Gun Safe

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Building another gun safe. I am more of a machinist than a welder but I get by. I finished welding the hinge on the door and main body.  3”x3”x3” steel blocks with a 3/4” hole are welded to a 2”x3” angle and welded to the body. Hinge pin is ¾” stainless steel. Hinges have to line up perfectly.  Door is ¼” steel plate 24” wide x 48” tall that had the edges turned. Body is 1/8” plate that had been bent in a U.  I had it around my wood burner trying to trap heat and then blow it into my furnace duct. It didn’t work very well and I dismantled it a few years ago.  Next to make is the dead bolt mechanism that will have (3) ¾” stainless steel dead bolts going into the top, bottom and one side.I didn’t need another safe but I had the materials and they happened to fit together perfectly.  I only needed to buy a key cylinder.  Have to keep myself busy somehow. Attached Images
Reply:WOW, that's some heavy duty stuff there!  Looking good!  Have a Jeep Cherokee?  Click Here!
Reply:Originally Posted by SkwerlyWOW, that's some heavy duty stuff there!  Looking good!
Reply:I like it!American by birth Southern by the Grace of God
Reply:I like it. Are you going to make it fireproof?
Reply:Hinges always have a pucker factor when you weld them.  You hope the thing doesn't pull, and bind the hinge.  I'm always nervous with hinges.Hope that "staying busy" doesn't mean you're temporarily out of work."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:man wfn that looks good hey are you arc welding it together can i ask what kind of rod u are using and what kind of machine you are using i would also like to ask if u dont mind if i copied your design and built one of my own later agwelderold skool idealarc welderEsab multi tool Milwauake 7inch angle grinder the best of all tho the oxyacceteline set up
Reply:That should keep The "new Man" from taking your guns!  but not your ammo
Reply:Originally Posted by mr2turbo7That should keep The "new Man" from taking your guns!  but not your ammo
Reply:Like I said, I am a machinist not a welder (mechanical engineer by trade). I have a Lincoln 225 arc welder.  A local hardware store went out of business last month and I bought all of his welding rods, about 100# of different rods in 1# ,5# and 10# boxes. I tried the 6011and they seemed to work very well so that is what I stuck with. The hinges were not that hard. To line then up I ran a 3' length of 3/4 " rod through both of them to hold them straight before I welded them. Then I bolted the other half of the hinge to the door and tried the movement before I welded them to the door. Fits perfectly. The hinge pin has .008" clearance.  The door was a motor/pump base that happened to be made wrong and was scrapped at a local sheet metal shop that my brother deals with.  We are always scrounging metal. The entire safe will be made from stuff I had laying around.This safe is a lot smaller than the first one I made.  The other one is 4' wide x 2 ' deep and holds about 20 guns. It has 6 dead bolts and 2 locks. This one will only have 3 deadbolts and 1 lock. I will start on the dead bolt system tonight. I have all the pieces together ready to machine. I will try to post a pic of the dead bolt system in my big safe.Here are some of my shop machines. I like the old iron. The big stuff is in the garage and the small stuff is in the basement.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1924 Boye & Emmes 18” Lathe1958 South Bend 9” Model A Lathe1964 Index Model 645 Vertical Milling Machine1950’s Diamond Tool Co. M-22 Horizontal Milling MachineRockford Drilling Machine Co. Camelback Drill PressSilver Manufacturing Co. Camelback Drill Press1920’s John Steptoe Co. 16” ShaperJoba 13” Shaper Attached ImagesLast edited by WFM; 03-19-2009 at 08:40 AM.
Reply:Nice looking piece of fabrication, especially from stuff just lying around your shop.  I wish my drop bin was as well-stocked.  Your welds look good for someone who professes not to be a welder.  Looks like you could spend a little more time filling in the craters on the hinge welds, but otherwise everything looks sound.Tell me, what secures the hinge pins into the hinge brackets?  Are they an interferrence fit with 0.008" clearance?  Will they be tack welded permanently into place once the door assembly is complete?  What keeps them from being driven out with a hammer and drift by an enterprising burglar?Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:There is a flat machined on the hinge pin and a set screw on the back side of the 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" square. The set screw can only be accessed when the door is open.  Even if the pins were removed, the 3 dead bolts would prevent the door from coming off.
