Bolting down gun safe?

alde

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I m having a new safe delivered in the morning and plan to bolt it to the concrete floor using 4 drop in anchors. Are 3/8" big enough? I have already bought the 3/8" hardware and bit but can buy the 1/2" stuff if it would be that much better. I do have a hammer drill.;)

I am open to any suggestions.:D
 
As they say, bigger is generally better in many situations but.... I might think four .38" anchors will keep your safe upright and secure against all but the most determined criminals.

LTC
 
3/8" should be more than adequate. A couple of suggestions though. Concrete floors hold a lot of moisture and the safe is steel. We installed mine sitting on four hockey pucks and bolted to the wall.
As strange as it may seem, I just happen to have a stack of hockey pucks.:D It will be in the house on a top of a pergo floor so the moisture from the concrete should not be a problem.
 
Thanks for the replies and setting my mind at ease. I can't wait to get all my stuff transferred from the cheapo safe like thing to a real safe.:D
 
This probably doesn't need to be said but be sure to get it perfectly level before bolting it down, those doors are heavy. And don't over-torque the bolts. Snapping one off would suck.
 
Questions

Does the safe come pre-drilled for floor anchors? Some safes do and some don't. Generally, whoever is installing the safe should have the equipment he needs to anchor the safe to the floor, including drilling through the bottom of the safe.
 
Does the safe come pre-drilled for floor anchors? Some safes do and some don't. Generally, whoever is installing the safe should have the equipment he needs to anchor the safe to the floor, including drilling through the bottom of the safe.
Yes, it's pre-drilled for anchors. It's being delivered by a local moving company so bolting it down is up to me. I have done concrete anchors before so it should go smooth.

I will be sure to get it level too. Thanks for the reminder.
 
The only way 3/8" diameter masonry anchors will not be adequate is if you continuously second guess yourself for not using the 1/2" bolts.
 
Looking at the data, I conclude there are 3 major areas of vulnerability for a gun safe:

1. Pry bar - hammer attack.

2. Welding torch or plasma cutter attack.

3 Hydraulic lift - jaws of life tool type attack.

Of the 3, the 1st is the most common as it is the method employed by almost all burglar-thieves you are apt to encounter. To be successful, the the safe must be on its back or side with enough space between it and the walls for the crook to get ample leverage. The bolt down and placement of the safe are crucial in thwarting this attack. Helps if the safe is flush in a corner and flat on the ground to prevent the pry bar from achieving purchase.

Bolts will not prevent success from attacks 2 or 3 so they need only to be strong enough to thwart 1. Most recommend at least 3/8" x 3 1/2" bolts.

If you're worried about moisture from concrete, use a good chemical and/ or physical moisture seal on the safe bottom. I wouldn't recommend suspending the bottom above the surface because of the concerns addressed above.

IMO unless your safe has at least 1/4" solid steel sides and/or an advanced heat dispersing polymer construction your safe is not going to stand up to a type 2 attack and unless your safe is like a bank vault and set in cement, you'll likely be screwed in case of the 3rd type attack.

The best strategy might be to have a number of smaller type 1 resistant safes in multiple locations rather than 1 big expensive safe intended to resist all 3 attack types.
 
I am a installer of heavy duty park benches, picnic tables and such for outside rec. and playground centers and have gone from the drive-in anchors to using mostly 3/8"X 4" to 5" stainless steel carriages bolts and hammer drill 1/2" holes deep enough for the bolts to drop in 100%. After drilling the 1/2" holes and clearing the powder residue, I use a product called Rockite. Home Depot or Ace Hardware, Lowes have it. Mixes with water, like pancake batter and don't need much for 4-1/2" holes. Fill the holes till 1" from the top of concrete and asap drop the 3/8" bolts in place.
Rockite sets up fast as in just a couple minutes. Only negative is with the carriage bolt head, it can't be removed like a standard nut on the drive-in sleeve anchor. Instead if the item needs to be moved the I use a reciprocating saw and metal cutting blades to cut thru the bolts.
But you could also use all thread and standard nuts too. I use the carriage bolts for helping theft
prevention.

much easier install than banging away with a two pound hammer in tight areas.

Rockite is commonly called a anchoring cement.
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/...pT7iTvYyTe9LyPWsHoxF2UN1vboRfe0gNdQB&usqp=CAY
 
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Bolting it to framed walls allows a thief to break the studs and haul it all off.
 
Suggest largest size bolt fitting holes in safe. Also use grade 8 bolts
 
I just bolted mine down and used 3/8" bolts. I then thought about bolting it to the wall but I would have to move it now to get into the studs. Think about that before you bolt it down.

When safes are stolen they use hand trucks. In order to use a hand truck you need a space under the safe to get the hand truck under the safe. Mine sits on the floor and can't be moved enough to get a hand truck or any thing under it to pry it up. That was by design.

Then I bought lots of insurance.
 
Looking at the data, I conclude there are 3 major areas of vulnerability for a gun safe:

1. Pry bar - hammer attack.

2. Welding torch or plasma cutter attack.

3 Hydraulic lift - jaws of life tool type attack.

.

Hmmm I could open one pretty fast with a good grinder an .045 slitter disks. I have cut up lots of stainless steel up to 1" think with them. Fairly fast to. The 6" ones are sweet.

But, most metal trade guys are not thieves, but they can be hard to keep out of things. JOKE
 
I have bolted down 7 gun safes over the years. Four of them were for my own use. FWIW I’m a now retired construction worker (pipefitter) bolting and hanging things were a big part of my work.

I also drilled the back of my safes and put a couple into the back wall (concrete)
.

If done right 3/8 is more than adequate with the number you quoted I tend to be a bit paranoid as I live out a ways in the boonies, my safe is big & heavy to begin, with weights about 1400 dry.:D
 
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3/8"is OK and 1/2" would be even better, but the more important thing here is to do ALL FOUR corners. Some safe manufacturers only put two holes in the floor plate diagonally apart. if that is the case with yours I'd suggest you drilling another two holes.
 
Hmmm I could open one pretty fast with a good grinder an .045 slitter disks. I have cut up lots of stainless steel up to 1" think with them. Fairly fast to. The 6" ones are sweet.

But, most metal trade guys are not thieves, but they can be hard to keep out of things. JOKE

I know of safes here in town that were cut open with rotary grinders.
A square hole large enough to reach in and pull out handguns was cut in the side.
 
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