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unorthodox gun storage help

projectpat0

projectpat0

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Sep 13, 2010
106
0
34
Western NC
I'm in need of a gun storage unit that is modular (apartment)and inconspicuous. Therefore, I'm planning on purchasing a job site secure box to facilitate this role as it beats hiding them throughout the apartment unsecured.

My question now is how to protect my toys in a bare metal box. I've been all over the place with my imagination. I've considered constructing shelving out of some 2x2 pine lumber and using pvc pipe insulation to soften the top racks. The shelving has drawbacks as i know it reduces my storage area and may not be strong enough? I also thought of layering egg crate foam used for mattresses but my concern with that is moisture retention.

If anyone has any thoughts on this I'd greatly appreciate it. I know this isnt the best system to have and a safe would be ideal. However, a safe is impossible given my apartment constraints and versatility as my living location is not remotely long term. Thanks
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

Thanks. That definitely fulfills the modularity criteria. The reason I wanted something inconspicuous though was being unable to bolt my safe to something in a place that im renting. with a job site box i can easily make it appear like a tv stand or coffee table etc
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

I haven't seen many job boxes that can't be EASILY opened. I'd look harder at the zanotti safes IMHO...
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

I completely understand that the jobsite box is not the most secure thing in the world. But neither is a safe not secured to a wall or the floor. that is why I thought being inconspicuous could make up for the reduced level of security.
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

I think the Zanotti is a great option. But im concerned with leaving it unmounted. wouldnt A safe be easily pried open if someone lays it on the ground?
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Project Pat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think the Zanotti is a great option. But im concerned with leaving it unmounted. wouldnt A safe be easily pried open if someone lays it on the ground? </div></div>

Less so than a job site box.
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Sarcasm aside, I understand what you are saying about low key factor aiding security. Have you considered ordering a set or two of foam replacement panels used in Pelican / Storm cases? They could be cut to fit the box and would provide adequate protection for the rifle.
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Joe M</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You could get one of these safes, they can be disassembled for moving. http://zanottiarmor.com/ </div></div> Thanks for the link. Me and the wife have narrowed our search for a new home down to two but one has a nice basement perfect to set up a great work shop but no way to get my current safe down there so this is a great option.
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

I use to use a steel truck box for extra ammo, shot guns, .22s under a workbench in my garage. Put rolly wheels on it and it slid under work bench / it was painted and so you wouldn't even notice it was there.

Old truck tool box + nice wood = nice coffee table with lock
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

Thanks for all the recommendations. I think I will go.the pelican foam or carpet route. I want to try to find the thin profile carpet that is in classrooms. it would be substantially cheaper
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

seems yer complicating things too much. egg crate is awesome as long as you wrap anything you want to store that is moisture sensitive in plastic sheeting for a moisture barrier. id also coat with grease first, depending on storage duration. its best to periodically check yer cache to ensure that the storage method is working and to verify the cache hasnt been compromised by thieves.
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

i recently had a conversation with a locksmith who deals with gun safes alot. i was looking for a safe to keep little fingers away from my rifles- not overly concerned with keeping big fingers out at this point. he said that i'd need to put quite a bit of money into a real safe to get one that was enough fire protection & not easily stolen itself. then he told me to just build a box from sheetrock & steel studs to fit under the bed, and put a deadbolt on the door, or if that wasn't big enough, frame in a closet in the basement with steel studs & thick sheetrock.

$.75 each for channels, $.50 each for studs, and $12.63 each for the fire shield drywall will make for a pretty cheap gun closet.

just an idea
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

One of those under Bed safes would be neat! Not sure if is an option, but I think it goes by the name bed vault.
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

interesting idea elk addict I would have to make a box out of it to keep it modular but definitely a possibility even for a novice carpenter
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

i plan to bust out the tin snips & cordless this week and make a "portable closet"- i'll post pics.
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

Yeah I would like to see pics, and it would be fun doing a small scale renovation. When I expand my collection!
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

Make yourself a wooden box with gun slots in it (for rifles and/or pistols). Line it with foam and/or felt to protect the finishes. Make it so it rolls under your bed. You can make it the length and width of your bed if you want it or need it that big. Or, you can make it for one or two rifles. You can put a lock/hasp on it. And, you can even chain it to your bedframe for even better security.
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: elk addict</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i plan to bust out the tin snips & cordless this week and make a "portable closet"- i'll post pics. </div></div>

good luck! looking forward to the pictures. I may have to mimic your design.
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

$40 & 4 hours into it (with alot of help from a 2 & 4 yr old...)

sorry for the crappy 2nd pic

supplies (actually $38):
1/2 a dozen of the cheapest steel studs i could find & 3 rails, and a box of screws.
tools:
tin snips, spring clamps, vise grips, kleins, & a cordless (had em)

6B7FFFAE.jpg


4 hours later (got rained out)

F161F9A9.jpg


only 1/2" out of square at this point. next, i need to cut a couple short sections to act as floor & lid, make a door, then make a shelf for handguns, then sheet rock & tape inside & out, then roll on bed liner on the outside. i'm thinking 25% done atm...
i'm planning to repeat this experiment with 1x2 steel studs (it's almost 50# without the sheetrock- gonna be kinda heavy), power tools, & a tig welder. i'm not real happy with the build quality. snips are easy enough to use, but i like clean precise cuts better. and screwing this stuff together sucks (i grabbed the wrong screws).
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

Wow that is way better than anything I would have produced! Mine would have been duct taped!
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

Why not just buy a safe ? I mean hell my Liberty safe is like 600# empty ...guns and ammo pushing 800+
I have to move it with a Large Appliance Dolly and some help , its still its a bitch to move ....not gonna be a grab and go deal for sure !!!
Are you upstairs with a limit on flooring loads ??
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

Not sure if you would consider it modular, but I read recently about someone using a Soda Machine which they had removed the insides from. This was secure, and pretty well doesn't look like a gun safe. It may be less than ideal for an apartment. They used it at their work, and hung an "out of order" sign on it...

Sounded like a good idea to me.
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

Love the pop machine idea!
My main 2 reasons for building this are to keep little fingers out & protect from fire. A friend of a friend recently lost most of his guns from standard gun safes when his house burned- metal safes turn into pressure cookers in a house fire. Standard safes have fire ratings of minutes- houses burn for hours.
I talked to a locksmith who specializes in big projects about it recently. According to him, 2 layers of Sheetrock buy you an hour & a half, with an extra 45 minutes per each additional layer. Framing with metal studs further dissipates heat, and putting the steel & sheetrock "safe" in the basement corner maximizes the chances for your guns to make it through without cooking.
I don't mind if it ends up ~100#, but it has to go down stairs, so not lookin to make it much heavier than that.
I could see a streamlined version of this (welded & more efficiently dimensioned) being commercially viable- especially when you consider how easy it would be to add security to it. Hell, you could string some wire around it inside the metal studs, then fill with fire foam. It would set up like concrete.
 
Re: unorthodox gun storage help

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Magnum Shooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Joe M</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You could get one of these safes, they can be disassembled for moving. http://zanottiarmor.com/ </div></div> Thanks for the link. Me and the wife have narrowed our search for a new home down to two but one has a nice basement perfect to set up a great work shop but no way to get my current safe down there so this is a great option. </div></div>

When I moved into and out of my last house I rented a power dolly for putting the safe down in the basement. Me and one other guy had no problem moving it. I even had a 90 degree turn in the staircase and my safe is a 36 gun safe that ways a ton.
 
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