Home Fire Safe

[TuonoRider]

Hi everyone,

I didn't do any searches, but don't recall any recent threads regarding safes. For some time now, I've been feeling a bit irresponsible for not owning one. I have a few firearms, mostly old Winchester's from my grandfather, etc,. that have been under lock and key, but not in an actual safe.

Over the past year or so, my wife and I have also spent money on a couple Omega's, a Rolex (for her) and some nicer jewelery (again, for her). Combining that along with all the terrible things going on, constantly hearing about break-ins and whatnot, I felt it was about time.

So I researched a few models and looks like the big 3 are Browning, Heritage and Liberty. They all lock with S&G manual combination or electronic combination locks. Being a bit skeptical of electronic locks for some reason, I couldn't find any compelling data to sway me away from them, so I went that route since they are very convenient.

I guess I have no real point to the thread other than to encourage those of you who have been on the fence to just jump off and make a purchase. I'm looking forward to finally getting that part of life organized. I think I will feel a lot better when leaving the house for an extended amount of time away. Nothing is ever 100%, but if we ever do have a break-in, I feel as though I took the proper steps to be secure.

Since this is my first new thread of the new year, Happy New Year everyone!

[Tools]

Fire and theft should always be a consideration for valuables and important papers..

I keep my stuff in one of these..

[TuonoRider]

Looks pretty sharp, Larry. Looks about identical in size to what I bought. It was a hard toss up between Libery and Browning. The shop where I purchased sold and had both in stock. The size I needed (due to a doorway) was only available in the browning...so I went that route. The Liberty's he had were 28 inches in depth I think and I have a 27 inch doorway. The Browning model I got has a 25 inch depth...just enough room! Nothing like a close shave, right?!?

My other hobby is woodworking, so hoping to come up with a nice idea for a watch box to build...

[WhatTheDeuce]

Originally Posted by Tools

Fire and theft should always be a consideration for valuables and important papers..

I keep my stuff in one of these..

Just curious, how much does that thing weight?

[bayerische]

Sentry safe makes a decent fire safe, but you can saw it in two with a wood saw!

[Sixshooter]

Originally Posted by WhatTheDeuce

Just curious, how much does that thing weight?

Not to answer his question, but I have the same safe I believe. A Liberty "Lincoln 35" and it weighs 890 lbs empty if memory serves correctly. I would like to bolt mine down, but I haven't ever got around to doin that. Doubtful it's even needed.

[TuonoRider]

I didn't check if there are holes on the floor of the one I bought, but It weighs in around 700lbs and I still plan to lag it to the concrete floor. I figure it sure can't hurt!!!

[WhatTheDeuce]

I guess no thief will be walking out with those...

[Gold93]

You can't call a safe a safe at all until it is lagged to the floor. 700 pounds is light weight on a hand truck and once it is out the door wood saw, torch or just drop it enough. IMOHO

[TuonoRider]

Originally Posted by Gold93

You can't call a safe a safe at all until it is lagged to the floor. 700 pounds is light weight on a hand truck and once it is out the door wood saw, torch or just drop it enough. IMOHO

Yep. A couple strong guys and a good hand-truck and they could take the safe from the basement to the 1st floor, out the garage door and onto a pickup truck. *bada-bing*

Ugh...wouldn't that suck.

[Gold93]

Especially over 10 bucks and 30 minutes. I have been looking at safes I have found a TL-15 safe for $800 delivered. But drool over a TL-30. Some of the collections I have seen on here deserve nothing less. Bolting a safe down make them have to at least work for your hard earned stash, and no safe is fail proof.

[WhatTheDeuce]

True, I was thinking about an ad hoc thief. You'd have to plan to carry out an 800lbs safe.

[TuonoRider]

What I've found is almost every safe out there, of the major brands anyway, use the SAME S&G brand locks.

What if someone knows how to tap into one electronically and disable it or open it? I'm sure it can be done!

This is more of a fear to me than someone prying it open or physically hauling it out of the house.

[WhatTheDeuce]

Yeah, really sucks...

[theloxmyth]

Originally Posted by TuonoRider

What I've found is almost every safe out there, of the major brands anyway, use the SAME S&G brand locks.

