safes - Need advice

Windycity · December 4, 2004 4:38AM

Looking for expertise on what type of home safe to buy to house coins and other items. What should I look for? What should I avoid? Is a dehumidifier critical? Are there risks in storing coins with other items? Will gun oil cause problem with coins if kept in the same safe for many years?

itsnotjustme · December 4, 2004 4:43AM

I would look for security and fire protection. Many offer bolt down options for added security, plus heavy weights make removal not as easy. For fire proof safes a desicant is essential. And how often it must be re-charged will depend on the humidity and your area, how often you open it, etc.

dthigpen · December 4, 2004 4:46AM

For a home safe I would be more concerned with fire protection than security (Unless it's a thousand pound or greater safe). You should store all of your extremely valuable coins in a safe deposit box anyways. Dehumidification of the safe is a must in a fire-proof. Remember, a thief can just steal the safe, or, worse, he can make you or a loved one open it at gunpoint.

ElectricEye · December 4, 2004 4:47AM

try doing a forum search, there is a lot of correct and incorrect information on the subject

ms71 · December 4, 2004 4:57AM

From you question about gun oil, I assume you may be considering a gun safe. Any of the full size models (for long guns) should be more than adequate, security-wise (the real safes, not the "security-cabinet' types). I do keep many hundreds of pounds in the form of lead bars (for bullet casting) in mine to add to the weight. As for humidity, I run a dehumidifier from late April until October, in order to keep the entire basement at 50% or below. My safe is not fireproof. I have seen absolutely no ill effects from the co-storage of guns and coins in the safe, but I still keep any coins of high value in the bank safe-deposit box. Yes the dedicated career criminal with time to spend may well be able to defeat the safe or force someone who happens to be there to open it. Measures to address this possibility are an individual matter........

longtimecollector · December 4, 2004 5:28AM

I would recommend that you stay away from the Wal-mart / Office max type fire safes....... The walls are lined with a material that is impregnated with a fire retardant / dampening agent. I would also recommend to you that if 2 grown men can lift it / push it / drag it, then it's TOO SMALL !!!! Hiding a small safe is pretty useless, since once its found, it can be pried loose and carried away rather easily. Check estate auctions, locksmiths, "Going out of business" sales for a monster........ Dont even think about getting this fella in a basement........ and your garage will have too wide of a temperature variation for coin storage...... Your safe is gonna be inside your house....... If it's large enough, you may have to re-inforce the floor from below in the basement........ No such thing as "overkill" when it comes to a safe !!!

Maconlock · December 4, 2004 9:26AM

I service and sell safes, if you go down to lowes or homedepot they sell a good fire rated safe, many safes that are sold are rated between 30 to 90 mins.

Fire safes are not as strong as a standard safe, fire safe are done under UL specs and the outer plate is mild steel and not harden steel like a high security safe, coins should be stored in a good fire rated safe about the UL 60 as most house fires burn longer than 30 mins.

TD 30 (torch a drill) will give you 30 min torch,30mins drill and 30 fire,TD60 is 60 torch etc.

A common error with safes is installing the safe, you should pick a good spot out in the house, a room that is close to the center of the house, you should install the correct bolts (hit we also use glue as a back up).

now you need to call your insurance company that covers your coins, many make a mistake and when there coins are stolen the insurance will not pay out dew too a lack of security,many insurance companys will only let you store top value coin at the bank or a high security safe that TLD 160 with alarm.

Wall safes are good, you should install in a brick wall not timber, the brick will help incase of fire, floor safes are a good choice,to install a floor safe you should buy a chain and weld this on the back of the safe, you cut your hole and remove the sand and place bricks over the side, fill of the hole with cement ,the chain should be on the bottom so it has a large amount of cement as a pin point.

You need to work out if it worth you buying a safe or rent a box at your bank.

If you want a pro to sell you a safe and install it, You can go to ALOA or SAVTA and get a locksmith/safe tech who know what safe would be good for you, my safe i have here in a chubb safe, from Australia, it TDL 180 with glass relockers,ferm links and hubb locking, costed over 35k, it a over kill for coins but a good safe.

Cun safes are good but there protecting is weak,there smiple to get into, a cordless drill can open one within 15 to 30 mins, go for a dial lock not key.

If anyone whats anymore info about safe, feel free to ask and i will do my best to help you

Grant

Windycity · December 4, 2004 10:58AM

Good information... thanks all

ElectricEye · December 4, 2004 11:58AM

Ignore 80 percent of the info posted and try this link:

AMSEC USA

magikbilly · December 4, 2004 12:22PM

Hi,
don't store paper and other acidic/outgassing materials in the safe with coins. Use a sacrificial anode as well.

Billy

safes - Need advice

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