Wall Safe

Install a Wall Safe for Security

A wall safe can be the perfect way for you to discreetly hide your valuables within the walls of your home. These safes fit between the studs in the wall and secure to them with special hardware. However, you need to take care to ensure you choose the right one.

Locking Mechanism

Wall safes come with a variety of locking mechanisms installed. The three main types of locks are the mechanical lock, mechanical combination lock and electronic keypad. If you choose an electronic keypad or combination lock, make sure you choose one with a four-digit code. It can also be useful to choose one with a dual lock so you need a key and a combination for access.

An electronic keypad lock will also provide you with additional benefits. This type of lock can often be programmed with multiple codes for more than one user. Some of them can also print out a list of which user accessed the safe and when for added security. The keypads may also be lighted, making it ideal for installations in a dark area.

Size
Even though these wall safes are designed to fit between the studs, they do come in a variety of sizes, allowing you to store various items. It is often best to choose a safe that is larger than what you need so you don’t need to worry about buying another in the future. Internal shelving can also be useful, especially when it is adjustable to best meet your needs.

Construction
The construction of the safe is another important consideration, especially in terms of security. Choose a wall safe with hinges located inside the safe to avoid tampering. The thickness of the safe is another important consideration. For the greatest security, choose a safe with walls that are at least 1/8 inch thick and a door that is at least ¼ inch thick.

Sentry Safe

Sentry Safes Information

Sentry Safe is actually the brand name of a world leader in the manufacture of safes. In business for more than 75 years, this family-owned manufacturer has been producing safes for three generations. Sentry Safe offers a broad range of safe types, sizes and protection levels.

Sentry Safe offers safes designed for home and business use. They have a full line of gun safes, as well as a large selection of models for data and document security. In the area of home safes, they offer a complete range of sizes and types, from small chest-types for storing valuable papers, to larger cabinet-style safes that can be easily mounted in a wall. They also offer security files, which open from the top like a chest safe, but are sized on the inside for standard file folders. This makes an excellent safe for storing valuable papers and documents.

In the area of business safes, Sentry Safe offers chest-type, security files, combination safes, electronic safes with either an electronic keypad locking mechanism, or an advanced biometric fingerprint safe that uses a fingerprint scanner as a locking mechanism. In addition, they offer office safes, commercial safes, executive safes, and keysafes (specially designed interior for storage of keys). Sentry Safe also offers file safes in 1 and 2-drawer stackable models.

Sentry Safe offers a complete range of gun safes as well. They offer models with storage for 5, 10, 14, 22 and 24 guns. Some models carry a 1/2-hour fire rating, as well as an optional electronic locking mechanism.

Sentry Safe really shines in the area of data and document security, with special safes designed for the extra level of protection required by electronic media. They offer chest, CD/DVD file, and fire and water resistant data safes. They even offer the world’s first fire and waterproof USB external hard drive for protection of your active data.

The Sentry Safe line of safes includes safes that are fire, burglary and media rated. The fire rating of a safe is usually specified as the number of hours that a safe can withstand a 1700 degrees F fire without the internal temperature rising above 350 degrees F (for documents) or 125 degrees F (for electronic media, such as floppy disks or CDs).

The burglary rating usually refers to the amount of time that a safe can resist attack from a person knowledgeable about the workings of safes, with various tools at their disposal. In other words, it is a good indication of how long it would take a determined, professional thief to break into the safe. Media safes, as mentioned previously, use a lower temperature for fire testing. In addition media safes are designed to protect the media from humidity, dust, magnetic fields and electrostatic discharge. A media rated safe adds a humidity test to the fire test, with the requirement that the humidity does not rise above 80% during the fire test. The conductive steel case and interior shields the media from magnetic fields and electrostatic discharge.

As you can see, Sentry Safe offers a complete selection of safes. 75 years experience has made them a world leader and innovator in the manufacture of safes.

Safe Review

Types of Safe for Review
There are a number of factors you should consider when choosing a safe for your home or business. Safes come in a variety of different designs, some with very specialized purposes. A chest safe is a small, chest-shaped safe that opens from the top. These are ideal for securing your valuable documents from fire, but since they can be easily carried off, do not provide much security from burglars. A cabinet-style safe provides more security, as it is much heavier than a chest-safe. Most cabinet-style safes have a freestanding, upright housing. Some models are available that are designed to be mounted in a wall for added security.

