Building a Gun Safe -- ideas?

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I have an old "Hoffman Style" steel cabinet that looks like a good candidate for a gun/ammo safe.  It appers to be made of approximately 12 gauge steel.  I'm thinking of adding 1/8" or 3/16" thick by 2" wide steel straps here and there and making a recess for a padlock that cannot be accessed with bolt cutters.  Has anyone doe this or something similar?  Would appreciate your comments & recommendations...........no_arc
Reply:do you want it fire-rated? also, check on how well the cabinet contains/releases moisture. bolt the thing to the wall also. it may be heavy, but if someone wants it bad enough, they will ahve to take the wall with them. it may also be a good idea to put (2) padlocks on it. better safe than sorry. got any pictures? that may help us brainstorm a little.later,Andy
Reply:Well, I wouldn't really call it a gun safe.  More like a security cabinet.To me, a real safe has things like multiple dead-bolts, hardened drill-resistant plate and/or other hardened steel pieces to armor the lock mechanism, relockers in case of physically detected break-in attempts, etc.Of course, none of that would stop a plasma or an air-arc or a burning lance/bar.  But the contents would probably get toasted from such thermal entry.
Reply:Originally Posted by MoonRiseOf course, none of that would stop a plasma or an air-arc or a burning lance/bar.  But the contents would probably get toasted from such thermal entry.
Reply:I would think that building a gun safe might get expensive real quick.  I bought a used bank safe from a safe dealer a couple of years ago.  It is similar to this one, only its a Diebold.http://cgi.ebay.com/Mosler-S-G-Firep...QQcmdZViewItemYou can find these fairly cheap  - less than $1000 -  if you look around.  Mine is rated for 4 hours fire.   Weighs about 2200lbs.  Much better value than a typical gun safe.Wes
Reply:Originally Posted by MoonRiseWell, I wouldn't really call it a gun safe.  More like a security cabinet.To me, a real safe has things like multiple dead-bolts, hardened drill-resistant plate and/or other hardened steel pieces to armor the lock mechanism, relockers in case of physically detected break-in attempts, etc.Of course, none of that would stop a plasma or an air-arc or a burning lance/bar.  But the contents would probably get toasted from such thermal entry.
Reply:Originally Posted by no_arcI have an old "Hoffman Style" steel cabinet that looks like a good candidate for a gun/ammo safe......Has anyone done this or something similar?  Would appreciate your comments & recommendations...
Reply:I picked up a used Hoffman cabinet that was 4'X5" tall and made an outdoor flammables cabinet out of it.  It was great, it had some vents built in and even had a lock-out/tag-out loop to swing a padlock on it if if needed.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:What got me started thinking about building my own "cabinet", is the fact that when I look at those "gun safes" for sale, they have big heavy doors with deadbolts, insulation for fire, and extremely thin walls on the back and sides -- seems like it would be easy to cut thru those with a grinder and cutting wheel(s).  No pictures for anyone to comment on -- not that far along -- will probably get something built this winter -- anyway, keep those comments comin'..........tks........no_arc
Reply:Originally Posted by no_arcWhat got me started thinking about building my own "cabinet", is the fact that when I look at those "gun safes" for sale, they have big heavy doors with deadbolts, insulation for fire, and extremely thin walls on the back and sides -- seems like it would be easy to cut thru those with a grinder and cutting wheel(s).  No pictures for anyone to comment on -- not that far along -- will probably get something built this winter -- anyway, keep those comments comin'..........tks........no_arc
Reply:Originally Posted by compi'm so lurkin ideas,,,,,fire is my second problem
Reply:Originally Posted by denrep5/8 fireboard
Reply:Originally Posted by complike double it inside a Good locked box ???
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepOr one outside, covered with some type of veneer; if you're going for a more domestic look.
Reply:Just weld it shut! HTP Invertig 201Lincoln Idealarc SP250Miller 180 AC StickBy farmall:They should have held the seagull closer to the work, squeezing evenly for best deposition.
Reply:Originally Posted by MoonRiseOf course, none of that would stop a plasma or an air-arc or a burning lance/bar.  But the contents would probably get toasted from such thermal entry.
Reply:Originally Posted by aczellerit sure woudl be pretty tho... watching hundreds of dollars worth of shells and rounds flying thru the air.
Reply:Originally Posted by 49KB-2They did this on Mythbusters a while ago.  Everything inside was torched, some of it you couldn't tell what it had been.  It was pretty fun when they filled the safe with water and blew it up though.
