Update, Home Safe/source

mr3holesinone

First I'd like to thank everyone from when I asked about safes a few months ago. I had been looking at gun safes at that time but as many of you know a good one is not cheap.

Office Max currently has two safes from Sentry that are reasonably priced and offer features much more expensive safes have too.

First one is a Sentry Advanced Security File, OfficeMax item no. 2015-0952. Price is $70 until Dec 28. Weighs 100 lbs empty. UL-rated fire protection for 1 hour, UL-water rated for 1/2 hour. My guess is that this puppy will hold about fifteen PCGS 20-coin-boxes with additional room for proof sets, jewelry, pistols, etc.

The second one is very similar but a little smaller: Sentry Waterproof Security Chest, item no.
2015-0943. Price is $50 until Dec 28. Same ratings I believe as first one. My guess is that it may hold ten PCGS boxes with a little extra room. Also guessing that it weighs about 60? lbs. empty.

From what I've seen, with safes you pretty much get what you pay for. Other safes that OfficeMax has are just missing that something that makes you want to wait (or have to pay more). They have one on their website/catalog for $100, item no. 1211-8282. It has hardware to bolt it to the floor or wall, weighs 55 lbs and has two locks (combination and a key) but, it does NOT say anything about being Fire Proof or UL-rated.

The first safe above is the best, economical safe I've found so far and probably the one I'll be buying.

If anyone is interested, go to officemax.com; then go to the Filing Cabinets and Safes link under the Furniture heading, then click on the Safes link on the next page.

I hope this thread doesn't lead anyone to think I work for OfficeMax, lol. I just happened to ask while I was picking up some office supplies today.

MastaHanky

If anybody DOES decide to buy a safe from Office Max, let me know before hand...I'll hook you up with some coupons to save a bit.

relayer

This is the safe I have and it's really nice. I took the drawer out and just have the top shelf in and I can fit 9 PCGS boxes in it (2 rows of 3 and 3 sitting sideways). (Even though it wastes space, I like storing the coins in boxes for easy access)

I drilled out the back with so I could mount it in the wall (on a 3-shelf metal rack so you can store some "non safe worthy" coins too). The way I have it positioned fits perfectly with just enough room so you can open the door all of the way in the closet door jam. I had it on the ground first, but hated always having to get on the floor to get in and out so I mounted it up high and it makes getting in and out of it great.

It's good for a home safe for the non "bank vault worthy" coins plus it's nice to have when the vault coins come home to visit.

The safe I recommend

(All coins protected by alarm system plus the owners "persuader" is always handy)

MrKelso

<< <i>First one is a Sentry Advanced Security File, OfficeMax item no. 2015-0952. Price is $70 until Dec 28. Weighs 100 lbs empty. UL-rated fire protection for 1 hour, UL-water rated for 1/2 hour. >>



I own 2 of these and find that they work out very nicely for all the coins. I bolted one to the floor in the basement and the other is up in the bedroom. This way a burgler has a better chance of getting shot looking for the 2nd safe.
Ruger GP100 Guards the safes.

dorkkarl

can anyone provide insurance info? i'm getting killed on premiums, even though i keep all my coins in 3 separate safety deposit boxes scattered across town. i know that to keep ins., the coins either have to be is s.d. boxes, or in a special kind of safe, but the safes i was told to buy are WAY high price - as in thousands of $.

K S

MrKelso

My new coin safe

MrKelso

<< <i> can anyone provide insurance info? i'm getting killed on premiums, even though i keep all my coins in 3 separate safety deposit boxes scattered across town. i know that to keep ins., the coins either have to be is s.d. boxes, or in a special kind of safe, but the safes i was told to buy are WAY high price - as in thousands of $. >>



Check out my link above and see if that will help with your rates

Beatlemen

Thank you for the info. Went on office max website the Sentry waterproof Secrity chest # 2015-0943 is $60 not $50 But I will make a trip to Office max and check them out.

beorn

my safe weighs 600lbs. empty..if it ever gets stolen i,ll just look for the guy fenceing coins that has a double hernia

LucyBop

I just love opening my huge Gun safe by American Security and holding and cherishing my Frankilins!!! Then I'll lock it, take a few more drinks and open it again...... Over and over and over.....Crazy Daddy-o!

RGL

If Kitty has a S&W stored beside her Frankies in the gun safe, particularly after a few drinks, I'm steering clear ...

