - but at least everything is square for now)  |
| Looking good, are you planing on re-enforcing with Rebar/concrete mix in the cinder blocks? Will add extra $$ for sure but would be hell for stout. Just thinking that any jack ass with a sledge hammer and a half hour could get in there. Atleast with the rebar/concrete mix he/she would give up pretty easy when the sledge is just a bouncing back. |
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Ya i think that would be good unless u post fliers in the neighbor hood saying u have the biggest gun collection.. Most thieves are snatchin and grabbin and dont bring sledges along for a quick break in.. And in this day and age there arent many professional thieves so ya.. But it can never hurt to be to cautious thats for sure. |
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Yeah I'm starting to pour concrete and use 4ft rebar sections throughout the entire thing. The best part is that I'll have a concealed entrance - and a ftknox door - (on order) You'll see in other pictures I'll post, that it sits half below grade, and under the house. 350ish blocks, 32 bags of mortar, and I don't know how many bags of concrete. All moved one at a time from the front of my house, to the backyard...my back is feeling good right now! |
. Sounds like you thought it threw pretty damn good.
Nice. I have some big plans for a vault room in the next house I have built. My wife thinks I'm nuts and going a little overkill, but it really doesn't cost much more to build a vault room than it does to get a really nice safe. Since your below grade, did you give any thought to drainage and maybe a dehumidifier? (I've seen many a gun ruined in a basement flood) If not, I recommend putting everything you store in there at least a couple feet off the floor. |
I already have a 36" golden rod so I'm going to start with that. BUT, I have fairly easy access to the house HVAC system and may tap into it...just need to research a bit. I also have an overhead light that is positioned right in the center of the vault. I just need to lower it by about a foot and I'm good to go. The light should help keep things dry too. Other steps include using sealer to seal all the blocks, and adding two small ball-valves to create air flow. My brother in-law is an electrician so hopefully I'm going to get a couple of plugins too. We'll see. |
And I've almost finished a 1 pint 6 oz. bottle of Eel River Triple Exultation, so I'll freely share that, when I looked at the pics, my first thought was "For the love of God, Montressor!" The Cask of Amontillado. Edger Allen Poe. My mother was trying to get me to drop Science Fiction. HA! |
Good lord.......a man after my own heart. I find myself often daydreaming of the fortress I shall create in my Man Room once I get my own home. My Idea has always been a hidden room behind the old bookcase thingy Or maybe a room with the normal sheet rock covering some steel plate bolted to the framing and one of those reinforced safe type doors in a door frame.May the Gods bless your engineering prowess
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Well I worked my ass off today and don't have much to show for it. I finished 3 layers of blocks on the steps - what a pain...many cuts etc. I've found a new respect for people that do this crap for a living! Not only hard work, it takes skill to do it right. So far I'm masking my mistakes OK.  |
huh?
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I've been using the step stool and a ladder. Today I finished two complete rows and am now working up high enough that it's getting difficult to carefully set each block. I think I'll make some scaffolding out of two ladders and a big plank tomorrow. One more layer and I can put the header in for the door! |
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Well, I'm finished with 98% of the block work and just got the ceiling materials! 4" steel channel Next step - spray foam fill the blocks (faster than filling with concrete and just as strong), add a layer of block, and then install ceiling, light and power. Luckily the door hasn't arrived yet - cause I'm not ready for it!  |