Gun Safe - where to put it?

11540 Views 28 Replies 23 Participants Last post by Thissell, Feb 11, 2012

blackdog

Discussion Starter · Feb 9, 2012

I've been contemplating finally getting a gun safe but my dilema now is where to put it. Our house is a two story house with all the bedrooms and my 'man cave' upstairs. We do have a three car garage where my reloading bench is and where I store lots of my other outdoor gear. So, for those of you with safes, is moving one of these beasts upstairs for install reasonable or is the garage going to be the place for me? Cause I know there's no way the wife lets me put it in the living room!

Appreciate the input.

1 - 20 of 29 Posts

Wingman Or.

· #2 · Feb 9, 2012 (Edited)

Depending on the size/style of safe you purchase... getting it upstairs could turn out to be a major job. One that most could not do by themselves or even with 2 others. Although it's nice to have the guns inside the house I think you might find the garage the best location for ease and access.

Cheers,

Adam

orarcher

· #3 · Feb 9, 2012

I would probably go with the garage and bolt it to the slab as well as maybe a fake wall or something similar to hide it.

bradly11

· #4 · Feb 9, 2012

I have thought about this a lot. It sounds like I have a similar situation as you. I recomend putting it in your room, if your wife allows it, and you dont plan on moving for a while. If I need them I want them near me. :twocents:

OneRaggedHole

· #5 · Feb 9, 2012

One major issue with the garage is climate control. I once had my gun safe in the garage and ended up with condensation from fluctuations in temperature and consequently ended up with rusty guns. I didn't have a dry rod in the safe at that time but having one may be enough to keep the condensation away. I keep my safe in the house now; however, there is no way I would have been able to get it upstairs. Just getting it in the house was on ordeal.

gitmeouttahere

· #6 · Feb 9, 2012

The dry rod/golden rod does work. It's only a couple of watts, but keeps it dry inside, or has in my garage for the past 10 yrs. I got mine from cabelas years ago, but I think they may be available from wholesale sports or fisherman's

crabbait

· #7 · Feb 9, 2012

Remember that the safe is only as strong as its weakest side. My Liberty safe was broken into. They went in through the side with a drill, connecting the "dots", then pried and bent with a pair of channel locks until they had a 6" hole. All my guns went out through that hole. They never messed with the door.

Don't leave the "soft" sides exposed.

Stick'em

· #8 · Feb 9, 2012

Wall off a corner in the garage (out of sight) and anchor bolt it to the floor. Place a golden rod inside and have a spare available.

Cosmic Lazy Susan

· #9 · Feb 9, 2012

I didn't put mine in the garage because of the climate control issue. I wound up installing it in the master bedroom walk-in closet.

Still gives me access if I need anything in the dark of the night, plus it is a heated space so no condensation worries.

Don Fischer

· #10 · Feb 9, 2012

Wingman Or. said:
Depending on the size/style of safe you purchase... getting it upstairs could turn out to be a major job. One that most could not do by themselves or even with 2 others. Although it's nice to have the guns inside the house I think you might find the garage the best location for ease and access.

Cheers,

Adam

Ten or twelve years ago my brother'sw house in Salem was broken into. The only thing taken were the guns. They were all in a very good gun safe in the garage.

erich541

· #11 · Feb 9, 2012

If it's still a dilema you can give it to me.lol.I'll find it a nice place.

crossroads

· #12 · Feb 9, 2012

I have mine right next to the bed, it's kinda in the way, but they have to wake me up to get to it. Going up stairs with a 500# box wouldn't be much fun though! Could you rent a fork truck and send it in through an upstairs window? Kevin

DAB

· #13 · Feb 9, 2012

It would be nice if rifle safes were made of stainless steel. It would be much harder to drill and take a heck of a lot more time to make a hole big enough to take guns out of.

If you put it in your garage just make sure it can not be seen for what it is when the garage door is open, don't want to advertise that you have firearms.

Bolt it to the floor and wall and use what ever it needs to keep the condensation away from your firearms.

DAB

fishin' is livin'

· #14 · Feb 9, 2012

crabbait said:
Remember that the safe is only as strong as its weakest side. My Liberty safe was broken into. They went in through the side with a drill, connecting the "dots", then pried and bent with a pair of channel locks until they had a 6" hole. All my guns went out through that hole. They never messed with the door.

Don't leave the "soft" sides exposed.

Although this isn't my thread, thanks for this advice. I had no idea that it could be broken into on the side.

flounder pounder

· #15 · Feb 10, 2012

crabbait said:
Remember that the safe is only as strong as its weakest side. My Liberty safe was broken into. They went in through the side with a drill, connecting the "dots", then pried and bent with a pair of channel locks until they had a 6" hole. All my guns went out through that hole. They never messed with the door.

Don't leave the "soft" sides exposed.

yea liberty doesnt advertise that method of entry do they i never thought of that kinda takes the big heavy door outa the way doesnt it? that sux even a safe isnt safe

DAB

· #16 · Feb 10, 2012

I am inclined to think if they made a safe that can not be broken into we could not afford to buy it.:twocents:

If you own your home get a good quality safe and put it in the garage BUT surround it with 6 inches of steel reinforced concrete.:meme:

DAB

coyote.204

· #17 · Feb 10, 2012

crabbait said:
Remember that the safe is only as strong as its weakest side. My Liberty safe was broken into. They went in through the side with a drill, connecting the "dots", then pried and bent with a pair of channel locks until they had a 6" hole. All my guns went out through that hole. They never messed with the door.

Don't leave the "soft" sides exposed.

What model was it? Do you think its possible to do that on any safe?

chuck combs

· #18 · Feb 10, 2012

blackdog said:
I've been contemplating finally getting a gun safe but my dilema now is where to put it. Our house is a two story house with all the bedrooms and my 'man cave' upstairs. We do have a three car garage where my reloading bench is and where I store lots of my other outdoor gear. So, for those of you with safes, is moving one of these beasts upstairs for install reasonable or is the garage going to be the place for me? Cause I know there's no way the wife lets me put it in the living room!

Appreciate the input.

if you put it up stairs you need to make sure the floor will support apx 120lbs per square foot or it will put it self down stairs and your ins will not
pay it fix the house.most foors a rated at 40lbs per square foot

crabbait

· #19 · Feb 10, 2012

It wasn't a cheap safe. It was a standard Liberty safe, a big one. Weight was 900lbs empty. But look at the sides, back and top of any safe. They are basically one thickness of steel and a chunk of sheet rock with a fabric cover. Given time, tools and access and thieves will get through.

I think that a safe recessed in any space would take away the thought to go in through the side. First they would have to go through a wall. If I had it to do again I would build the safe into a closet and surround it with additional fireproofing.

coyote.204

· #20 · Feb 10, 2012

crabbait said:
It wasn't a cheap safe. It was a standard Liberty safe, a big one. Weight was 900lbs empty. But look at the sides, back and top of any safe. They are basically one thickness of steel and a chunk of sheet rock with a fabric cover. Given time, tools and access and thieves will get through.

I think that a safe recessed in any space would take away the thought to go in through the side. First they would have to go through a wall. If I had it to do again I would build the safe into a closet and surround it with additional fireproofing.

Do you have any idea on the time it took them to accomplish that?

1 - 20 of 29 Posts

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