anyone try making a home made safe?

[luisdeleon]

have been searching about safes and have come up with pretty much a blank
but what i have been thinking is of making one, concrete walls reinforced with steel. 1/2"-3/8" steel door, hinges can be made or bought. maby a layer of steel on the outside, just the locking mechanism is a blurr. i am a concrete worker and a welder so making it wont be a problem and am not looking for a quick access either, just something to lock up my guns, anyways just a thought see if anyone has done it or not. what you guys think?

luis

[sorensen440]

I think it would cost more to make a decent safe then it would just to buy one.

[luisdeleon]

i beg to differ on that one it all about where you get your materials, plus, i haven't had a welding project in a while, but like i said, just some thoughts.

[bombadillo]

Weak link will definitely be the locking mechanism. To get everything put in there and functional would take some serious engineering skills as well as a lot of time and money on quality parts. As stated probably break even and only have to carry it once.

[packnrat]

I have seen a couple people try, cheeper to just buy one.

making the box and door is easy. but working up the rack and pinion to work the locking bars... is a intersting job to say the least.

got cnc time? and access to a assortment of gears?

good luck, and post photos when done.

[ohsmily]

have been searching about safes and have come up with pretty much a blank
but what i have been thinking is of making one, concrete walls reinforced with steel. 1/2"-3/8" steel door, hinges can be made or bought. maby a layer of steel on the outside, just the locking mechanism is a blurr. i am a concrete worker and a welder so making it wont be a problem and am not looking for a quick access either, just something to lock up my guns, anyways just a thought see if anyone has done it or not. what you guys think?

luis

If you are intent on making a small vault room or really big safe using your welding/concrete skills, you should buy a commercially available vault door and incorporate it into your design for the walls, etc.

[paintballergb]

I think it would cost more to make a decent safe then it would just to buy one.

Weak link will definitely be the locking mechanism.

Agree with you both.

[Vinz]

I know you are budget minded but this would make the job a lot easier.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=134243&highlight=vault+door&page=3

vinz

[luisdeleon]

don't get me wrong, i do plan i doing that when we buy our house. i was just thinking of a 6'x3'x2' safe

[tlillard23]

If you are just worried about smash and grab, take a look at how they enclosed locks on a knack (sp) box.
Or have a hole to stick your hand in and use a key to unlock. there are a few designs like this. that have the handle-cam-bolt mech on the inside. No handles on the outside, no room to pry on the lock or mech.

Use ceramic wool for fireproofing (use drywall to hold it in place).

[Seesm]

I own a fabrication shop and want to do my own safe as well but the lock mechanism is for sure the only hold up.... It can be done reasonably after that I think....

[ilbob]

The indoor range I shoot at has some homemade steel doors downrange.

They are in a homemade steel frame embedded in a concrete wall.

The hinges are homemade too, and it locks with a common padlock.

I do not believe anyone could easily break through this door, except by defeating the padlock which would not be especially difficult. The padlock and hasp could be protected by putting it inside a steel box so it would be difficult to get a bolt cutter blade on it.

Its ugly, and the door does not fit perfectly, but i think it would be easier to get through the concrete than the door.

[A324]

I made a pistol safe out of an old toilet and installed it in my shop. Bolted to the floor complete with a roll of TP next to it. Looks like the real thing until you push the right latch to tip it sideways and reveal what appears to be a capped sewer pipe but in reality is a air-tight storage tube for at least 2 pistols.

[paintballergb]

I made a pistol safe out of an old toilet and installed it in my shop. Bolted to the floor complete with a roll of TP next to it. Looks like the real thing until you push the right latch to tip it sideways and reveal what appears to be a capped sewer pipe but in reality is a air-tight storage tube for at least 2 pistols.

I want to see!

[mcsoupman]

Could it be made like a c-train door? Once doors and stuff done you could fabricate a box to go over the lock and just padlock it then.