Thread: E cat safe, buy or get built?

Hey Team, in need of an E cat safe, just wondering if its cheaper to buy one off the shelf or get someone to whack one together? anyone looked into this before

Thanks in advance

Unless your steel is free and you have the time you cant build one cheaper even at trade prices for steel.

Yep. Unless you are building a large custom one just buy one. By the time you buy material, locks and either buy or fabricate hinges it is easier and cheaper to buy one. I'm an engineer and even building it myself worked out cheaper and easier to buy one.

Sent from my SM-A510Y using Tapatalk

Before building, check what the police will want to certify it,

Originally Posted by clickbang

Yep. Unless you are building a large custom one just buy one. By the time you buy material, locks and either buy or fabricate hinges it is easier and cheaper to buy one. I'm an engineer and even building it myself worked out cheaper and easier to buy one.

Sent from my SM-A510Y using Tapatalk

Clickbang, do you remember even a rough price breakdown on costs? I've been pricing it out and it seems to be considerably cheaper for the steel, locks and hinges and expendables, and am thinking I may have missed factoring for something.

Originally Posted by canross

Clickbang, do you remember even a rough price breakdown on costs? I've been pricing it out and it seems to be considerably cheaper for the steel, locks and hinges and expendables, and am thinking I may have missed factoring for something.

It all depends on size you are building.
I value my time so factored that into cost. You would also possibly need components folded so that's another cost to consider. Then there is paint and carpet etc.

Sent from my SM-A510Y using Tapatalk

I was fortunate to get one here 2nd hand, saved me a fortune, they are not cheap to buy, but damn more expensive to build and be approved.

Depending how big ya want'a go, but I just brought a 8 gun Extreme E-cat ( I don't have any E-cat rifles but needed a new unit & thought I'd future proof myself just in case ) & am quite impressed, It's solid, well made & good value for money @ $1000 aprox

Originally Posted by Philipo

Depending how big ya want'a go, but I just brought a 8 gun Extreme E-cat ( I don't have any E-cat rifles but needed a new unit & thought I'd future proof myself just in case ) & am quite impressed, It's solid, well made & good value for money @ $1000 aprox

I second that. I just got one of those last week paid 1k they normally $1099 but I brought a bunch of stuff an got a discount

2x sheets 6mm steel at @ $250 and 2 x Ross 5-lever locks (mebbe 200 each? can't remember)
Couple lengths 25x25 around the door interior frame and as anti-pry edges

Welded farmgate hinges on externally and a full length angle to the inside so that cutting the hinges won't help a thief take the door off if it is closed
Also means door can be taken off when transporting which helps - whole thing is roughly 200 kilos

If I did it again I'd get it folded into two L shapes and weld them together but ended up plasma cutting and welding the lot myself

Only recently ran out of ammo room and can fit about 15 scoped rifles in casually but could do more if I tried getting fancy

One trick is to glue Fyreline gib to the interior for fire resistance although I haven't bothered, I run a 17watt dehumidifier heat stick thingy on permanently and a lightrope through all 3 compartments which has been really good

Originally Posted by 308

2x sheets 6mm steel at @ $250 and 2 x Ross 5-lever locks (mebbe 200 each? can't remember)
Couple lengths 25x25 around the door interior frame and as anti-pry edges

Welded farmgate hinges on externally and a full length angle to the inside so that cutting the hinges won't help a thief take the door off if it is closed
Also means door can be taken off when transporting which helps - whole thing is roughly 200 kilos

If I did it again I'd get it folded into two L shapes and weld them together but ended up plasma cutting and welding the lot myself

Only recently ran out of ammo room and can fit about 15 scoped rifles in casually but could do more if I tried getting fancy

One trick is to glue Fyreline gib to the interior for fire resistance although I haven't bothered, I run a 17watt dehumidifier heat stick thingy on permanently and a lightrope through all 3 compartments which has been really good

I basically followed this same reciepe when I built my e cat safe with the exception I recycled an old welding bench that I was given.

12mm steel and an hour or so grinding off all the spatter and it was good to go, only $$$ outlay was welding rods, locks and hinges.

Cheers
Pete

Originally Posted by 308

2x sheets 6mm steel at @ $250 and 2 x Ross 5-lever locks (mebbe 200 each? can't remember)
Couple lengths 25x25 around the door interior frame and as anti-pry edges

Welded farmgate hinges on externally and a full length angle to the inside so that cutting the hinges won't help a thief take the door off if it is closed
Also means door can be taken off when transporting which helps - whole thing is roughly 200 kilos

If I did it again I'd get it folded into two L shapes and weld them together but ended up plasma cutting and welding the lot myself

Only recently ran out of ammo room and can fit about 15 scoped rifles in casually but could do more if I tried getting fancy

One trick is to glue Fyreline gib to the interior for fire resistance although I haven't bothered, I run a 17watt dehumidifier heat stick thingy on permanently and a lightrope through all 3 compartments which has been really good

See this is what I mean you are up over a grand in materials with no carpet,paint or a digital lock.You still have to go get the steel or have it in your normal deliveries to the workshop.Two days time to fab plus time to paint and fit fireproofing gib and carpet.Satisfaction of building it yourself yes cost effective and good use of time no.

Originally Posted by Markgibsonr25

See this is what I mean you are up over a grand in materials with no carpet,paint or a digital lock.You still have to go get the steel or have it in your normal deliveries to the workshop.Two days time to fab plus time to paint and fit fireproofing gib and carpet.Satisfaction of building it yourself yes cost effective and good use of time no.

Yep I did the same equations. My buffalo river 10 gun cost me 1200.


Sent from my SM-A510Y using Tapatalk

Kind of wish vortex would carbon copy a GenII razor but into a smaller, lighter package, for those rifles you wanna carry not shoot to the moon with.

Originally Posted by Beavis

Kind of wish vortex would carbon copy a GenII razor but into a smaller, lighter package, for those rifles you wanna carry not shoot to the moon with.

I'd buy that