Custom Safe

[clint738]

Let me start by saying I had no intentions to build a safe until I bought one that advertised "all welded construction" and when I received it felt that it lacked strength in critical areas.

See the pics of the "cabinet" as it should be called that I wasn't pleased with.

What really pushed me to making my own was the tack welds holding the rod guides and the pop rivets holding the piano hinge to the cabinet body.

The more I thought about it, the more I also didn't like the 16ga body construction either.

So this is the reasoning for me building my own. Pics to follow for construction each weekend.

[clint738]

More Pics

[clint738]

And more pics.

[clint738]

Still More pics

[clint738]

Locking Mechanism they use.

[elvis]

What are you going to do for the locking mechanism? How thick is the door going to be? 3/16-1/4" solid door is very hard to pry open.

[Midnightcaper]

Wow no offense but at first i thought it was a gym locker

[MAC702]

What are you going to do for the locking mechanism? ...

My first thought for something easy, if there is enough flange around the door edge:

[clint738]

What are you going to do for the locking mechanism? How thick is the door going to be? 3/16-1/4" solid door is very hard to pry open.

I'm going to make the body and door out of 3/16" plate. Going to put 1/4" reinforcement just inside the body as the door stop and for the locking bars to engage against.

For the locking mechanism, I'd really like to do 1/4" steel strap as locking bars with a solid dead bar on the hinge side.
Having a hard time locating assortments of gears I can use though.

Thought about also using a Sargent and Greenleaf electronic lock and solenoid.... or just building my own since safe electronics is stuff done in like freshman electronics classes.

[clint738]

My first thought for something easy, if there is enough flange around the door edge:

I have seen those somewhere (can't recall store) but I liked the idea of nothing visible to cut. I thought of adding a small pipe sort of like a tunnel to get to the key access point. Then taking the real key and welding an extension piece on it. The further the key access is recessed the more difficult it would be for someone to even pick the lock.

[clint738]

Wow no offense but at first i thought it was a gym locker

Sort of was my thoughts as well, like I'm not putting anything more than a cheap shotgun in that. Certainly nothing valuable. They have a few qualities that make them unique like really deep box and narrow, so positioning it under a bed or in a closet is easy to keep it out of sight. But I'd never feel like it was safe from a guy with a framing hammer and a screw driver.

The charge a LOT for it too, but their storage system has no equal out there. You can fit a TON of stuff in one. So I figure I'll build my own, with improvements and buy one of their storage system adapters for my own.

[ryanjones2150]

It's pretty much a strong box. If you bolt it to the floor, it should thwart most break ins. Burglars aren't looking for a challenge, they'll lazy. Of course someone has had their safe broken into. Which is why I say MOST burglars. <br />
<br />
Many traditional safes also protect against fire. I t doesn't happen often, but I have salvaged a few safes from houses with substantial fire damage. I can't speak for the condition of the items inside though. <br />
<br />
One great defense for a narrow gun cabinet like that is your ability to hide it.

[BlitzWelding]

This makes me want to go look at my safe a little more carefully.....
Or not. I'd hate to add another project to the list.

[clint738]

This makes me want to go look at my safe a little more carefully.....
Or not. I'd hate to add another project to the list.

I tried as long as I could to not open up the panel to look inside, but the rivets on the hinges told me I better look closer. So sure enough, just little tack welds holding the rod guides in place.

[clint738]

Progress.... Saturday by Saturday...

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/vkcvapjqdabiqce/AADQFLRuFFBSK4oliq6DYXY2a

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/q3p1k5e8l55owtz/AADvlYJajy2WoThtRJ6Uc3n3a

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/v2h917gjccxtujt/AADN5mbCBzhwumlyCdAHBgWYa