What if someone knows how to tap into one electronically and disable it or open it? I'm sure it can be done!

This is more of a fear to me than someone prying it open or physically hauling it out of the house.

It can NOT be done period.

[theloxmyth]

The biggest problem is that, in a fire, they don't do what you want them to do.

[77T]

Originally Posted by theloxmyth

The biggest problem is that, in a fire, they don't do what you want them to do.

What is the best option in that price range then?

Like depth ratings in waterproof-ness, fireproof is a matter of degrees and time, right?

[Gold93]

TL-15, TL-30, and TL-30x6 HIGH-SECURITY BURGLARY SAFES WITH FIRE PROTECTION

Underwriter's rated safes protect against powerful tools such as drills, chisels, sledgehammers, wedges, power saws, carbide disc cutters and other miscellaneous tool attacks. Massive 3-1/2 inch thick bodies and 6-1/2 inch thick doors are constructed of steel plate, a high strength blend of PSI cement and a super alloy manganese plate.
TL-30x6 six-sided protection that potentially insures up to $1/2 million (and often more when used in a commercial application, even at home).
TL-30 door is tool resistant at least 30 minutes and potentially insures up to $1/4 million.
TL-15 door is tool resistant at least 15 minutes and potentially insures up to $125,000.
Fire protection for 2 hours at 1850 degrees F is an added bonus in the ORIGINAL TL-rated high-level security safes.
These safes are high security protection for jewelry stores, and coin shops. Yet if you have an expensive collection, it may warrant getting a safe of this caliber.

That should keep things secure....of course you have to remember to lock the door :/

[theloxmyth]

Originally Posted by 77T

What is the best option in that price range then?

Like depth ratings in waterproof-ness, fireproof is a matter of degrees and time, right?

Funny thing, our tests have proven that EVEN a (cheap-azz) Sentry Safe is more FIRE RESISTANT than some of these gun safes!

BUT the Sentry Safes can OFTEN be pried open with enough effort.

Brown, Mutual, Inka, AMSEC, Guardall and few others, SEEM to be best. (5-10K)

[Sixshooter]

Originally Posted by theloxmyth

The biggest problem is that, in a fire, they don't do what you want them to do.

Holy cow. That would be quite the disappointment.

[T. Ferguson]

Whenever I start looking at home safes, to really get the fire protection and security both to excellent levels it gets very, very pricey. BNIB Rolex watch pricey.

So I just use one of these:



Seems to do the trick.

[WhatTheDeuce]

Originally Posted by T. Ferguson

Whenever I start looking at home safes, to really get the fire protection and security both to excellent levels it gets very, very pricey. BNIB Rolex watch pricey.

So I just use one of these:



Seems to do the trick.

These are tough to install in a home, though.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by theloxmyth

The biggest problem is that, in a fire, they don't do what you want them to do.

That would suck.

[TuonoRider]

Originally Posted by theloxmyth

It can NOT be done period.

Thanks for writing in to the thread - I saw one of your posts a few weeks ago, but couldn't remember your user id or which post I read, but I was hoping you would have something to contribute given your profession!

So if it just can't be done, that's definitely good news!

Originally Posted by theloxmyth

The biggest problem is that, in a fire, they don't do what you want them to do.

I wondered how accurate the fire rating was and didn't know what to think of them...I think the one I'm getting says 60 minutes @ 1200*F.

My primary goal is safety and security from an idiot burglar and simply locking up things that should be locked up.

I see people mention the bank and using a safety deposit box...I guess I see that for items you don't use much or documents you don't need to reference with any frequency. I considered it for myself, but for watches and a few pieces of jewelry, it didn't seem practical. And not to mention, wife and I don't exactly have 10's of thousands in jewelry and "umteen" carats of diamonds or something. That would be different I think...

[68camaro]

If you want a real safe that offers real theft and fire protection check out Sturdy:
http://www.sturdysafe.com/model2419.htm

I will be ordering one when I choose size.

Chuck

[theloxmyth]

As an aside, you can put a Sentry lock box INSIDE a fire resistant safe and the items within the small lock box (key operated) will come through a fire relatively unscathed.