Reply:dependant upon size requirements, you could also build a slightly larger box to put your current one in. this would create a hollow opening between your current box walls and your new ones. then fill this with a fire-retardent (nothing is fire-PROOF) substance of some sort... sand, water (i wouldn't do this, but it's always a possibility), etc. the added sustance will also act as a weight to help keep it solidly placed in the ground. there are also architectural products (spray-in insulation [gel/paste form]) that work as great fire-retardent systems, however these can get expensive pretty fast. the fire-rated sheet rock is only rated for a short time (some as low as 1/2 hour), so check the stats before you buy any. if you go with the sheetrock, to attach it jsut use some high-strength sub-floor adhesive. the stuff works great. think of super-glue on steroids. as far as the door, just plate it with some heavy-gauge plate and call it good. it will be the weak point in your fire-retarding system, but if you try to build it up the same way as the other sides, you'll most likely have clearance issues with the hinges without any modifications.if you were to coat, or even lay a light-guage sheet, of relective, or at least silver or white-colored metal over the outside of the box, it will cut down on the heat inside the safe during a fire.hope that helps,later,Andy
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepGood idea!Those are a top quality cabinet that would make an excellent gun cabinet.I grab every one of those cabinets I can get. Use 'em for everything, from machine mounted tool boxes, to gang boxes. I even made a walk-through gate out of a large one!The nice thing is, in an industrial area, they are invisible to casual wandering eyes, just looks like another big scary electrical box! And... they have some tricky latches on some of them!
Reply:Originally Posted by William McCormick JrJust take your oxygen and acetylene torch, set it to a perfect burn. Shut it down by the tank valves for an hour or two. I had it reignite once on me while it was still warm. Ha-ha. Sincerely,William McCormick
Reply:I just use a school locker and a padlock. Except I only keep sirsoft replicas in there.
Reply:Originally Posted by William McCormick JrSomeone was saying that a bullet will not kill if detonated without a gun. If the shell casing is up against something it could take off nicely. Some of the magnum loads might fly nicely. If two bullets are opposing themselves and go off together one of both may kill. Sincerely,William McCormick
Reply:http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...226629757249&qhttp://video.google.com/videoplay?do...065384285239&qThis ain't proof of anything, but here is a a couple of videos.  I ain't hanging out with anybody that puts bullets into a fire.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Originally Posted by 69 chevyPardon my french, but that's the biggest crock of sh!t I read here all year.  You might be a welder, but you don't squat about the internal ballistics of small arms ammunition.Originally Posted by ShieldArcThats how i fill balloons on july 4th....
Reply:Originally Posted by William McCormick JrNeedless to say that is how I found out that you can survive a blast of perfectly mixed oxygen and acetylene in a half filled medium garden/leaf bag, while you are filling it, on the Forth of July. Ha-ha. Gods magnificent machine is an awesome device. It can withstand a lot.I had just put the torch out on the sole of my boot. Waited a few seconds and then started to fill. About twenty seconds later, I actually saw the torch light harmlessly inside the bag. And thought "Gee thats odd" And then I was backed out of the garage. Dropped my torch. But was still standing.
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepMcCormick, You're lucky it wasn't "perfectly mixed". Please don't downplay the dangerous potential of those mixes.I played with everything too, so I don't have much room to talk; but I am talking from experience. Believe it, you are handling a wicked bomb with those "mix" balloons.  I saw the results of a mishap with one. I also saw one "tested" in a car,  wouldn't dream of handling one again. I strongly encourage anyone who'll listen, not to handle the gas mix bags.I don't have proof, but when Bill "actually saw the torch light harmlessly inside the bag" it could have been set off by a static charge. Again, I don't have the proof, but I think the balloons seems to carry an extra high risk of static ignition. It's not the first mystery balloon ignition I've heard of.
Reply:Whatever, I play with real explosives on the 4th. Dangers of Helium? a new one to me.Last edited by TozziWelding; 11-08-2007 at 08:05 PM.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Originally Posted by TozziWeldingWhatever, I play with real explosives on the 4th. Dangers of Helium? a new one to me.
Reply:Originally Posted by TozziWeldingWhatever, I play with real explosives on the 4th. Dangers of Helium? a new one to me.
Reply:Originally Posted by no_arcI have an old "Hoffman Style" steel cabinet that looks like a good candidate for a gun/ammo safe... ...Has anyone doe this or something similar?  Would appreciate your comments & recommendations...........no_arc
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepWell before the FFA shows up...
Reply:Originally Posted by 69 chevyFuture Farmers of America?  I think you mean the BATFE...Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Department of Justice.  Commonly just called ATF.
Reply:I read this, then I thought about this subject, and the I decided to speak up. I spent the major part of my adult life keeping things from exploding, I am a retired bomb squad technician. A little knowledge, especially in this area IS a dangerous thing. I would love to get back to the original subject of "welding" a gun safe before someone gets hurt "playing" without the proper training. Sorry guys, I have more than 2 cents to add on this subject.MikeRetired EOD
Reply:Originally Posted by MJDamianiI read this, then I thought about this subject, and the I decided to speak up. I spent the major part of my adult life keeping things from exploding, I am a retired bomb squad technician. A little knowledge, especially in this area IS a dangerous thing. I would love to get back to the original subject of "welding" a gun safe before someone gets hurt "playing" without the proper training. Sorry guys, I have more than 2 cents to add on this subject.MikeRetired EOD
Reply:We need a "rescue thread" button.
Reply:...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.