Question about safes

Bikingnut

I purchased a Liberty safe at the coin show in Baltimore, and my wife and I are having a hard time deciding where we should put it. If you haven't seen Liberty safes, they are nice enough that they can become a piece of furniture so putting it in the house is not an issue. The issue for us is where.

We could also put it in the garage, but I'm concerned that because the garage isn't insulated, the safe and the contents will be subjected to extreme temperature differences. Here is the question, will coins be affected by below freezing temperatures in the winter and high 90's in the summer. If anyone here has experience, I'd appreciate advice.

Dennis

Heres the link to the liberty site.

Liberty safes

keets

i can't imagine having a Safe for security and then placing it in a location with high visiblity and/or easy access. you might just as well erect a sign in the front yard to let everyone know you have the darn thing if you plan on displaying it somewhere. from my way of thinking, the harder it is to get it to it's desired location in your home, the more you have to grunt and cuss as you and your three big buddies move it there, the safer your belongings inside will probably be.

in the living room or in some highly visible location-----every Tom, Dick and Harry that comes to the house will see it.

in the garage-----same thing with the added caveat that an enterprising thief could now load the thing into a vehicle with complete ease and secrecy, seeing as you already helped get it out of the house.

Pushkin

I assume you bought it for fire protection. This kind of safe is not for security. It might keep the local teenagers out but it is not a security safe. Burglary protection starts with Class B 1/2" hardened steel minimum, not 12 gauge steel sheet (a hammer will get you in in about 5 minutes). The Liberty gun safes are very attractive so I would keep it inside. I would never keep valuable coins, jewelry, etc. in one of these - better to hide them or get a real safe if it is for coins.

ldhair

The temperature is not as big a problem as the humidity is.
The humidity in your house will stay more stable.

777

Below freezing temps could cause the slabs to crack ??? Excessive heat could make them melt ??? Make it into a nice endtable right next to you; You can view them all the time being there

Bikingnut

same thing with the added caveat that an enterprising thief could now load the thing into a vehicle with complete ease and secrecy

Good point.

Burglary protection starts with Class B 1/2" hardened steel minimum, not 12 gauge steel sheet (a hammer will get you in in about 5 minutes).

I seriously doubt anyone could break into one of these in 5 minutes with a hammer. The whole point of security is to make it the thief move on to an easier target.

Humidity would be a problem in the garage.

Dennis

ksteelheader

Put the safe in an area where it is least likely to be in the heat for an extended period of time in case of fire. Such as your basement.

I've been there and done that. Our house burnt in August of 2002 and the safe was right in the middle of the house and in extreme heat the longest. These safes are rated for only a short period of time in extreme heat. Mine is now in my basement.

Pushkin

<< <i>I seriously doubt anyone could break into one of these in 5 minutes with a hammer. >>



A professional with a steel pick axe or professional tools will be in in under 3 minutes. Gun safes are NOT security safes.

Please take a look at this link and do you own research. Link to safes thread

Companies that try to sell gun safes as security safes are ripping people off. A good TL-15 (15 minutes for the pros to break into) will likely have 1" or more of hardened steel (hardened steel, not just plate, and anti-drilling material, and other protection). 12 gauge steel is no protection against even a claw hammer. Gun safes look good and they keep kids out. They are candy for a pro.

Don't take my word for it, just do some research.

cladking

Safes can attract thieves. Don't let anyone know you have it.

Temperature changes can cause condensation. It's best to keep them in a dry stable area.

carl

Bah, humbug. Be brave and put it on your front porch if you have one. Put a sign on it saying this is a safe full of money. Everyone will think your a nut and never bother it. Build a concrete slab in your back yard, put the safe on it and plant poison Ivy all around it with a sign saying poison Ivy. You could put in a revolving floor in your garage or house sort of like the Green Hornet had in that old TV series. Then you just press a button and your car flips over and there is the safe.
Actually put it in your house and simply cover it with a table cloth, put a plant on that with some other similar decorations. Possibly a lamp if you don't like plants.

ksteelheader

A wise person once told me that the best safe is a deep freezer. Kept in the basement and kept locked. Makes some sense really, because how many people are in your house to rob you of food???

Naturally not running though!!

DRUNNER

Local guy here sells used ATM safes . . .they are reconditioned and listed TL-15 and TL-30. I figure if they can handle $50,000 cash on a street corner they are OK for my house. I keep it in the garage, disguised. It came in on a flatbed 18-wheeler and was put in place with a crane. It isn't going anywhere.

Still . . . if they know you have it, a gun to your head (or your wife's) is all the combination they need . . . keep your best stuff in a safety deposit box.

Drunner

Bikingnut

keep your best stuff in a safety deposit box.

I agree with that.

Pushkin

<< <i>Local guy here sells used ATM safes . . .they are reconditioned and listed TL-15 and TL-30. >>



The used and reconditioned TL-15s and TL-30s are great buys. Another solution is a safe within a safe. A large Class B that is built for fire protection and a TL-15/30 inside (welded or bolted of course). Use a gun safe or Staples/Office Depot fire safe as a "honey pot" decoy and fill it with cheap stuff. Hide the real safe. A safe deposit box in an older bank building with its own safe deposit box vault is the best solution.

Gemini

Bury half of it along side the foundation of your house and pass it off as an outside cellar door entrance.

777

Save your money; purchase coins with it; Your best route would be to open a large safety deposit box at your local bank, Mine are only $40ea. per year for large ones, this is the best, and only safest way to protect your coins...never keep a substantial amount of coins in your home,

carl

That's true. Never keep a large amount of any money in your house. Another idea not mentioned is to check out a relative and put all your coins in their house. this would preferably me a Mother In Law. That way if a criminal forces you to tell where all your coins are, you just point to her. You may loose the coins but then look at the brighter side.
I do like the idea of a refrigerator or freezer for a safe. Sort of like my idea of a coffin. Not many crooks will look there.