gun safe in the garage?

[I shoot from da hip]

I'm contemplating moving up from a small gun safe to something much bigger to hold my long guns and ammo as well as my pistols. Don't really have room in our bedroom and my basement is pretty full too. The more I read about them I see how many people have them put in the garage after delivery. Was wondering if anyone else is doing that and what sort of setups do they have to combat the moisture. I have a dehumidifier I can run in there if I have to. Do I just need to make sure they're well oiled and that's it? Any suggestions is appreciated. If you have a safe, post up a nice photo for all of us to drool over.

 

[Phauxtoe]

I know a guy who put his safe in the garage and then walled it in and put heating and AC for the damn thing!

 

[freddy]

I would avoid the garage if at all possible. Gun safes in a garage have several drawbacks. Temp and humidity - as you stated. But fluctuations in temp & humidity are a concern in garages. Note it is possible to make it too dry, 50% humidity is ideal. Also, unless you bolt it to the floor with several strong fasteners it will be remarkably easy to roll the entire unopened safe into a truck. Another issue is that thieves will open the safe with the tools that you provide for them in the garage. And garages themselves are usually very easy to gain entry.

 

[freddy]

This site is a good resource. Where to Put a Gun Safe, Find the Best Place - Gun Safe Reviews Guy

 

[freddy]

That site also effectively argues against putting ammo in a gun safe. Also, wax is better than oil for long term storage of guns. This is what the pros do (museums/NRA). Even still, they wax them every 3 months.

 

[GOYABEAN]

I'm contemplating moving up from a small gun safe to something much bigger to hold my long guns and ammo as well as my pistols. Don't really have room in our bedroom and my basement is pretty full too. The more I read about them I see how many people have them put in the garage after delivery. Was wondering if anyone else is doing that and what sort of setups do they have to combat the moisture. I have a dehumidifier I can run in there if I have to. Do I just need to make sure they're well oiled and that's it? Any suggestions is appreciated. If you have a safe, post up a nice photo for all of us to drool over.

sounds like you need a bigger house

 

[Eddie Gunks]

Climate control garage is best. Oil the crap out of the guns. Hide the safe so no one knows it's there. Maybe build a cabinet around it to make it look like it's just a regular cabinet. Lock that cabinet as well.

Yet to be careful with desiccant packs because they absorb moisture and then hold the moisture in the safe.

Another option would just be putting a regular 100 W incandescent lightbulb in the safe. That'll raise the temperature changes relative humidity point.

 

[I shoot from da hip]

This site is a good resource. Where to Put a Gun Safe, Find the Best Place - Gun Safe Reviews Guy

great article thx

 

[SteyrAug]

Easy to back in truck, throw a chain around it and awayyyyyy it goes !

 

[thegatman]

Where do you live? just kidding. Wall it in with a secret wall.

 

[Podmonkey]

I couldn't find a clip of it but this thread reminds me of bank robbery scene in For a Few Dollars More where they blow up the bank wall and lasso the safe entire into a wagon and bug the hell out.

 

[I shoot from da hip]

they do that in the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie..

 

[4excal]

To damn far if you actually needed to use one..even if your place is small. You run past the perp, into the garage then come back to stand your ground

 

[Podmonkey]

To damn far if you actually needed to use one..even if your place is small. You run past the perp, into the garage then come back to stand your ground

Well he'd keep one or a few handy in the house I'm sure.

 

[4excal]

Well he'd keep one or a few handy in the house I'm sure.

You live there too? Ahhhh. Asssssssumptions.
But yeah, I figured that too....but still my reasoning is my reasoning.
He could do an ITW type, like a Stack On in the wall. No space taken..

 

[Podmonkey]

You live there too? Ahhhh. Asssssssumptions.
But yeah, I figured that too....but still my reasoning is my reasoning.
He could do an ITW type, like a Stack On in the wall. No space taken..

Attack lizard?

 

[I shoot from da hip]

I ended up putting the big boy in the basement. Had to take the fire door off the hinges to get it into the basement. It was such a tight fit that you couldn't have put a piece of paper between the door jam and the safe. Then I maneuvered it to the back of the basement around multiple corners. It's not going anywhere as it's near 1000 lbs. I keep a couple pistols where I rest my head and relax, so I shouldn't have a problem.