A depository safe is one that is designed to accept deposits of small items without having to open the safe. Deposits are usually made through a slot or hopper built into the safe. Depository safes are ideal for businesses that handle large amounts of cash, jewelry, or other small valuables. If you need to secure fragile computer backup media, special fireproof media safes are available. These special media safes provide more fire protection than a document safe, since computer backup media is more easily damaged. A floor safe is one that is designed to be permanently mounted in the concrete or wood floor of a building for added security. It would be difficult for a burglar to remove a floor safe to another location in order to gain access to it. Finally, if you need to secure pistols, rifles or shotguns, there are special gun safes designed for this purpose.

Another factor to consider when choosing a safe is the type of locking mechanism used on the safe. Models are available with mechanical key locks, combination dials, electronic keypads, and biometric scanners. The mechanical key lock type is the least expensive, but requires you to keep track of a key. The mechanical combination dial is more convenient. Look for a model with a 4-number combination for added security. Even more convenient is the electronic keypad locking mechanism. To open this type of safe, the user simply enters the combination on a PIN pad similar to the ones used on ATM machines. Multiple users with multiple PIN numbers can be enrolled to use the safe. For the best of both security and convenience, consider a biometric locking mechanism. This type of safe uses a fingerprint scanner to grant access. The user simply places their index finger on the scanner for about a second, and the safe opens.

Burglary and fire ratings are two additional factors that should be considered when choosing a safe. The burglary rating gives an indication of how difficult it would be to break into the safe. A typical burglary rating is a TL-15 rating. This means that the safe has been tested to resist break-ins by an experienced person (a professional locksmith), using common power and hand locksmithing tools, for a period of 15 minutes. Few burglars would risk being caught by spending this amount of time on your premises.

The fire rating of a safe gives an indication of how well the safe will protect the contents from damage in the event of a home or business fire. An example fire rating would be a 1 hour 350 degree F rating. This rating means that the safe has been exposed to a 1700 degree F fire for a period of 1 hour, and that the temperature inside the safe did not rise above 350 degrees F. This is a low enough temperature to keep from damaging most documents, jewelry or other valuables. Media safes, designed to protect delicate computer backup media, use 125 degrees F as the internal test temperature, as computer media can be damaged at a much lower temperature than documents.

As you can see, there are a number of factors to consider when choosing a safe. Be sure to decide which factors are important to you, in order to choose the safe that is right for your needs.

Office Safe

Choosing the Right Office Safe
If you run a business from your home or an office, you should invest in an office safe to keep your belongings from being tampered with. While it has similarities to the home safe, the office version is more burglar and fire-proof, which is necessary for important business documents. You should start by determining the size you require, ensuring it is large enough to hold any of your important belongings. Once the size is determined, you should consider its level of fire safety, burglar safety and locking method.

Fire Safety
The higher the fireproof rating, the more fireproof your safe will be. The ratings are labeled in terms of hours and degrees. The hour rating determines how many hours your documents would be safe in a fire and the degree rating is the temperature at which the contents will be held during that period of time.

Burglar Safety
The right office safe should have an RSC rating or determination of the level of difficulty to break into it. The ratings are determined by professional locksmiths who use various techniques to attempt to break into it. Not all safes are rated for burglar safety. If you have difficulty locating one that is rated, fully evaluate its structure and the location of the bolts to determine for yourself how burglar-proof it is.

Choice of Locks
There are a variety of different locks available on office safes. The typical lock type is mechanical, but there are also electronic locks available. The most secure safes offer a combination of both mechanical and electronic to ensure the safety of its contents.

Media Safes

Media Safes Information
A media safe is one that is designed for the safe, secure storage of various forms of computer and electronic media. Electronic media is more fragile and easily damaged than paper media, so there are special requirements for a media safe.

The fire rating for a media safe is different from that of a standard fireproof safe. The rating is still given in number of hours, but the maximum temperature that can be reached inside the safe during the test is 125 degrees F, rather the 350 degrees F allowed with standard safes. So a good media safe would be rated 1 hour at 125 degrees F, meaning that the safe could be exposed to a 1700 degree F fire for 1 hour, and the temperature inside would not rise to more than 125 degrees F. In addition, there is a humidity requirement for a media safe – the maximum humidity inside the safe cannot reach more than 80% humidity during the specified time of the test.

