Gun Safe Coffee Table?

[JasonT]

Hey all,

I recently bought a 350lb gun safe, and I thought it would be interesting to mount it horizontally (with the door up) and fit a coffee table top with a 4" standoff to deal with the lock and handles. I may not bolt it to the floor because how is somebody going to move a 400lb steel box unless you guys disagree.

Is that project going to have any complications that you can think of? I don't want to compromise the integrity of the safe by mounting it the wrong way.

Jason

 

[GaryL1959]

Hey all,

I recently bought a 350lb gun safe, and I thought it would be interesting to mount it horizontally (with the door up) and fit a coffee table top with a 4" standoff to deal with the lock and handles. I may not bolt it to the floor because how is somebody going to move a 400lb steel box unless you guys disagree.

Is that project going to have any complications that you can think of? I don't want to compromise the integrity of the safe by mounting it the wrong way.

Jason

Mounting a safe horizontallt probably wouldn't compromise the integrity, but never under- estimate the ability of a thief. I know a guy that had his entire safe, and the biggest part of an exterior wall, ripped out, through the wall. The crooks used HIS tractor and log chain to rip it out.
BOLT THAT SUCKER DOWN!

 

[mauritz45]

how are you going to pull open and safely close the door?
the door is probably 25% of the weight.
you would have to use some type of heavy duty piston assemblies similar to camper shell pistons, but heavier duty.--Cam

 

[TAJ45]

As has been said, never underestimate an industrious thief. They'll work 2x as hard thieving than a good worker does in a legitimate job.

 

[rardoin]

how are you going to pull open and safely close the door?
the door is probably 25% of the weight.
you would have to use some type of heavy duty piston assemblies similar to camper shell pistons, but heavier duty.--Cam

I hope you have extra fingers...because after closing it a few times they may come in handy.

 

[SheepDog]

That actually sounds like a great place to hide a safe! If it is possible to bolt through the sides having it bolted is an additional safety feature.
You might want to check that the bottom of the safe is secure - it is not usually an easy access point so it might not be reinforced. Still, who would look for a safe in a coffee table?

 

[dickn52]

So are you planning on letting gravity stack your rifles for you? How do you plan on separating them in the safe? Clever idea, but I am thing it will create a slew of issues.

 

[TAJ45]

That actually sounds like a great place to hide a safe! If it is possible to bolt through the sides having it bolted is an additional safety feature.
You might want to check that the bottom of the safe is secure - it is not usually an easy access point so it might not be reinforced. Still, who would look for a safe in a coffee table?

It would take some very talented design not to mention woodworking execution to pull off the " Gee, who woulda thunk a safe was under there" appearance.
I'm more of the mind to have it under the couch in the man cave. Easier to hide with throws over the frame and cushions.
However, laying on its side, the rifles need to be stacked in layers, with handles to facilitate removal of something on the bottom of the stack. Getting to be a designing nightmare from here.

 

[dickn52]

For one gun, maybe 2 try this...http://stealthfurniture.com/store/#...-Craftsman-Type-1/p/23907583/category=5667046

 

[JasonT]

Thank you everybody for the input - OK, I'll definitely bolt it down.

Living primarily in a 2nd-floor apartment, I'm somewhat stuck with finding a unique way to store the safe in a covert fashion. The apartment has wood floors throughout, so I'm worried about drilling holes in the floor. My machine shop has a concrete floor, but I'd like to keep my precious firearms close by if I can. If that situation honestly sounds too difficult to you folks, I'll just forgo the safe-in-apt idea and keep it in the workshop.

Technically, you're right that the guns would have to be placed carefully. Though I'm not above cutting notches in a couple of pieces of wood, covering it with carpet/foam/cloth, then putting it in the safe to store the guns horizontally.

As far as lifting the door, the gas struts are a good idea. Even if they only take 30 lbs of the weight, that would make a big difference. I'm sure I can find some for cheap on amazon.

Anything else?

 

[JasonT]

BTW, the safe I've purchased is a steelwater safe, 16 gun, heavy duty.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005BT9QF0/?tag=accuratescom-20

 

[hoz53]

Thank you everybody for the input - OK, I'll definitely bolt it down.

