Thread: So You Want to Build Your Own E-Cat Safe..

TL;DR Buy one

For those of a more bloody-minded nature, press on

Prices are very rough and from memory
2x sheets 6mm steel = $550?
Extra steel about $70
2x Ross 5-lever locks mebbe $200
Welding shield gas and consumables around $180


If you haven't got a cutter get the factory to cut it but check, check and check again.

nice work!
greg

How are you planning to do the hinges?

awesome dude

Hinges are farm gate type - easy to shim with washers for height - it's not obvious in the second pic of the door but there are angled steel sections that hook in behind the frame when closed so if the hinges are cut the door can't be forced on that side

And a nice big pair of speakers so you can still listen to Talkback over the crackle of the MIG...

Nice work mate!!

Good stuff , I would have folded the main body save a heap of welding. Could also have folded a return around the door opening to make it stronger.

NO

Chris F - whut?

VC - yes a folder would be great but I don't have one - I have seen some safes made out of steel column section but they seem to only go up to about 400mm each way roughly?
I didn't think of using a folder service if the steel place had one but I should have - as it is I've gone and recessed the keys so deep I'm going to have to weld a 6inch nail on to make them longer.. rough but fuck it, so long as it works.



Will finish the lock housing this weekend and fit a heater bar thingy, I'm lining the interior with felt but only after it's in place.

One point for anyone else considering such a build was the possibility of lining the compartment and door interior with fireline gib or similar to make it survive a half-to-one-hour fire - not my requirement at the moment but it's an option

No I donot want to build my own E cat safe , safe's are too small , I need a walk in vault .


Later Chris

Me and a guy at work are building ourselves one each, CAD designed so one sheet of 6mm per safe (though this does limit you to a 1220mm high safe), and I can get 5 lever locks that meet the required standard through my wifes work for ~$35 each. We have a 100 ton CNC press brake but it'll be more accurate to cut and weld it, the sides are even jigsawed together.

I like the idea of the fireline gib, I might borrow it. Since mine is gonna be installed lying down under my work bench I will line with felt or similar with added egg-container foam like you get in a gun case. Assuming I can find some of course lol.

That foam might be available through music retailers for its acoustic properties? Someone in China will make it cheap


One trick I can think of with the firegib is that, in normal building, it has to be screwed to the wall as glueing it won't work cos fire melts glue, gib drops off, fail.

The only thing I thought might work would be to glue in the four sides then the end piece as a "spacer" pushing them all back against the outside.

Good luck with your build

nice work , I was just listing all the bits and bobs I was to need to do my own safe when I saw your costings ...... yikes .... I will proberly go the trade me way , some of the e-cat safes (using bisalloy800) are only 4.5 mm and are certed and accepted , ... hope more of them come on TM soon , when I was looking at doin my safe I was going to use gearbox gears from a motorbike to make a mechanism to use 4 bars to lock the door , and then use a 5 lever mortice lock to lock the mechanism ....
at least with your one you have made it how you need it , ... I was thinking of welding in an ammo box as well if I bought a safe .
cheers