A media safe also needs to provide protection from unauthorized access – some media safe also carry a burglary rating. The burglary rating indicates how resistant the safe is to tampering with common safecracking tools. In addition, computer media requires protection from dust, magnetic fields, and electrostatic discharge.

As you can see, the design requirements for a media safe are much more difficult to meet than those of a standard safe. The walls and doors have layers of heat absorbing material. They also have layers of fireproof insulating foam that expands when heated to protect the contents from water damage. In addition, the conductive steel casing provides protection from magnetic fields and electrostatic discharges.

A media safe offers one other feature to simplify media storage. You can specify the type and arrangement of the interior for the storage of the various types of computer media. For example, you can choose drawers designed to store 3.5″ floppies, 4 or 8 mm dat tapes, or CD ROMs.

So there are a number of factors to consider when choosing a media safe. You should first decide on the type(s) of media and amount of storage that you will need. This will determine the overall size and interior configuration of the safe. Next, you should decide on the amount of protection you need – the fire and/or burglary rating of the safe. In addition, you will need to determine which type of lock best suits your needs – a key, mechanical combination or electronic keypad lock.

Choosing the right media safe is an important decision. Make sure that you consider all necessary factors when deciding which media safe is right for you.

Lg / Sm Depository Safes

Large & Small Depository Safes Review
Depository safes allow deposits to be made by anyone, but the deposits can only be removed by persons with authorized access to the safe. They are also sometimes referred to as drop safes. Depository safes are ideal for businesses that handle large amounts of cash, jewelry or other small valuables. They are also useful for taking payments or non-refundable deposits in the form of checks, money orders, or cash. Because of the opening used to make the deposits, depository safes are not as secure as other safes. They are best used for temporary storage – deposits should be removed periodically and placed in more secure storage. You might, for example, deposit cash into the depository safe throughout the day, but move the cash to a secure burglary-proof safe at night. Another consideration is that, because of the opening to the outside, depository safes are not fireproof.

There are 3 basic types of depository safes. They differ in the way they accept deposits. The first type has a simple slot on the front or top of the safe where deposits are inserted. This type uses a baffle on the inside to prevent “fishing” the contents of the safe back out through the opening. The second type uses a hinged hopper that opens from the front, much like the corner mailbox or the night deposit at the bank. This type also uses a baffle to prevent “fishing”. The third type of depository safe, which is the most secure, uses a rotary hopper. This rotary hopper, mounted on top of the safe, must be rotated 180 degrees for the contents to be deposited in the safe.

There are a few other features to consider when choosing depository safes. One is a dual-custody key system. This type of system requires the use of two keys to remove the deposits, a “supervisor” key and a “guard” key, in much the same way as a safe-deposit box at the bank. Another consideration is the added convenience of an electronic keypad locking mechanism. The contents of the safe can be accessed by entering the combination on an electronic PIN pad, much like using an ATM or debit card machine. These electronic locks are also available with an audit feature, which stores information about when the safe was accessed and by whom. This information can be viewed on a status panel or, on some models can be uploaded to a personal computer.

Depository safes are also available with a double-door arrangement. This type is divided into two sections, with the top half for deposits, and the bottom half providing more secure storage because there is no opening for deposits. Depository safes are available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and interior arrangements. Some are available with convenient storage for cash drawers – these are ideal in a retail setting.

As you can see, depository safes provide convenient, temporary storage for cash, jewelry, or other valuables. When choosing a depository safe, be sure to consider the type of depository opening, the type of locking mechanism, and whether or not you could benefit from a dual-door model. Keeping all of these factors in mind will help in choosing the depository safe that is right for you.

Jewelery Safes

Jewelery Safes Should Be TL15 or TL 30
Jewelery safes are safes that are designed to protect precious jewellery and other valuables from fire and theft. Jewelery safes are generally more burglary-resistant than standard home or office safes. They carry a burglary rating, which gives an indication of how difficult it would be for a professional burglar to break into the safes.

I often get customers that want to keep “a little jewelry” in their safe. My wife, Jessica, is not much of a jewelry person though I am sure with a little practice she could become one VERY quickly! However, my mother is a jewelry collector and loves to gather new pieces for her collection. What my wife has in her entire collection, my mother will have in one ring. Obviously both need a different type of jewelry safe for each collection. But before I would sell a TL 15 to my mother I would want her to talk to her insurance company about a discount on any “contents rider policy” she may have on her collection.

