Anyone done a gun or ammo vault?

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I've got a few small gun storage safes.  one is a walmart special and the other is a small bedside comb. safe.  I'd like to make a steel vault for ammo for the garage and would also like to make something a little more substantial than the little walmart tin can that is currently holding my guns.  anyone tackled anything like this before?  any pics?  advise?  thanks all.
Reply:Good plan.  I need to make a Ammo container as well.  I was toying with the idea of making something with Sliding drawers and mobile.  I love to go shooting, and I have 20+ guns.  So as you can see I've got a lot of ammo lol.  Now I don't go shooting all of them at once, but I will go out with 3 or so.  So I'd like something that I can subdivide when needed.   Let me know what you come up with.   I'll see if I can draw up a plan.
Reply:I guess it depends on what your goals are.If security and a permant installaton are the goal then you could make a simple steel box.   The locking arrangement does become an issue though.    I don't see buying a safe lock work as being practicle so you are pretty much left with a pad lock arrangement.    I'd look at the JOBOXes and other jobsite tool boxes for examples of ways to protect the pad lock.     You might also add an electric solenoid inside, jamming latch release, as a supplement to the main padlock.If you need portable you can go the wooden box route.    I did this years ago when shooting alot of shot gun shells.    It is pretty simple if you have access to basic tools.    In my case used 3/4" plywood, and a box of 3" shells to determine the pocket size.   Cut and dadoed the plywood for two rows of eight pockets for the shot gun shell boxes.    A simple plywood lid was added with a hasp.     This works out well for 3" and shorter shotgun shells.     The box has lasted longer than my interest in extended shotgun shooting.    The nice thing is that the box is easy to carry and if you really want to secure it at home that shouldn't be a problem either.    It isn't water proof but you can't have every thing when recycling old plywood sheets.One thing that comes to mind would be a NEMA thirteen electrical panel box.    This shoule be atleast rain tight and you could add a wooden insert as described above.    niether is as secure as building a locker with the intent of being secure box but might do.   The NEMA panel boxes can be had with mounting ears for attachemtn to a wall if wanted.    These boxes are also economical being more or less massed produced.    Add some fake conduit and it is likely not to be noticed that much.  ThanksDave
Reply:I built one for a guy, dont have pics cause I dint have the camera when it was completed and hauled off, however, we made a simple handle, and added a dead bolt like for a house.  I think had to add a lil backing or spacer to make it fit, but worked well.   USed 1/8" and reineforced iut a little, but not much.  WOrked greatIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:I've got a few different goals in mind here.  First, I'd like an ammo locker or cabinet in the garage to keep a majority of the ammo separate from the gun locker in the house.  the only one i need loaded is the one I'm using(springfiled 1911 in the .45acp of course  ).  I'd like to get the ammo up out of reach of kids and has to be lockable.  I'm not concerned with transporting because i've got big military issue ammo boxes i use for the range.  A basic "upper cabinet" with, say, 3 sliding doors would be perfect.  I'd like to come up with a unique lock though that doesn't say, "I got stuff in here that i don't want you to get to!!!".  so something inconspicuous and child and burglar proof.  I guess that would be easy enough.  maybe a steel reinforced wood cabinet is in order.I'd also like to make a gun vault for the house, but were thinking of selling soon, so a built in vault is out of the question.  I'll have to buy/build a house around a gun vault .  that au'dda make the wife happy .
Reply:Much like yourself, I like to keep the ammo separate from the guns as well.  I have two gun safes in the house (Remington and Winchester) that hold my guns.  In the basement, I store the ammo in a chest made out of 3/16 steel.  The lock is simply a very large section of chain welded to the lid that padlocks to a chainlink that is welded to the front.  The ammo is separated in various ammo boxes that are stored in the chest.  I would guess that it weighs about 400lbs. w/ammo so if an intruder can lift it, he's welcome to it.
Reply:If you recess the lock into the door, it cannot be cut and becomes a viable solution.
Reply:One quick design note on your ammo storage designs.    While making a sturdy container is desired please do not make a steel vault to store your ammo in.  The reason being is that ammo in the open is relatively safe.   Even if you throw it in a fire it is only going to spew, burn, and pop some.   Cartridges need confinement to make the powder deflagrate at a rate sufficient to propel the bullet.   In the firearm this is done via the confinement of the chamber and the bullet sealing the bbl.If you make an ammo storage device that is able to allow a pressure increase to the point of rapid deflagration you have in effect created a bomb.Now....   You can still make you steel ammo storage but add a pressure relief system to it such as a rupture disc.   This will safely vent the pressure in the event of a fire.We can get into at what pressure you transition from deflagration to detonation but I can leave that for another post.StevenInspiring Thought for the Day:Some people are like slinkies ... Not really good for anything....but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Reply:a recessed lock is an excellent idea, thanks 76.  and i agree about the pressure Standles thanks for the insight.  I've planned to incorperate vents.  I wanted to keep the bin/cabinet up high, however, the weight of one ammo box i normally take to the range weighs in at ~40-50lbs.  I think i'd do more damage to my body trying to heave that box up into a cabinet.  maybe i'll stick to a simple chest type like Wilson uses.  I'm trying to "organize" my workspace and this will definately help.  anyone who shoots regularly can attest to boxes of ammo scattered randomly after a long day of shooting.  With a 2yr old daughter running around, those days of untidyness have come to an end.  thanks again for the ideas.
