Modifying your own gun safe

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Modifying your own gun safe

Post by von_klitzing » 08 Apr 2014, 10:54 pm

Hi all. I decided I need a larger gun safe coz 6 guns won't fit in a 5 gun safe lol. So, instead of forking out anywhere from $300 up, I've decided to cut mine to bits and add some partitions :D
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I bought a sheet of 2mm cold rolled steel sheet and cut it to dimensions, bent it a bit, and am at this point. One sheet of steel will allow me to build a partition like this on either side with a tiny bit to spare to close in the ammo compartment.
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So what do ya think?! not bad for a $70 addon? I may add the other partition on the RHS but will see how I go for time... I think it's looking good, no warping in the new sheet. My welds are pretty woeful though so I'll be grinding heaps haha. I'm not sure what I'm going to do for paint yet. Any ideas?
I'll update as I go :)
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by NukeBOMB88 » 08 Apr 2014, 11:36 pm

Is that actually legal ?
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by von_klitzing » 08 Apr 2014, 11:39 pm

Absolutely. Storage requirements from the QLD police website:

http://www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/w ... /howto.htm

1

30 or fewer

(or any number of weapons for a Miscellaneous licence)


A, B, C, E & M


Unloaded, with the bolt removed or the action broken


In a locked container constructed of solid steel or solid timber, and securely fixed to the frame or floor of a permanent building if the container weighs less than 150kg.

Container must be kept locked with a sturdy combination lock, keyed lock or keyed padlock.
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by jthunting » 08 Apr 2014, 11:43 pm

Good stuff mate. looks great. Im in process of building a larger one to. Sick of trying to jam everything into a tight area, ive got a hold of a modified half shipping container. Much better to be able to walk into your safe...
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by Noisydad » 09 Apr 2014, 7:26 am

Max points for imagination and willingness to have a go at making stuff! :-) Long may you DIY! Doesn't matter how big you build it coz it'll never be big enough! My 10 gun rotary rack safe I built in Nov. last year is full now my no.2 son and Lady Noisy have got the urge to smell burnt sulphur and I'll be back to using my old safe again within the year.
There's still a few of Wile. E Coyote's ideas that I haven't tried yet.
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by Warrigul » 09 Apr 2014, 10:53 am

Noisydad wrote:Max points for imagination and willingness to have a go at making stuff! :-) Long may you DIY! Doesn't matter how big you build it coz it'll never be big enough! My 10 gun rotary rack safe I built in Nov. last year is full now my no.2 son and Lady Noisy have got the urge to smell burnt sulphur and I'll be back to using my old safe again within the year.


I started off with one I built myself, then made one twice the size.

Filled up the double sized one and was back to using the old one as well.

Had to buy ANOTHER safe.

Am now in the process of building a besser block gun room(security spec).

I have slowed down now that the unregistered firearm amnesty rules have changes but where will it all end............................................
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by sha » 11 Apr 2014, 7:08 am

If only I had a workshop to do these things myself :D

Good work.
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by Vati » 11 Apr 2014, 7:10 am

Looks like somebody's using the work garage after hours? ;)
Reach out and touch...
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by Humir » 11 Apr 2014, 7:11 am

Nice one mate.
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by crys » 11 Apr 2014, 3:12 pm

Cool :)

I'd try something like this but I'd just end up with a heap of slagged metal and burnt fingers :lol:
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by Noisydad » 23 Apr 2014, 10:41 pm

So how did the safe extension project go?
There's still a few of Wile. E Coyote's ideas that I haven't tried yet.
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by von_klitzing » 23 Apr 2014, 11:19 pm

Not to plan :lol:

I decided to only extend the one side as I had troubles with warping, and it was the stronger supported side of the safe. I'll explain. To extend the safe, I cut the left side panel away and welded 2 panels, and a top and bottom in between, then welded the side panel back on.

This became a bit of a nightmare when it came to lining up the panels and keeping them straight, especially on the small strip of steel that frames the LHS of the door, and this strip was stronger than the RHS due to it being an "s" shape, where the RHS is just a flat piece of steel around 40mm wide.