An example burglary rating would be a TL-15 rating. A TL-15 rating means that the safe has been tested to withstand break-in attempts by a professional person (such as a locksmith), using common hand and power tools, for at least 15 minutes. While this might not seem like a very long amount of time, it is an eternity to most burglars – they rely on a quick in-and-out in order not to be caught, and as such do not have 15 or even 5 minutes to spend breaking into a safe. A TL-15 rating is a strong deterrent to burglars. Models are available with an even stronger TL-30 rating. As a professional side note: I have never met a locksmith that could break into a TL rated safe in under 1 ½ hours. My personal best is 5 hours. I personally believe that you could leave tools and instructions on the safe itself and the average thief still couldn’t get into it over the weekend.

Most jewelery safes also carry a fireproof rating. An example fireproof rating would be a 1-1/2 hour 350 degree F rating. This rating means that the safe could be exposed to a 1700 degree F fire for a period of 1-1/2 hours, and that the temperature inside the safe would not rise above 350 degrees F. This is a low enough temperature to protect jewelery and other valuables from permanent damage.

Another factor to consider when choosing jewellery safes is the type of locking mechanism used. Models are available with traditional combination dial locks and with electronic keypad locks. When choosing the traditional combination dial type look for a more secure 4-number combination. The electronic keypad lock is much more convenient than the mechanical dial. The user simply enters the combination to the safe on a PIN pad, similar to the ones used on many ATM machines. Look for a LaGard or a Sargent & Greenleaf keypad when choosing this type of locking mechanism. Also, some models allow for multiple users to be enrolled with multiple PIN numbers or combinations.

Also look for jewelery safes that have 1 or more re-locking mechanisms. These mechanisms help protect the contents by re-locking the bolt on the safe whenever someone tampers with the locking mechanism. Another factor to consider when choosing between jewellery safes is the overall amount of storage provided – make sure that you choose a model that provides for growth in your storage needs. Consider choosing a model that has interior shelving for added convenience.

As you can see, there are a number of factors to consider when choosing among available models of jewelery safes. Be sure to consider the burglary rating, the fire rating, the type of locking mechanism used, and the overall amount of storage provided by the safe. This will help to ensure that you choose the jewelery safe that is right for your needs.

Legacy Gun Safes

Winchester Legacy Gun Safes
Legacymakes an excellent line of gun safes. They use a 4-way active bolt like the ones found on jeweler’s safes. A 4-way active bolt means that the bolts on the top, hinge side, opening side and bottom are all active – they move into position when the safe locks. Many gun safes don’t even have a locking bolt on the hinge side. Legacy gun safes also use 1-1/2 inch locking bolts as compared to 1 inch bolts on other gun safes.

Legacy gun safes carry a 1 hour 1200 degree F fireproof rating. This means that the safe has been tested to withstand a 1200 degree F fire for a period of 1 hour, and that the temperature inside the safe did not rise above 350 degrees F. This is a low enough temperature to keep from permanently damaging your guns. In addition, during the test the humidity inside the safe is measured to make sure that it does not rise above 80 degrees F. This is to protect your guns from damage due to the water and chemicals used to put out a fire.

Other features of Legacy gun safes include a 3-layer insulated door and body, as many as 18-1-1/2 inch locking bolts and a Palusol door seal. Legacy safes are built using 12-gauge steel, use a UL-rated electronic lock, and have a 5-spoke vault handle. They use a convertible interior, which lets you choose the configuration that best meets your storage needs.

Legacy currently makes 3 versatile models. First, the Legacy L14 measures 55″x23″x20″ and has a capacity of up to 14 guns. It is available in two colors, black or granite finish. It also features a powder paint finish to minimize fingerprints. The L14 features 10 locking bolts.

Next is the Legacy L22, which measures 59″x30″x22″ and has a capacity of up to 24 guns. It is also available in black or granite, and has a powder paint finish. The L22 features 10 locking bolts.

The top-of-the-line Legacy model, the L45, measures 72″x40″x27″ and has a capacity of up to 51 guns. Colors available are black and granite, with a powder paint finish. The L45 uses 18 locking bolts.

