Hey guys, do you think this safe is suitable for coins? Y'know, no weird chemicals or anything? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fire-resist...3&pid=100005&rk=4&rkt=6&sd=291540461105&rt=nc
You might find it too small in the future, however, it is relatively inexpensive security for your coins. And made in the USA. The Chinese ones have all kinds of problems you don't need! Be sure to get something to keep the safe dry. The medium sized silica gel packs work well and can be recharged (dried out) in the oven.
I don't trust any of these small safes. They are made to retain moisture in the walls of the safe as part of the fire protection. It's a battle to keep the humidity down to a level that's safe for coins. Read the manual to the safe before you buy it.
Unless you plan on a small collection save your money. I have 2 of these small safes that are not used - gave my father one. I would say look at a larger gun safe or something like that. Plus research some of the safes online first. With the larger gun safes your collection has room to grow.
I bought one of these from Walmart. It was easy to carry. Too easy, and I have a bad back. But I bought it for paperwork. My coin safe is heavy, and bolted to the floor. To make it more anti-walk-away proof you'll have to bolt it to the floor. There are articles out there about how easy these open, by throwing it down to a concrete floor. Also issues with the models that have the water stuff in the walls to make it more fireproof. As those walls help coins to suffer. But they are great to keep family/friends from spending coins just laying around. I've been looking at a new safe and I'm looking at a gun safe (not gun cabinet) with shelves and not gun areas.
My understanding is that any safe will not withstand a determined attacker with sufficient motivation, equipment and time. Any protective security is there for two reasons. 1. As a deterrent as in 'its easier go next door, they leave their good stuff in a drawer'. 2. I only need to stop them long enough for the police / cavalry to arrive. I would worry more about having a locked safe and a motivated person wanting access whilst I was there - because that door would be pointless as I would just open it. My good stuff is held elsewhere and it is all insured. We have a similar safe for the more day to day items that we wouldn't want to lose. It would take a little while to find it as it is not in an obvious place and is itself properly secured down. It could be forced out but it'd take a little time and it would be noisy.
I would personally recommend not getting one that is fire proof, because the materials that keep a safe fire proof is high in moisture, which can damage coins over time, and releases chemicals that are harsh to coins if exposed to high temperatures.
Thanks for all the replies guys! What do you think about this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/162001270116?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Unless it's clocking in at 600lbs+, I see it walking away. A Big hugemongous Liberty safe is my next purchase. Wife wants the guns secured.
Sentry and similar fire safes offer decent fire protection, but little else. They can be broken into easily with many common tools found at home. Just search YouTube for all sorts of videos showing how to bust into cheap safes. For physical security, you will need something with a decent amount of steel in the body and door. Also, many fire safes use fire resistant drywall within the walls and doors to get their fire rating. Their isn't necessarily anything wrong with this as it is technically how many buildings are fire proofed. Higher end safes will use a concrete-like material however. This provides added security and weight along with fire resistance. Decent safes aren't cheap. They can run close to $1,000 for smaller ones and into the many $1,000's for long-gun sizes. You will need to asses what it is you are protecting and the risk of it being taken in the event of a burglary or damaged in a fire. Cheap safes are cheap, no if's, and's, or but's. Very thin gauge metal bodies and doors can be wedged open in seconds. The simple act of buying a cheap safe probably increases the chance of theft simply because you have now drawn attention to the potential of valuable items being inside. A good safe is just as much an investment as the coins you are putting in it. If you truly feel the need for one, spend the time and money to get a proper one and find an inconspicuous place for it in your home where it can be secured to the floor.
If possible wait until the day after thanksgiving day sales. I'm pretty sure Dicks Sporting Goods had like a 30 gun safe for like $300.
Like others I went through a couple of those small safes. I won't rehash what others have said. Subsequently I did a ton of research looking for something that was heavy and, maybe as important, would take enough time to break in to that the alarm would go off and the police would arrive. Picked up this stack on elite safe at Costco last Christmas for around 300. It's solid, pretty heavy and fire resistant. Bought up concrete bolts at my hardware store and this thing is locked in. But nothing is totally secure and this safe only weighs in at about 300lbs. Heavy but could be removed by a thief with a friend and a hand truck. But we live in a corner and are close with the neighbors so a suspicious person would be reported. So remember the safe is only one aspect of your security. An alarm, cameras, laser trip wire are all had at decent prices. A dog is probably a great investment but until my kids can prove with 100 percent certainty they'll be walking and taking care of him that is not going to happen. https://www.stack-on.com/categories/fire-resistant-safes/products/35
