Is a safe OK in the garage?

[dawgfan76]

I've got one inside, but I'm wanting another for my garage closet. Do you think the Southern humidity would be a problem during the Summer? Pretty sure the safe seals well, but just curious. What about this one?

Stack-On 16-Gun Security Safe with Electronic Lock - Gander Mountain

 

[Stick895]

My only thought is that in a garage there are any number of pounding or prying type implements immediately at hand that may keep a thief interested in that safe far longer than an inside safe. Even if he had to keep running back and forth to that same garage to try another implement, it would probably make him lose interest faster

 

[Trash Can Man]

I don't think the humidity would be too much of a problem if the firearms [and safe] were well oiled. WD-40 on the safe would provide great protection.

A better bet would be a monitored Alarm System. Thieve's would only spend minutes in your home with the alarm sounding and the Police on thier way.

 

[shooter37]

I have two gun safes in the garage here in N. Texas. I use a "goldenrod" dehumidifier in both and have NEVER had a rusting problem. I do not use WD40 ever, if you want to use a protectant try some of the others on the market.. This is all based on 12 years experience. Good luck
Al

 

[Martimus]

If you plan to put a safe in your garage, try to find a spot in the garage where you can bolt the safe to the concrete, and to the wall studs behind it. In a garage I'm thinking that it would be much easier for a burglar to wrap a chain around the safe, hook the ends of the chain to the hitch of a truck, and pull the safe out where it could be more easily loaded into their vehicle.

Another thing to consider might be to camoflauge the safe. I read a story a while ago about someone who built wood cabinet around their safe to make it look like regular garage storage.. and another story about someome building a cardboard facade that looked like a stack of cardboard boxes.

 

[safearm]

I think a safe in the garage is as safe (no pun intended) as anywhere else in the house. There was a published account of an individual who had a safe in an interior room of his home; thieves stole a front end loader from a nearby construction site, smashed through the outer wall of his house, wrapped a chain around the safe and carried it off. The front end loader and empty safe were found a short distance away.
My safe is in my tool room at the back of the garage, next to an electrical plug so I can have a dehumidifer in the safe. I've never had a problem with rust, and it gets very humid is south central Mississippi. I also use Birchwood Casey Barricade on my guns when they're in storage.

 

[jaykellogg]

My safe is in my basement. It is bolted to concrete, but there is a garage door in the basement. So far, I have not had any problem with rust, but it is less than convenient to go down there to put guns away or get them out. I use a dehumidifier in my basement and I have one of those damp chasers in the safe.

I would actually like to have a small safe upstairs to temporarily store guns.

 

[Tunachaser]

I would not do it under any circumstances, but that is just me.

 

[Retired LTC USAR]

I have my safe in the garage. I placed it on some oak boards (1/2 X 6) to keep it of the floor. It is not bolted to the floor, nor is it bolted to studs. I have a goldenrod in it. I have never had any problems with rust.

 

[GKC]

If you don't have the option to put it indoors, then your garage closet can work...but, be sure to bolt it down to the floor and to wall studs, and use a dehumidifier. Unless your garage closet is ducted from the house heating and cooling system (doubtful) then there will be more temperature swings than occur inside your home.

As for the safe itself...there are much better safes on the market, but they also cost a lot more. Generally speaking, you do get what you pay for...this model may be easily pried open or cut into with hand/power tools (which you may be providing in your garage.) A home alarm system doesn't usually include the garage, so a thief may have more time than he would inside the home...but on the other hand, a thief may not spend much time looking in the garage anyway, unless they are specifically looking for garage items (tools, etc.)

Another thing you could consider is, once you install the safe in your garage closet, consider putting a steel or vault type door on the closet...something with multiple deadbolt locking points, and either internal hinges or hinges that are drill and knockout resistant. This will give you two layers of protection for your guns.

 

[jaykellogg]

A safe really only keeps the honest people honest. A professional thief will get your stuff out of there. It may be of some help with druggies looking for a quick easy score.

 

[Moonman]

NO!!!!!!

Unless your're using it for PERP BAIT.

 

[Plinker1962]

I've got my gun safe in the garage secured to the concrete floor and wall studs. Like someone else said, safes will keep the honest out. Anyone who really wants to steal it or break into it will do so. Humidity is not a problem where I live but I did put a humidifier inside as cheap insurance.

 

[JJEH]

Is a safe OK in the garage?

I don't see why not, just use a good dehumidifier.

Additional you can use ZCORR bags.

https://www.zcorrproducts.com/products/Vacuum_Pistol_Bag

 

[gdnagle]

At only 182 lbs empty thieves would be able to be manhandle even load with guns. Just make sure to bolt it down well. I've head (don't know if urban legend or true) about thieves using a tow truck to snatch them up, but any safe would fall to their attempt. Now to answer your question you could put in a dessicent or dry rod, etc. and add a moisture indicator to track humidity.

 

[keith44spl]

I got a safe in one of the many shop building here on the compound...No rust problems over the last twenty years.

If some of the hands are not going to be around, I lock the cutting torch head up in the safe.


Su Amigo,
Dave

P.S.

I'd be more concerned about theft.

Cause there's always the thief that want to take the whole thing....

I know of one incident where the perpetrators stole a roll-back wrecker, used the winch to drag the safe outta the building
(through an outside wall) and up onto the bed of the roll-back, in, out and gone in under five.

 

[Duke426]

I'm with Tunachaser on this; I wouldn't do it under any circumstances.

Regardless of whether or not you use a Golden-rod and keep the guns well oiled, I believe heat and humidity are the enemy - ALWAYS.

Spending Memorial Day through Labor Day at Fort Benning convinced me of that.

 

[Kinman]

Depends on what you want to keep in there, I know some folks that have had a full-sized old school safe out in the garage for over 50 years and never suffered any damage to any of the stuff they keep in there. Their garage is unheated, he goes out on occaison and heats it up temporarily but never gets it warm enough to cause any moisture problems inside the safe. I have noticed that in my unheated shop when I heat it up for a couple days to work on something and leave any hand tools exposed to open air they will develop rust spots, one day I found that I had left the socket drawer open and they were all covered with condensation.

 

[Packard]

You don't need a dehumidifier, a 7-1/2 watt light bulb will generate enough heat to keep the humidity at bay.

 

[Camster]

I would not do it under any circumstances, but that is just me.

That's me too,though a GoldenRod might aleviate my concern. I'm in the northeast,metal items left in a garage,subject to daily temperature changes,will get condensation and rust.