Reply:Looks good, make sure you post the finished project.That should keep obama from getting you guns.
Reply:Nice equipment.  I like your shaper.  You don't see them being used in shops much these days.  I have a 20" Rockwell shaper, and a good friend who had a large machine shop for years still has a 24"  I still get a good bit of use from mine...  The safe looks good.  Keep the pics coming.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Originally Posted by 737mechanicThat should keep obama from getting you guns.
Reply:I started machining the dead bolt mechanism last night. Here are some pics of the dead bolts on the other safe I made. It has 2 mechanisms with three 1" stainless steel deadbolts each with Medeco lock cylinders. This safe has a 1/4" steel plate for the door and a 1/8" steel plate body.The safe I am making now will have three 3/4" stainless steel dead bolts. The design will basiccally be the same. Attached Images
Reply:That's really cool!
Reply:Originally Posted by 737mechanicThat should keep obama from getting you guns.
Reply:always wondered how those locks worked, pretty coolnice work
Reply:I bought a Sargent & Greenleaf 8500 series combination lock on ebay for about $30.  This would be a nice addition to your safe, and prevent someone from just stealing and using the key.  I'm no expert, but I'd imagine picking a standard key lock would be easier than bypassing the combo.  Of course, with mild steel, a large hole saw would be the easiest. Dynasty200DX w/coolmate1MM210MM VintageESAB miniarc161ltsLincoln AC225Victor O/A, Smith AW1ACutmaster 81IR 2475N7.5FPRage3Jancy USA1019" SBAEAD-200LE
Reply:Machining is done, 3/4" stainless steel deadbolts are fit. Machined parts are mostly bronze and stainless steel.  A little fab work to do: top and bottom plates and some 1/4" x 1" around the outside of the door. Everything works pretty smooth. Will be getting it ready for paint sometime this weekend.  Total cost so far $20 for the key cylinder and garage door deadbolt (+ some electricity).  Everything else I had laying around. Attached Images
Reply:If i had you're shop and equipment i'd need a cot in it because i'd never leave,good job how much do you figure it will weigh when complete?
Reply:The 1/4" plate for the door weighs 95 lbs alone. When the door is open it tips the rest of the safe forward so I am going to put a caster on the bottom of the door.  I am also going to put 1-1/2" of concrete in the bottom of the safe to add some weight. I added 4" of concrete in the bottom of my other safe and that kept it from tipping forward when the door was open.  I think it will weigh around 250-275 when it is done. Nobody is going to walk off with it. Attached Images
Reply:Done.  Finally finished the gun safe.  Had a very old cabinet that locks with brass trim that I bolted to the top to put ammo in.  It is 6 inches wider than the safe.  Not sure if I like the look of the cabinet on top but it serves a purpose. Might change it. Safe holds 8 guns. They can't keep guns or ammo on the shelves in PA.  One gun store has a sign that says, "Best Salesman I have - Obama and PA Governor Ed Rendell".  I am going to get a couple more myself. Attached Images
Reply:very nice piece of work. Great idea with the locks too.25 years of age.Been welding since Feb 23rd 2009.LU1007 Millwright (A1)That's some great work on the safe.  I have one with an electronic lock on it, but the same triple-locking mechanism.-------------------------------------------------------------------------A few signs I found, submitted for your amusement:"The first step in home defense is cleaning your gun.""Gun control means using both hands.""When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.""The West was won with an unregistered gun.""9mm is a lot faster than 9-1-1.""When they come for your guns, give 'em the bullets first."