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
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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.
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Before building, check what the police will want to certify it,
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
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 discountQuote:
Originally Posted by Philipo
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 thatQuote:
Originally Posted by Beavis
Wrong thread? lol
Built mine for about 70% of the price it would cost new
Taking the cost of your time into account and material I would love to know a cost break down?I buy a lot of steel at trade and by the time it was costed there was no way I could make one.That is comparing apples with apples, painted carpeted with locks and hinges.Quote:
Originally Posted by 308
Think there is one on TM at mo. I got mine hunting and fishing. But think pretty much every where would sell them. Double check on bite extreme website for suppliers in your area:thumbsup:
Buy it, unless your building the house..... :)
YuuupQuote:
Originally Posted by Sasquatch
Hey honey, we need to build a new house to fit my new gun.... Can see that going down like a lead balloonQuote:
Originally Posted by Beaker
Your asking it the wrong way.....:)Quote:
Originally Posted by 223nut
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by clickbang
It all depends on size you are building.Quote:
Originally Posted by canross
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.
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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.Quote:
Originally Posted by 308
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
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by 308
Yep I did the same equations. My buffalo river 10 gun cost me 1200.Quote:
Originally Posted by Markgibsonr25
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That may be true but mine include a large pistol safe and a large ammo storage area so it worked out to be cost effective
I can agree that the buffalo river is good price for money, however I'm not a fan of it in terms of the internal dimensions. It looks like I can make a significantly larger safe for at minimum ~$200 less, if I don't factor for my time. Seeing as I would probably just be watching TV in the time I was building it I feel like I'm not losing any "productive" time, hence why I'm not factoring for it.
Appreciate your cost breakdowns - having the door removable is a good idea.
How did you go about getting it certified?Quote:
Originally Posted by 308
For me it was relatively easy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Driverman
The inspector asked if it was inspected by an Engineer.
I told him it was designed, built and inspected by an Engineer, Me, and point towards the fancy paper hanging on the wall.
He had a look at it and said fair enough and gave me the big tick.
Cheers
Pete
It was a while back so it might have fallen under the "box of stout construction" category - can't remember
Either way the inspector took a look at it and passed it - the door secured with 2 Ross 5 lever locks opens to reveal the long guns and two lockable compartments stacked on top of each other inside satisfy the requirements of keeping the rest separate
I fully welded it rather than stitch or spot welding and as it wasn't lined the joins were easy to see
I think sometimes how these things get passed are helped by your demeanour - if you act like it's the most natural thing in the world and of course it is all fine then it can make it easier for them to agree
Maybe I just haven't run into an arsehole one yet, my local guy is ex AOS and extremely chilled
id love to build my own but $$$$ and lack of decent welding skills don't allow that sort a stuff to happen
@Paddy79Quote:
Originally Posted by Paddy79
Unless you get the steel at a really cheap price, I.e. Free, it's not really cost effective.
Learning to weld good enough to construct a gun safe is relatively easy, learning to weld expertly is another matter.
Cheers
Pete