You should buy your Legacy gun safe from a reputable dealer who has experience in the business of gun safes. Ask them to help you choose the model that is right for you. For more information about Legacy gun safes, check them out here Gun Safes

Jewelry Safes

Choose the Proper Jewelry Safes
When you have expensive or sentimental jewelry you want to keep safe in your home, jewelry safes are the perfect way to do it. It is important to make sure you choose a jewelry safe specifically because these will offer you greater burglary protection than the standard safe, while still providing fire protection. However, it is also important to make sure you have the proper insurance coverage on your jewelry.

Burglary Ratings
The most important rating you should look for on jewelry safes is the burglary rating. Understanding these ratings will ensure you get the right safe for your precious jewelry. A TL-15 rating on a jewelry safe means it will take an experienced person at least 15 minutes with power and hand tools to break into the safe. This is too much time for a burglar to use. They want to be able to get to what they want quickly and leave so they don’t get caught. If your jewelry is worth a lot of money, you may want to consider a TL-30 rating. However, even with these ratings, it can often be difficult for the average burglar to break into the safe in any reasonable amount of time.

Fireproof Ratings
You also need to choose a jewelry safe that offers a fireproof rating to protect your precious jewelry. This rating is often written in time and temperature. The amount of time listed is how long the safe can keep the contents at the listed temperature if there is a fire to keep your jewelry safe. Your jewelry will be safe up to 350 degrees.

Locking Mechanisms
For many people, the type of locking mechanism is a personal preference. Most jewelry safes come with a mechanical combination lock or an electronic keypad. Whether you choose the combination lock or the keypad, it is important to make sure they use a four-digit code to increase the level of security. Some keypads will even allow for multiple users with different codes. When you are looking for an electronic keypad lock, LaGard and Sargent & Green are the best two options.

Other Considerations
There are other considerations you should make when choosing your jewelry safe. The amount of space you require is important. Choose one that is larger than you need so you have room for new jewelry. Shelves are beneficial. It can also be useful to choose one with a re-locking feature that will lock a bolt when the main lock is tampered with.

Honeywell Gun Safes

Honeywell, a respected name in security, makes an excellent line of gun safes, the Executive series. Capacity is in the range of 10-12 guns, and they feature a range of locking mechanisms, including key lock, combination dial and electronic keypad type. Other common features include removable/adjustable shelves, a fully-carpeted interior and a rubber floor mat.

The least expensive model, the Honeywell 6720, features 6.51 cubic feet of storage, a high security key lock with a lever handle, and 3-1″ live locking door bolts. It also features concealed hinges with a 6mm recessed door, 2 removable/adjustable shelves and a removable 10-gun rack.

The next model in the Executive series is the Honeywell 6740. This excellent gun safe features 7.77 cubic feet of storage, a heavy duty combination lock with lever handle, and 5-1″ live locking door bolts. It also comes with 2 removable/adjustable shelves and is fire tested for 15 minutes in an 1100 degree F fire. It measures 59″x21″x17.5″ and includes a removable 12-gun rack.

The Honeywell 6741D gun safe features 7.77 cubic feet of storage and a programmable digital lock with lever handle and key override. It also includes 5-1″ live locking door bolts, 2 removable/adjustable shelves, 1 permanent shelf with lockable ammo box and a hanging key/accessory rack with a mesh pouch. It is also fire tested for 15 minutes at 1100 degrees F and comes with a 12-gun removable rack.

Next in line is the Honeywell 2754DB. This model features heavy duty steel construction and a dial lock security control with a programmable digital lock. It is fire tested for 30 minutes at 1550 degrees F, uses 5-1″ solid stainless steel live locking door bolts, and includes an adjustable/removable gun rack that holds 14-18 guns. The 2754DB also comes with a removable locking ammo/storage box.

Top-of-the-line in the Executive series is the Model 6742D. It features 7.77 cubic feet of storage, a programmable digital lock with lever handle and a key override, and concealed hinges with a 6mm recessed door. The gun safe features 5-1″ live locking door bolts, 2 removable adjustable shelves, 1 permanent shelf with locking ammo box and a hanging key/accessory rack with mesh pouch. It is fire tested for 15 minutes at 1100 degrees F and comes with a removable 12-gun rack.

You should buy your Honeywell Executive gun safe from a reputable dealer with experience in the business of gun safes. Ask them to recommend the safe that would be right for your situation. For more information on the Honeywell Executive line of gun safes, visit the here at Gun Safes.