Living primarily in a 2nd-floor apartment, I'm somewhat stuck with finding a unique way to store the safe in a covert fashion. The apartment has wood floors throughout, so I'm worried about drilling holes in the floor. My machine shop has a concrete floor, but I'd like to keep my precious firearms close by if I can. If that situation honestly sounds too difficult to you folks, I'll just forgo the safe-in-apt idea and keep it in the workshop.

Technically, you're right that the guns would have to be placed carefully. Though I'm not above cutting notches in a couple of pieces of wood, covering it with carpet/foam/cloth, then putting it in the safe to store the guns horizontally.

As far as lifting the door, the gas struts are a good idea. Even if they only take 30 lbs of the weight, that would make a big difference. I'm sure I can find some for cheap on amazon.

Anything else?

Thats alot of weight on the floor of a second story. If youre renting the apartment the manager/owner may not want it there. Must be an elevator big enough to get it up there? Since its on the second floor bolting may not be such a big issue. Youll have a wood table top thats actually the door over the safe door right? What are the dimensions of the sade

 

[Uthink Uknow]

Ummmmm.
How do the tumblers tumble when the tumblers aren't vertical?

 

[Eddie Harren]

Another incredible waste of bandwidth.

 

[JasonT]

The safe is 58" x 22 x 18 I believe. Yes the table top would be a door over the door of the safe.

I didn't think about the tumblers...do electronic safes have gravity-sensitive tumblers?

Another incredible waste of bandwidth.

Why is it a waste of time? It's just an honest question about a unique idea for a project. If it's not possible, that's cool. I just thought I'd pose the question so people could stretch their mental legs.

 

[Eddie Harren]

"-just thought I'd pose the question so people could stretch their mental legs"

Looks like some of those "mental legs" are suffering from Paralysis!

Sounds like you have a few unanswered questions about this safe you bought. Might be time to consult the manufacturers catalogue and learn about your new purchase.

 

[500Stroker]

Hey all,

I recently bought a 350lb gun safe, and I thought it would be interesting to mount it horizontally (with the door up) and fit a coffee table top with a 4" standoff to deal with the lock and handles. I may not bolt it to the floor because how is somebody going to move a 400lb steel box unless you guys disagree.

Is that project going to have any complications that you can think of? I don't want to compromise the integrity of the safe by mounting it the wrong way.

Jason

I use my safe to store guns, laying flat on the floor for a table seems like the waste of a good safe. If you dont need more safe room, you need more guns.

 

[ED3]

Would the safe fit in an available closet?
If so, bolt some 4x4, or 6x6 over length timbers (longer than the doorway is wide) laterally to the base as you might run anchor bolts. It won't anchor the safe, but sized correctly, the safe couldn't be twisted, or maneuvered out of the closet without cutting the timbers.
Without going into the details, I had a 14 gun safe, bolted to the floor, back wall of the 2nd story taken in a burglary...through the safe down the stairs, they found my truck keys, put the safe in my truck and stole both. Truck and safe were found 2 weeks later.. safe was pried open, still ion the back of the PU.
I now mostly rely on hiding in plain site...for obvious reasons the details won't be posted.
Good Luck

 

[hoz53]

Would the safe fit in an available closet?
If so, bolt some 4x4, or 6x6 over length timbers (longer than the doorway is wide) laterally to the base as you might run anchor bolts. It won't anchor the safe, but sized correctly, the safe couldn't be twisted, or maneuvered out of the closet without cutting the timbers.
Without going into the details, I had a 14 gun safe, bolted to the floor, back wall of the 2nd story taken in a burglary...through the safe down the stairs, they found my truck keys, put the safe in my truck and stole both. Truck and safe were found 2 weeks later.. safe was pried open, still ion the back of the PU.
I now mostly rely on hiding in plain site...for obvious reasons the details won't be posted.
Good Luck

I kept alot of guns in a plywood cabinet in a rental storage unit for ten years. No problems--nobody else but me knew they were in there.

 

[hoz53]

Another incredible waste of bandwidth.

Eddie sometimes it appears youre a bit grouchy