Convert soda machine to gun safe ?
 

Was surfing local CL and I always check for gun safes . I have one safe already but like many folks it is crammed to the max ! I see some Coke/Pepsi machines being sold for reasonable prices .

Many have already been stripped of the compressor and related plumbing . Any of you guys converted a soda machine to a gun safe ? Is it just a matter of re-doing the interior ? I assume because of insulation they would stay dry inside with some desiccant ?

That’s a cool idea. I was thinking of using an old filing cabinet... thieves would never look inside it or suspect anything if it was locked.

I think the primary reason that most people get a heavy duty gun safe is for fire protection, and virtually crime proof because of it's weight, and inpenetrable walls. This might not be the case with a lightweight soda machine that could be breached easily.

It would be more like a gun cabinet for storage.

Most gun safes are made with a thin metal exterior skin , then fireproof layer and then interior carpet . Some are made better than others and the cost reflects that . However they are not as in penetrable as many think .

And some are like a bank vault . I am thinking take a soda machine , strip the interior and cover with sheetrock and carpet . So you have metal exterior skin , factory insulation , factory interior metal skin then DIY sheetrock and then carpet . That should be a decent deterrent and fire rating . Bolt the machine to the floor and wall it's not going anywhere .

Cool idea...make it happen :)

.....with pics!

My first thoughts:

Wood is rated for 1hr per 1.5". I'd make an inside box of double 3/4 ply, or try to find some solid core wood doors on craigslist. Line it with carpet, and spray fire rated foam insulation (the red stuff) around the outside of the box.

Instead of sheetrock - use backerboard (Durock) - which has additional fire resistance. The additional weight will be a benefit and you can still just glue/screw carpet onto it.

Sawzall right across the top, then a pry bar to peak it back like a sardine can. Then it is look ma what I found in here.

Stands to reason you spend accordingly to the value of what you have to protect..

Better idea: Find a commercially made gun safe that would fit inside the soda machine. Empty the soda machine of contents, and retrofit the safe inside. You get the protection and the style.

Yep and the same can be said about many commercial gun safes for sale. I have a Field and Stream branded gun safe I purchased from a sporting goods store. It looks nice , door sounds impressive when you close it . I could probably cut my way into with an axe in a few minutes . In my opinion any gun safe under 2K is probably built too light .

What sort of dummy is going to cut the top off a soda machine with a sawzall to get all that delicious Dr Pepper?

You can even put a little electric motor in it so it sounds like it is running, and blinky out of soda lights so if the crook won't get suspicious if they get thirsty when they break in.

Love the idea btw.

I think the benefits would be to hide the safe. Theory would be nobody would give your soda machine a second look while rummaging for firearms. Right?

IDK about GA but here any soda machine worth taking home and looking at is gonna cost 4 figures and up. Saw a Vendo 18 fully restored yesterday for $6500. They told me a lot of Japanese come here and pick these things up. So they aren't shy on the selling prices.

https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/1164/...on=1&width=512

He is probably not thinking nifty vintage machine Milt. They would steal something as cool looking as that thing

What if the thief gets thirsty?

Keep your pop guns in there.

^ that’s pretty funny right there.
Blew soda all over my keyboard.

Oh we have jokes? Haha

Ya gotta bolt it to the floor though....some kid might tilt it forward tryin' to get that 5¢ soda for free...wearing gator colors.

Orange Crush!

Here is a link to some conversation.
https://beachpackagingdesign.com/boxvox/soda-machine-gun-safes

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1558724458.jpg

friends grandpa had a junk water heater laying in the back of his garage. after he died we found out it was full of guns.

deception is the best first line of defense.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1558727644.jpg

This. Smart grandpa. Any more info on how the water heater was configured etc?


This idea could also be used to store tools in the garage, a much more logical place to keep an old (but non collectable) pop machine.

I have thought that using a pop machine as the door to a secret room would be interesting. Something for the movies.

He had crudely welded a sort of hatch on the bottom. Secured with a padlock. Wasn’t anything special. But so inconspicuous that we almost threw it away when cleaning out the property.


I have my own first line of defense. Hint, it’s not a water heater.

The key being something worth looking at vs. some modern vending machine that takes bills. The newer ones feature a lot more frontal glass as well which is not a feature Richard would be looking for. Might as well buy a potato chip machine and stuff the guns in the back behind a secure false panel. And have chips too!

The machines on CL around here are in the 75.00 - 150.00 range , generally not working and are 70's/80's vintage . They generally have one lock bolt about 8 " long . Even if you smash the front plastic panel you run into the insulated steel door . Let's face it bank vaults are broken into so for the home I just want the bastards to have to work for it .

Run 120v to it with no neutral and no ground.

Here is an example of what I am looking at . For the price this has " great bones " to build a stealthy gun safe . If I come across one that is closer to me for about this price I'll buy it and put in the basement and add it to the to do list :D


https://nwga.craigslist.org/app/d/rising-fawn-coke-machine/6874199880.html

I like the idea of decentralized storage with fast boxes (which you would try to hide/disguise somewhat (and bolt down). My assumption is that I need to lock children out, divide up the guns so that if they find one safe, they may well not find the others and each takes additional time to find and open (and they may stop looking once they find one). It is also good in a home invasion to have guns in multiple places (upstairs, downstairs, bedroom, basement, etc.)...because you simply do not know where you will be. If you have other security measures (like deadbolts, alarm, etc.), a robber should not have a heck of a lot of time and probably did not bring safecracking tools. If they are that professional, case your home well enough, etc...they will probably get your stuff anyways. You can get one fastbox pretty cheap and just get additional ones as you need/can afford to expand storage or your gun collection. They can be moved easily...so you can change your mind about where to install and when you move, they are easy to take with you. They are also good for SUV storage if you take your guns to the range, etc. It would be easy to rig a way to bolt one down in a vehicle for a DIYer.

https://www.secureitgunstorage.com/product/hidden-gun-safe-model-47/

These guys have some nice "regular" storage systems as well.

I have also found some nice creative ideas on secretstorages resource. Pinterest offers nice ideas as well
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/73/74/a1/7...ecd75a2358.jpg

I store my spoons at Tabby's shack and my sporks at fint's....have no clue where they stash 'em though ;).

Mmmmm 6 oz Coke's ....I'm tilting yer "safe" when I break-in.....I'll bring treats for yer dawgs....deal :)?

Don't you mean a 9mm Coke? ;)