Safe mounting suggestions

[FloridaGurl]

Hi, I just moved across the country and not being able to bring my big safe I've got handguns in individual fast access lock boxes, these have kinda flimsy cables and I'm kinda worried about leaving them in the house I've rented when I go out. Id like to consider a safe, but I'm afraid as a renter I won't be able to bolt it down, and anybody probably with my own dolly could just roll it out of my house. How can I make my guns more secure?

Read More

 

[Koda]

Id like to consider a safe, but I'm afraid as a renter I won't be able to bolt it down, and anybody probably with my own dolly could just roll it out of my house. How can I make my guns more secure?

If you dont feel comfortable asking the landlord, just do it, landlord isnt going to ask if its bolted down.
Or buy a smaller 8 rifle safe and bolt to a wall stud with a 1/4" lag screw, which can be filled in with wall putty when you move out. Put the smaller safe in a closet and no one will ever ask. If your a renter, if you have a lot of guns then 2 smaller safes are easier to move than 1 large big one, plus not all your eggs are in one basket should any theif find one of them.

 

[Stomper]

If you dont feel comfortable asking the landlord, just do it, landlord isnt going to ask if its bolted down.
Or buy a smaller 8 rifle safe and bolt to a wall stud with a 1/4" lag screw, which can be filled in with wall putty when you move out. Put the smaller safe in a closet and no one will ever ask. If your a renter, if you have a lot of guns then 2 smaller safes are easier to move than 1 large big one, plus not all your eggs are in one basket should any theif find one of them.

My only real add to this is use more than lag-bolt.

 

[Koda]

My only real add to this is use more than lag-bolt.

I always use at least 2 or 3 lag screws with extra wide washers when bolting to a wall stud.
Or im guessing you might mean something different if so do share...?

 

[Stomper]

I always use at least 2 or 3 lag screws with extra wide washers when bolting to a wall stud.
Or im guessing you might mean something different if so do share...?

Same as you, but you used a "singular term" by saying "1/4" lag screw" instead of lag "screws" (plural).

I did not want her to interpret that as, one leg screw into the wall studs would be sufficient.

 

[jbett98]

I helped one of my renters bolt down a safe some years ago. The easiest solution was to cut a piece of 1-1/8" structural plywood the same size as the safes bottom and install four elevator style bolts up from the bottom pointing upwards into the safes bolt holes and then use a bunch of fine threaded sheet rock screws to hold down the plywood base. Then we levered the safe onto the upright bolts.
The reason behind the plywood base was that the t&g fir flooring was a 100 years old, very brittle and there wasn't a supporting floor joist where he wanted to locate the safe. The fine threaded screws were used as they don't catch the carpet fibers and rip them up when installing.

 

[Koda]

Same as you, but you used a "singular term" by saying "1/4" lag screw" instead of lag "screws" (plural).

I did not want her to interpret that as, one leg screw into the wall studs would be sufficient.

Yes
, good to clarify...

 

[ZA_Survivalist]

Fantastic question!

So I've been in this boat, where I couldn't store a safe due to renting (can't anchor down), being on a top floor (weight). What I opted to do was build a wood frame around it. That way the safe or cabinet you use is wedged into a wood framed unit which can be drilled into the wall or used for another purpose like shoes, clothing to help further obscure the safe/cabinet you go with.

A lot has to do with the amount of firearms you have, the overall space and where a safe or cabinet could possibly go (often closets). If you have the money, something like a hidden coffee table vault or a bed frame vault helps keep the firearms out of obvious areas and well hidden BUT it's more expensive.

I look forward to hearing the details so others can better help. But I've been down the rental gun storage road where I wouldn't have a large safe and I couldn't mount to the floor/walls and went the build out method. However if that's not quite what you are after the amount of space and "potential" amount of firearms would help guide the right solution/purchase/approach.

 

[dangerranger60]

My first safe, I lived in an Apt. I got a safe that fit in the end of the closet. Then cut a sheetrock panel that covered it and looked like the wall. with the hanging stuff in place no one even noticed it. Hidden in place. DR