Recommendations and thoughts for purchasing a safe for my collection

[markf31]

As my collection is growing, and pretty quickly now since getting back into the hobby about 6 months ago, I’ve started to look into purchasing a safe to store the valuable portions of my collection in. I thought I would ask for any opinions and advise as I research different sizes, fire ratings, options, etc... I’m thinking of starting off with a smaller size that will accommodate my growing collection for the next couple years, and if needed upgrade in size after 2-3 years. I’m also only considering American made safes.

Thoughts, suggestions, recommendations…

[g_vezina_c55]

As my collection is growing, and pretty quickly now since getting back into the hobby about 6 months ago, I’ve started to look into purchasing a safe to store the valuable portions of my collection in. I thought I would ask for any opinions and advise as I research different sizes, fire ratings, options, etc... I’m thinking of starting off with a smaller size that will accommodate my growing collection for the next couple years, and if needed upgrade in size after 2-3 years. I’m also only considering American made safes.

Thoughts, suggestions, recommendations…

i owned many Safe during my life. Do not made the same mistake i made.
Buy at the beggining a big safe anti thieft, fire a real safe not a toy like you can buy at wal mart like the Sentry brand lol

i paid a couple thousand for my safe but it is extremely secure for thieft, fire, explosion etc...

[cubsfan-budman]

I agree with Nelson. I bought a "starter" safe, and now regret it. Wish I'd just bought what I wanted in the first place.

[ullmandds]

watch this...long video...it's worth it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltK-bDbADa8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[g_vezina_c55]

I agree with Nelson. I bought a "starter" safe, and now regret it. Wish I'd just bought what I wanted in the first place.

i Bought two safe before the one i have now.

A lot of time a safe look verry secure but look carefuly and do buisiness with a specialized shop...

wow a lot of beautifull safe in this video !

Anyway the best way to secure your collection is :
1- a best anti-thieft anti-fire safe
2- alarm system
3- specialized insurance

With these 3 thing you are secure :)

[rainier2004]

Just a couple things to keep in mind:
1) House fires typically burn at 2000+ degree when fully engulfed and possibly higher depending on material used
2) Water damage from the fire being extinguished is a real possibility - we were pretty happy if we only had 2" of water in the basement on a fully engulfed house fire
3) Think about the location you'd keep the safe as houses collapse based on location of the structural supports - ie corners work better than in rooms located centrally to the home
4) If any of the above 3 things happen, the bb cards are probably toast no matter what safe you purchase; guns can be dried out and reused unlike cards
5) Safe + insurance seems to the overall best route IMO - Good luck

[smtjoy]

Agree with whats been said, go big its just worth it. I just upgraded mine and Im so happy but it was a pain, wish I had just spent the money the first go round. My collection is also fully insured and this should not be overlooked because of the safe.

My first safe was a small sentry walmart version, after two years I upgraded to this sentry gun safe from Academy-

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n182/smtjoy/Misc%20Card%20stuff/Cardsafe2.jpghttp://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n182/smtjoy/Misc%20Card%20stuff/Cardsafe3.jpg

I just upgrade again a few months ago to this large safe and I could not be happier, 60 x 40 x 28 purchased from
http://sportsmansteelsafes.com/?gclid=CLf92o_X-K4CFUhjTAod0wfcyQ

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n182/smtjoy/Misc%20Card%20stuff/SafeLargeClosed.jpghttp://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n182/smtjoy/Misc%20Card%20stuff/SafeLargeOpenCU.jpg

[Tao_Moko]

Fire safes are one of the items I sell and of all of them I prefer Fire King. You can pm or email me at eric.sharp@formsandsupply.com if you want me to send literature for your decision. The big box store imports will create a nice pile of molten plastic on the inside in event of a fire. Just like everything else in life, the things that work well aren't cheap.

[T205Guy]

Besides having a nice solid firesafe I also store my best cards in a second small waterproof/fireproof safe inside the larger safe for added protection. It takes up precious space but is well worth the extra protection.

[Exhibitman]

Insure to value, safe deposit box for the irreplaceable cards, fuggedaboutit.

[Sierra79]

You generally get what you pay for. For something like cards, I would invest in a safe that offers fire protection and anti-theft protection. As a rule of thumb, if it is small/light enough to be carried away then it's really kind of worthless. Also, there are different levels of fire protection. I would definitely keep the super high end stuff in a safety deposit box, especially if you are ever out of town.

[Exhibitman]

I used to have two safes, both around 200#. When the 1994 Northridge earthquake hit it wrecked my condominium and I had to move out. I emptied the safes and left them in my unit with the other furniture. My place was at the very back of complex, a good half-block from the road, and up a couple of flights of stairs from the street with no elevator. Getting the safes into the place was a major PITA. While the property was condemned, some a-holes broke into all the units and they stole the empty safes. I can only imagine how nice it would have been to see their faces after going to all the work of getting them out of the place and cracking them open to find nothing inside.

The reason I don't like safes is that anyone can stick a gun in my face or that of my family and make us open it for them. I'd rather just have the irreplaceable cards at the bank and not worry about a robbery.