The LHS warped easily and I had a couple hours of pulling and pushing the door frame after I welded it all up just to get the door to close (I also welded some extra supports inside to reduce warping). I figured the RHS is going to be a slightly more difficult job, and I don't have the time at work to do it anymore. I'll have to bring it back at christmas :)

In hindsight, I should have cut a single piece of steel large enough to encompass the front, side and rear in one piece, instead of 3 separate panels. That will make it easier to paint as well.

When I fill this side up, I'll likely pull it out again and finish the job. But for now, it'll do.

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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by sha » 24 Apr 2014, 3:17 pm

The cleaned up version looks pro Von.
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by crys » 24 Apr 2014, 3:18 pm

Yeah nice!

+1
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by von_klitzing » 24 Apr 2014, 4:52 pm

:) ha thanks
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by 1sikxt » 24 Apr 2014, 5:42 pm

I'm gonna do a similar thing but just gonna keep the front of my safe so I can use door and locking mechanism
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by greyghost » 26 Apr 2014, 8:35 pm

I suppose you can probably buy a locking mechanism direct from somewhere?

Could always buy a lock/door and build the rest of the safe to your perfect specs. Or is that too ambitious :lol:
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by Lorgar » 26 Apr 2014, 8:37 pm

Someone would.

I don't actually know who but I know from Speaking with the guys at Spika that they buy their locks and digital keypads from someone else before they go into their gun safes.

No idea who that is but someone's selling them.
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by 1sikxt » 26 Apr 2014, 8:46 pm

I'm now thinking of just stripping the lock mechanics out and building everything from scratch.
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by von_klitzing » 26 Apr 2014, 9:14 pm

That would be an expensive way of doing it.

I'd only use an existing safe where I would be looking to utilize all of the original materials.

I'd look at buying a lock separately as mentioned above and building it into a box as required. Not sure where you'd buy one though...
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by 1sikxt » 26 Apr 2014, 9:29 pm

Safe only cost me $80 and it has 5 locking pins
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by SendIt » 26 Apr 2014, 9:37 pm

1sikxt wrote:I'm now thinking of just stripping the lock mechanics out and building everything from scratch.


Thinking of expanding the collection? :D
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by Old Fart » 26 Apr 2014, 9:38 pm

For the sake of $80 give it a go I say.
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by sha » 26 Apr 2014, 9:39 pm

1sikxt wrote:I'm now thinking of just stripping the lock mechanics out and building everything from scratch.


What brought that on? Not happy with the finished version? :?
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by von_klitzing » 26 Apr 2014, 10:48 pm

Old Fart wrote:For the sake of $80 give it a go I say.


Agreed :)
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by 1sikxt » 26 Apr 2014, 10:54 pm

Plus I'm sheet metal worker by trade and dads a boiler maker who works for him self so has all the tools.
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by Seconds » 27 Apr 2014, 9:41 am

Labour is always the thing that kills you on getting things built.

If you can do it yourself, saves you a fortune ;)
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by von_klitzing » 27 Apr 2014, 10:22 am

Remember to post your work here:

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1619

:)
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by tom_jellie » 30 Jul 2018, 4:56 pm

I know this is a bit down the track now but..... if you buy, say a 80kg safe and do similar to the photos above and by the end product it is then over the 150kg mark, does it still have to be bolted down?

I can't use dynabolts where I am and don't want to screw into a noggin, so if you customise it to over 150kg does it have to be bolted?
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Re: Modifying your own gun safe

Post by sungazer » 30 Jul 2018, 6:53 pm

As long as its not just added weights once the safe is over the 150 kgs you are good to go. Really all you need is a lockwood deadlatch type of lock on the door. As long as it is built with the correct gauge steel and meet the other requirements there is no reason to DIY if you have the skills. The last part is what stops most of us, it is just as cheap to buy a bought one often and the finish is going to be better than what we could achieve.
The only thing that I dont like about your idea is the ease of access. You either need to have the door the same size as the storage or a way to be able to put guns in and out easily. That would mean that it has to be at least as twice as deep.
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