---------------------------------------------------So, this guy and his wife are getting ready for bed, and the wife says, "Honey, you forgot to turn the light out in the garage again.""No, I turned it out when I came in," he replied."I don't think you did, because it's on now," she says.Sure enough, when the man looks outside, the garage light is on. He also sees shadowy figures running back and forth from the garage to the hedge. "We're being robbed!" the man says.He picks up the phone and calls the police. "Hello, police? Listen, my place is being robbed! Someone broke into my garage, and is out there right now stealing stuff. If you send someone out right away, you can catch them in the act."The dispatcher says, "Sir, we have no units available at the time. The safest thing to do would be to lock yourself indoors and remain out of sight, and we'll send a unit in the morning to take the report.""But my garage is being robbed right NOW!" the flustered man says. "Send a unit out, and you can catch them all red-handed!""Sir, I'm sorry, but we have no units available at this time. The safest thing to do would be to lock your doors and stay inside.""All right," the man sighs, and hangs up. He waits a couple of minutes, then calls the police again."Hi, this is the guy who called a couple of minutes ago about the guys breaking into my garage. Listen, don't worry about sending out a patrol car tonight. I went out there with my shotgun, and blew them all away. You guys can pick up the bodies in the morning - they're not going anywhere. Thanks, and good night." Click.About two minutes later, eighteen units converge on the guy's house, lights and sirens blasting. A SWAT van screeches up and begins unloading, and a helicoptor joins in, circling the area with its spotlight. Of course, the police catch the bandits red-handed, and arrest them all.As the bandits are being led off in cuffs, one of the officers glares at the homeowner and says, "I thought you said you shot and killed them all."The man looks back and calmly replies, "And when I called, I thought your dispatcher said there were no units available."
Reply:I was going thru the old posts when i come upon this one.I'll say you have a good idea and good workmanship.Securitywise? It's cheezy. The locking bolts? The hinges are the strongest part of the door.Way to easy to brake into. The green one?, 1 min. tops, 30 sec. after seeing the pictures. The red one?, 1 min. 30sec.
Reply:I've been working on plans for a walk-in gun safe/room.  I might adapt your locking lug arangement and door design to fit my application.  Thanks for the pics/ideas.Work HARDER, not smarter! ------------------------ Miller Bobcat 250Millermatic 251Lincoln Precision TIG 185Hypertherm PM 600Hobart 135 HandlerOxweld 400 FlameMaster
Reply:The problem is the swivling guides on his doors.Because they swivel, they can only be held by one pin. Meaning they will pop right off.Of course I wouldn't bother with that. I would just ***** *** **** ****** and voila! I'm in the green one.With the red safe, a different attack. Just *** the ****** of *** ****, and work it ****** the ******. Nothing safe about those bolts.Like I said, nice work, just not burgerlar proof.
Reply:I got a few ideas from it nonetheless.  Using a similar concept, I believe I can make it much stronger and more "burgler proof," although there is really no such thing.  My other approach will be to build it in, and disguise it.  You gotta find it, before you can break into it... Work HARDER, not smarter! ------------------------ Miller Bobcat 250Millermatic 251Lincoln Precision TIG 185Hypertherm PM 600Hobart 135 HandlerOxweld 400 FlameMaster
Reply:Beautiful safe, but I can see that the rule of gun safes has already been met: it's not nearly big enough.  On day one, it's completely full!  On the other hand, that's a good excuse to build another.  This gives me ideas...I didn't have a welder when I bought my Stack-On POS "safe".  Maybe I should just build my own, too.Tim
Reply:This is great.  I continue to be amazed at the skill level on the projects posted.  Great job.
Reply:Can't see the pics and not sure why . Very interested to see how it turned out and how you done the lock mech.
Reply:Mix Vermiculite with Concrete to use as a Fire Proof Liner which will make it to heavy for phlegmy_kilmister to carry away!Locks are to slow down a good thief, big heavy metal boxes are to prevent average crackhead thieves from carrying it out to open later.Like Leadhead1911 states disguise it!
Reply:Originally Posted by TeejayCan't see the pics and not sure why . Very interested to see how it turned out and how you done the lock mech.