Thread: I need a steel strong box! NOT a 2nd Mortgage!

I need a 'strong box' for some photo gear and have been looking for a safe to bolt into my wardrobe. It needs to be largish about 400mm sq and 500mm high. Blimey! safes are expensive around $600 - $1600.
So I thought, as all it just needs is to put up a good fight against an intruder with a crow bar for a while, I would weld one up from 5mm or 10mm steel plate.
Steel alone is coming in around $400. That's before hinges latches padlocks and welding hire, rods etc etc etc Drawing attached as Pdf.

Any options from someone are welcome. I've even thought of knocking a locker uo from wood. Wouldn't last long under attack but longer than a bought locking filing cabinet!!

Thanks, Martin

Originally Posted by Kaiser Soze

I need a 'strong box' for some photo gear and have been looking for a safe to bolt into my wardrobe. It needs to be largish about 400mm sq and 500mm high. Blimey! safes are expensive around $600 - $1600.
So I thought, as all it just needs is to put up a good fight against an intruder with a crow bar for a while, I would weld one up from 5mm or 10mm steel plate.
Steel alone is coming in around $400. That's before hinges latches padlocks and welding hire, rods etc etc etc Drawing attached as Pdf.

Any options from someone are welcome. I've even thought of knocking a locker uo from wood. Wouldn't last long under attack but longer than a bought locking filing cabinet!!

Thanks, Martin

Hi Martin,

If you're looking at spending $400 on steel, I'd suggest you go to a gun shop and have a look at their rifle safes - they usually have a good selection at the $350 to $500 range.

Cheers,
John

Great thought, thanks. I assume they would be long and thin though!

Gun safes come in different sizes. Most of them are for longarms, ie, rifles and shotguns, but you can also get them for handguns. These are about the size you are describing. You could also make a full frame from 40 x 40 x 5 angle steel and then fully weld 3mm plate all over. The door can be made from the same angle and covered in 3mm also. This would be very difficult to break into. The weakest part will be the method you use to lock the box. I know of a bloke who made a box for his firearms and locked it with three keyed locks, not padlocks. The only way to open the locks was to open them in a special sequence. The safe was so good that he quit work as a welder and now makes these boxes.
For your needs, an angle steel frame covered with 3mm may be the way to go. If you need help and ideas about locking the box, I can send you some drawings and designs if you get stuck.

Kody

Originally Posted by Kody

Gun safes come in different sizes. Most of them are for longarms, ie, rifles and shotguns, but you can also get them for handguns. These are about the size you are describing. You could also make a full frame from 40 x 40 x 5 angle steel and then fully weld 3mm plate all over. The door can be made from the same angle and covered in 3mm also. This would be very difficult to break into. The weakest part will be the method you use to lock the box. I know of a bloke who made a box for his firearms and locked it with three keyed locks, not padlocks. The only way to open the locks was to open them in a special sequence. The safe was so good that he quit work as a welder and now makes these boxes.
For your needs, an angle steel frame covered with 3mm may be the way to go. If you need help and ideas about locking the box, I can send you some drawings and designs if you get stuck.

Kody

Thanks Kody
I also found drug safes here as another alternative!
http://www.buyasafe.com.au/index.php...0ac9991ee2571e

Which would be perfect.

I hadn't thought of angle iron. Would 3mm be adequate though? Your thoughts on the door from angle iron would be appreciated too. I thought just a simple hasp and good padlock maybe.

Thanks

3mm is plenty, my gunsafe is 2.5 or 3mm.

Looks like bar fridge size to me ! Is there a council clean up day nearing? A good locking mechanism and some moisture absorbing granules would make for a fine inexpensive safe.

Yes, I have another 101 uses for old fridges.

Hi Martin,
Some of the cheaper drug safes can be opened very easily. I used one when I was a carer and was not impressed by them. Can be opened in 10 to 15 seconds!
A "simple hasp and good padlock (?)" can be forced open/off, in seconds with a crow bar. For the best security, all locks should be internal and the outer surfaces should be flush, ie, nothing sticking out than can be levered off or smashed off (like with the SWAT teams "door key"). You may also need to concider installing an inner "wall" of fire proof material to insulate the safe. It sounds like your camera equipment is worth an arm and a leg.

Kody

Originally Posted by Kody

Hi Martin,
Some of the cheaper drug safes can be opened very easily. I used one when I was a carer and was not impressed by them. Can be opened in 10 to 15 seconds!
A "simple hasp and good padlock (?)" can be forced open/off, in seconds with a crow bar. For the best security, all locks should be internal and the outer surfaces should be flush, ie, nothing sticking out than can be levered off or smashed off (like with the SWAT teams "door key"). You may also need to concider installing an inner "wall" of fire proof material to insulate the safe. It sounds like your camera equipment is worth an arm and a leg.

Kody

Mmmm your right, needs to be internal fittings and re worth of gear? it's a lot to me but I would also put all valuables in too like watches rings etc. We've been burgled before and it's a costly business replacing everything.

Thinking laterally (if I don't go for 3mm steel) is to build a 4 sided carcass out of concrete poured into a form. Somehow fit a steel door. Screw hinges internally into plugs, weld to door, then put back panel on? Maybe not. Although it would resist being moved! Probably 1/2 a ton!

I think 3mm steel the go!

If you are not absolutely married to the idea of putting the safe inside a cupboard, get in touch with the Australia Post's asset disposal mob in S.A. - they usually (in NSW at least) have a big pile of real safes that have been ripped out of Post Offices that have been closed down.

The big safes ( say 1800 tall, 900x900 ) are the cheapest / least popular but they sometimes have smaller ones too, fire & oxy resistant. And they deliver - at least in NSW.

Are you planning on storing your camera and lenses inside the safe?

you could buy a store safe box these are used in mobile phone shops and bigger versions on site as tool boxes, you need a grinder or an oxy to get it open