MrKelso

<< <i>If Kitty has a S&W stored beside her Frankies in the gun safe, particularly after a few drinks, I'm steering clear ... >>



I keep my baby close by A wheel gun Ruger GP 100 6 shot 357 Magnum and a winchester defender as a backup 12 GA

crito

The Sentry fireproof safes suck. Uses a wet insultator that'll ruin your coins, or at very least recharging desiccant will become a full time job.

mr3holesinone

Beatlemen: The price I quoted was an 'in-store' price. I also saw that the website had a different price. The store catalog states $50 as an everyday price. The phone number to confirm that would be
1-877-OFFICEMAX (1-877-633-4236). It's on page 238 of their 2002 Store Catalog. If you go to the store make sure you see if they have a copy, at least you can have that to help you then. If you need a copy of the page I can fax it to you if you'd like to see it. Just message me with your fax # if you want a copy.


Dorkkarl: I haven't checked myself yet on insurance. I know that sometimes you can have a rider added onto your house insurance to cover collectibles. The ANA is another source to check; I know they offer insurance but I don't know how much. I don't know if PCGS or NGC would be able to offer help but it wouldn't hurt to check with them if you want to shop around a little. Here in St. Louis there is a company that is JUST a safe depository, maybe there is one near you with more security and thus you could get lower insurance rates if you have your coins there.


Kitty: I know I have to get a safe now just so my FBL, MS64 & 65 collection is safe from you!! I still need about half the set. I've been lucky so far to have gotten nice, clean examples and no doggies.

mr3holesinone

Crito: What depressing news! I'll have to call Sentry to find out more now. I thought I had it all figured out too, lol. So if it'll ruin coins I guess baseball cards and currency have no prayer either. I hope maybe this is a new model, I didn't notice anything like a wet insulator but that doesn't mean it wasn't there either. Thanks for the heads up.

crito

I haven't seen the "waterproof" ones (sorry didn't read orig post carefully) but the "fireproof" sentry safes use a wet insulator that can cause water condensation inside during sudden temperature changes. Desiccant is a must regardless... it'll just need recharging (in an oven) more frequently.

MrKelso

Check with the manufacturer about basement installations.
They can become moiste inside and that would be bad.

ricko

I would recommend a full size gun safe... yes... a bit expensive, but the security is worth it. Mine weighs 750 lb. empty..... and a lot more when loaded up... have never worried about my valuables since I purchased it 20 years ago. Cheers, Ricko

mr3holesinone

Crito, I called Sentry today and had a pretty good discussion with them about their safe I was looking at. You are very correct in that the safe DOES have a wet insulator that activates when there is a sudden change in temperature. The rep on the phone thought it had to be like a 150 degree change to activate the insulator; so more or less, it only kicks in when there is a fire.

My thoughts about condensation during a fire is that you should be able to retrieve the safe relatively soon after a fire and get you coins out of the safe. The rep said coins could become tarnished if the insulator became active. Slabs shouldn't be affected at all if the plastic doesn't melt. He said that house fires are relatively quick and to the point. Where they often are over within ten minutes or so.


Mr Kelso: In regards to a basement installation, the gasket that makes the safe water proof should prevent excess moisture from building up inside. The rep said it would be a good idea to open the safe up at least once a month for about ten minutes to make sure there's no mildew forming.

The bolting of the safe to the floor probably voids any warranty or guarantees that came with the safe when you purchased it. I'm assuming here that you drilled through it; if you built some kind of carriage around it so that it would be difficult to walk away with that wouldn't interfere with their built-in protection. But if you drilled holes in it I would have to believe that it is no longer water-proof and the fire protection would also be diminished a bit.


It was interesting that the rep gave me their competitors' names and phone numbers too. There were only four: Adesco, Browning, Center Fire 800-377-7736 and Brinks 800-223-8566. Sentry's phone number is 800-828-1438.

I'm going to get one or two of these for now. Maybe someday I'll have to go to the big gun safes I was looking at before once these are filled up. Thanks again for everyone's input. From what I know, I think my slabs will be safe enough in one of these safes.

LucyBop

<< <i>Kitty: I know I have to get a safe now just so my FBL, MS64 & 65 collection is safe from you!! >>


Doesn't matter if they are in the safe Daddy-o, Lucy wouldn't steal them, she would resort to other means of getting them!

mr3holesinone

Uh Oh....Kitty knows my weakness!!!