Reply:I never thought about it but, the company I work for has a building that used to work with cash. As my company is expanding at a massive rate, facilities is removing two big vaults to put cubicles up. I actually was told that I could have the vault doors and frames when they remove said items. I was thinking I could use one as a welding table, but now you got me thinking! I might have a spare door and frame if you were looking to make a big safe(room). I have not gotten any dimentions yet, if you want me to get more info, post up.
Reply:GimpJust don't mount the vault door to the 2X4 stud wall.  You laugh but there was a person locally that had a safe door and all instaled in his house.  The burgalar assumed that since this door existed it must be hiding someting valuable.   So he went to the side wall in the adjoining room and kicked in the sheetrok to the vault room.Stole jewlery and firearms.DUH!StevenInspiring Thought for the Day:Some people are like slinkies ... Not really good for anything....but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Reply:Nah, I'd make itout of cinderblock. I'm a gimp, not a retard. I was just offering up one of the doors I should be getting. They are larger than what I would need. For some reason all the doors in my house are tiny. And my basement is set up the way I want it. No room to put a vault.
Reply:Gimpy, when you get dimensions, pm me.  How much would you want for it?  I might be interested depending on the size and finding time to come down and get it.  thanks for the open offer.Tim
Reply:Gimpy, if Tim doesn't get the door I would also be interested. Thx. Scott
Reply:Well guys, I haven't got a set date as to when the work is supposed to be started, but once I get them I will be sure to post up.
Reply:I understand you a bit more now.    Ammo needs cool and dry storage so I'd be concerned about that in a garage, but apparently you live up north also so less of an issue.    You are already aware of the wieght and safety issues so I'd have to support your idea of a cabinet or series of "kitchen" cabinets one of which is reinforced to hold the wieght.   in other words use the series of cabinets to disguse the one with the goodies.You can secure this cabinet by use of an internal pad lock.    Assuming the cabinets are about shoulder hieght or a little less the padlock can be accessed from underneath.    Designed right this would protect the padlock and keep it out of obvious sight.    Yeah a thief would eventually find the cabinet, given enough time they normally will, but the delay will be significant and access won't be easy.   So will kids as we all know.Currently I keep my guns in a locked closet.    Maybe not the best solution but if somebody wants them they will find away short of concreteing a safe in place. Glad to here you are looking out for your daughter.   About two years or so ago we had a bad incident around here.    A young officer came home from work and placed is duty arm on top of a what i understand was a china cabinet.   In some manner that has not been explained a youngster, which I believe was somewhere between 2&3, managed to get the gun to fall off the cabinet and discharge.    The results where fatal.Take care!Dave Originally Posted by babydaddyI've got a few different goals in mind here.  First, I'd like an ammo locker or cabinet in the garage to keep a majority of the ammo separate from the gun locker in the house.  the only one i need loaded is the one I'm using(springfiled 1911 in the .45acp of course  ).  I'd like to get the ammo up out of reach of kids and has to be lockable.  I'm not concerned with transporting because i've got big military issue ammo boxes i use for the range.  A basic "upper cabinet" with, say, 3 sliding doors would be perfect.  I'd like to come up with a unique lock though that doesn't say, "I got stuff in here that i don't want you to get to!!!".  so something inconspicuous and child and burglar proof.  I guess that would be easy enough.  maybe a steel reinforced wood cabinet is in order.I'd also like to make a gun vault for the house, but were thinking of selling soon, so a built in vault is out of the question.  I'll have to buy/build a house around a gun vault .  that au'dda make the wife happy .
Reply:I just noticed this thread.  The company I work for builds jail products.  And one is gun lockers.  I am not allowed to take pictures of our products but I can tell you that most are just over sized metal boxes.  Their is noting special about them except for the lock.  We also add felt padding inside, so as not to scratch anything.
Reply:thanks for the replies fellas.  Since my shooting addiction is becoming more of an issue as my daughter learns to climb and get into things that aren't meant to get into, my wife is becoming less and less tolerant of ANY gun stuff layin around.  I understand completely.  Currently my bigest concern is the home defense gun.  I've go a small pistol vault that has the hand print on top and you push a series of finger print buttons to open the safe.  I've been thinking of modifying it to a larger 'in the wall' safe.  i'd like it to hold a pistol and a shotgun.  A tall narrow box that fits between studs.  the problem is that the lock/latch on the vault would be too small to keep the larger door sucure.  i'll have to post this in the electrical section, but the idea is to add a couple of extra actuators at the top and bottom of the box that open with the door latch when the correct combination of buttons are pressed.  the added latches will prevent the door from being pryed open.  i'm thinking the new vault will be 6" wide ~30" tall and ~4" deep.  1/4" sheet steel with a pretty diamond plate door.  don't quite know how the extra latches will work in conjunction with the original latch, just thinking out loud.  if there are any electrical engineers hangin around, i'd love to hear your ideas.  I also realize that  a standard rectangle box with nothing but right angles will be very easy to fab up, but never having done it, i'm open for ideas from those of you with more fabing experience.  for instance, i assume that heat from the weld is going to cause some warpage and leave me with a not-so-square vault.  is this true with thicker steel?  the door opening has to be exact and the door swing must be perfect for this to work.  anyone got a hinge idea that might work well in this application?  thanks again for the converstation.  look forward to any/all ideas.Tim