 

[Eddie Gunks]

I ended up putting the big boy in the basement. Had to take the fire door off the hinges to get it into the basement. It was such a tight fit that you couldn't have put a piece of paper between the door jam and the safe. Then I maneuvered it to the back of the basement around multiple corners. It's not going anywhere as it's near 1000 lbs. I keep a couple pistols where I rest my head and relax, so I shouldn't have a problem.

Take precautions for humidity as basement safes rust guns.

 

[SteyrAug]

Claymores deter thieves.

 

[masterswimmer]

 

[I shoot from da hip]

Take precautions for humidity as basement safes rust guns.

sound advice, thanks! I invested in a decent dehumidifer and have it a couple feet away from the safe. It's on a low setting and it has port to attach a hose which I can feel to my trap or I can just empty the bucket when the light is blinking full. I'm keeping it at around 40-50% humidity for the most part. It's hard to get it any lower than that with all this rain we're having. Plus, I have a wine and beer cellar a few feet away so I don't want to go much dryer than that for fear of drying out the corks too much, which I already know has happened.

 

[GUNSICK]

Put a Goldenrod in your new safe.

GoldenRod GunSaver Dehumidifier Rod 110v

 

[I shoot from da hip]

Put a Goldenrod in your new safe.

GoldenRod GunSaver Dehumidifier Rod 110v

I actually had bought a GoldenRod but returned it. I didn't want to have to run wires inside of the safe plus an extension cord to get it over to the safe. I think I will be fine with my dehumidifier. My basement has central air.

 

[Deplorable Me]

I actually had bought a GoldenRod but returned it. I didn't want to have to run wires inside of the safe plus an extension cord to get it over to the safe. I think I will be fine with my dehumidifier. My basement has central air.

Keep safe off the slab (8" concrete blocks) and off a perimeter wall. I also insulated my basement walls and insulation has a good vapor barrier. This'll minimize any moisture pressure through the slab or concrete walls. We dehumidify the general basement and run the AC when it gets hot. Good storage environment for reloading gear and tools in general.

When my wife gets mad at me, I end up sleeping down there, a total win-win. I get to reload in peace and quiet.

 

[Deplorable Me]

I actually had bought a GoldenRod but returned it. I didn't want to have to run wires inside of the safe plus an extension cord to get it over to the safe. I think I will be fine with my dehumidifier. My basement has central air.

A GoldenRod is nothing more than a low temperature strip heater. It doesn't dehumidify like a refrigerant cycle machine would by wringing moisture out of the air. It raises the temperature of the small confined space by which the relative humidity goes down. I'd use one in a cool, unconditioned basement in a blink of an eye. In a garage in the summer no, the excess temperature might damage the wood on those firearms.

Suppose your firearms got wet and you needed to dry them, you could put them in your safe with a 60-75Watt bulb to do the same thing as a GoldenRod, the only drawback would be broken glass.

 

[I shoot from da hip]

Keep safe off the slab (8" concrete blocks) and off a perimeter wall. I also insulated my basement walls and insulation has a good vapor barrier. This'll minimize any moisture pressure through the slab or concrete walls. We dehumidify the general basement and run the AC when it gets hot. Good storage environment for reloading gear and tools in general.

When my wife gets mad at me, I end up sleeping down there, a total win-win. I get to reload in peace and quiet.

I have it on an interior wall and on top of a 2" holed mat, so it's not directly on the concrete. I have a low ceiling, so I couldn't put it on top of much more. It's a 5' high safe. Luckily, the basement doesn't flood and I think a few inches is sufficient off the slab.

 

[@thewheels]

I decided to rethink my options for a new safe after I watched this:
and this:
I have come to the conclusion that It's either a giant expensive model that's obvious to everyone or getting creative to hide guns/ammo. Or...both

 

[Marine Cpl]

One thing to consider is to never keep all your eggs in one basket. You have a problem with your pistol permit or some other circumstance, and they go right to your safe.

There are plenty of places in ones home to hide extra gear. I for one only keep what I can do without in the safe.

 

[I shoot from da hip]

Listen, let's face it. If someone wants anything bad enough, they will get it. A safe like these is really just a deterrent but it's not the end all be all. No, I don't want my guns and valuables stolen, but there's also a safety aspect, and a fire protection aspect. The bottom video is a joke. Those two guys pushed that safe over like it was nothing. A decent safe is 800 - 1000 lbs because of the gauge of steel alone. Not to mention all the guns and ammo that could be in there.