Armory Sponsor
Want to get a modular safe - SnapSafe or Zanotti? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 6/21/2023 3:04:49 PM EDT
[Last Edit: R2point0][Edited]
|
Currently I have 2 safes - an in-floor gun safe that I bought for a previous house but is just sitting on my bedroom floor now, and an ancient safe that is about the right size but has no racking for guns and only one locking bolt. I want to get another safe to consolidate my collection. I want to put it into a room in the basement with a tiny door - 5' high by about 30" wide - so a conventional safe won't fit. So I'm looking at modular safes by Zanotti Armor and SnapSafe . SnapSafe advantages:
Does anyone have any experience with these? I'm looking to make a decision before the end of the month - both companies have sales on until the 30th. |
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
|
I love my Zanotti. I have had the 5’ ZII for over ten years. I’ve moved it once across the basement without the door and I’m getting ready to disassemble and move it across town. It is still solid and tight like a monolithic safe. In that time I’ve replaced the lock with an S&G (my fault, I spun the LeGard too hard at times causing the spline key to back out and rub the back of the lock) and added LED lights and a Rack’Em dual layer pistol rack. Fire resistance doesn’t mean much after the fire department hoses it down and lets it sit in steamy conditions for a couple days until they let you into the site. IMHO. |
Get both is the answer.
|
Originally Posted By R2point0: Currently I have 2 safes - an in-floor gun safe that I bought for a previous house but is just sitting on my bedroom floor now, and an ancient safe that is about the right size but has no racking for guns and only one locking bolt. I want to get another safe to consolidate my collection. I want to put it into a room in the basement with a tiny door - 5' high by about 30" wide - so a conventional safe won't fit. So I'm looking at modular safes by Zanotti Armor and SnapSafe . SnapSafe advantages:
Does anyone have any experience with these? I'm looking to make a decision before the end of the month - both companies have sales on until the 30th. I had recently gone through the same thought process, ended up choosing a Z3 6ft, bought it about 6 weeks ago, came via R&L, pallet delivery to my garage. Paid little over 300 bucks to R&L for delivery. It gets installed this weekend, I'll report back findings after this weekend. 
|
|
I bought a Zanotti over 20 years when safe placement necessitated on site assembly. That capability is costly compared with pre-assembled safes. However, I was very pleased with the quality of the safe, with assembly on a concrete floor easily accomplished. The company was also a pleasure to deal with. The only negative is the manual lock, which is "clunky", but still functional after > 20 years. |
My fate's not in God's hands as long as there's a weapon in mine - Tom Clancy's book Mirror Image
|
Thanks, all. Since it's 3 votes to zero I'm going with the Zanotti (as soon as I pay down my credit card.) Ancillary question - anyone purchase and install the pull down shelf they offer? It looks handy, but I'm not sure the price is worth it. |
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
|
Originally Posted By R2point0: Thanks, all. Since it's 3 votes to zero I'm going with the Zanotti (as soon as I pay down my credit card.) Ancillary question - anyone purchase and install the pull down shelf they offer? It looks handy, but I'm not sure the price is worth it. Make it 4. I've had mine about 15 years. I bought the 6' model with bottom drawers (no longer available.) I love it. As mentioned earlier, they are great people to deal with. I emailed the owner and told him that I wanted to add a shelf and needed to buy the shelf holders. He sent the holders AND the shelf for free. |
WAR DAMN EAGLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
Originally Posted By R2point0: Ordered the safe yesterday. 5 week lead time. I'll update when it arrives and I get it assembled. Attached File |
WAR DAMN EAGLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
Originally Posted By R2point0: Ordered the safe yesterday. 5 week lead time. I'll update when it arrives and I get it assembled. You are going to find that is goes together easily. Read the directions, follow the steps in order, took 2 guys 45 minutes total to assemble. I'm very pleased with mine, highly recommended!         |
| July 2023 Amazon link for the light kit I installed in mine: https://www.amazon.com/TORCHSTAR-Lighting-Linkable-Showcase-Daylight/dp/B01FDAET80 |
|
Originally Posted By jrf1983: July 2023 Amazon link for the light kit I installed in mine: https://www.amazon.com/TORCHSTAR-Lighting-Linkable-Showcase-Daylight/dp/B01FDAET80 Edit: Just bought the kit. It's going to sure for a while (see below.) |
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
|
I've come back to share some of my disassembly findings. I am not close to done yet. Zanotti recommends that you lube the pins before installation. I used a generous coating of CLP, but they want grease. The half dozen pins I've pulled so far have come out without trouble. The pins are clean and rust free which is the P part. The L part is minimal and the carrier has long since evaporated. I would recommend (as they do) a good lithium or silicone grease and plan to use one on reinstallation. Don't go crazy; a thin coat is plenty as the pins fit tightly. The pins are right-angled at the end. Be careful when hammering them in with even a rubber mallet. I have one that I bent slightly during installation because I hit it on the end instead of at the turn. I have not extracted that one yet. For disassembly, I made a short handle out of CPVC that I had lying around. I slip it over the end of the pin and wiggle back and forth about 60 degrees while pulling the pin out. It is working well so far. When you finish driving the pins in, I don't recommend pushing the ends all the way over tight to the sides and top. Leave a little gap so that you can get your disassembly tool in without having to pry the end of the pin away from the side to get hold of it. 1/8" doesn't intrude much on the safe but it makes a difference during disassembly. |
Get both is the answer.
|
Just got a confirmation call from Zanotti on my order. Asked how I wanted the interior configured, and the door swing. Also told me it's more like 7-8 week lead instead of 5 like on the website. Not an auspicious start. |
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
|
Originally Posted By R2point0: Just got a confirmation call from Zanotti on my order. Asked how I wanted the interior configured, and the door swing. Also told me it's more like 7-8 week lead instead of 5 like on the website. Not an auspicious start. If it helps at all, I waited 5 months. I’d do it again. |
Get both is the answer.
|
Originally Posted By IPMan: Will the Zanotti assemble within the space of its footprint? I'm thinking of one for a coat closet but if the walls have to be leaned out during assembly, it probably won't work. You will need some inches on either side to work. Fingers and hands have to go somewhere. The sides are not light so if the space you have is an exact fit, assembly could be trouble. |
Get both is the answer.
|
Another happy Zanotti Armor customer!. Bought a Z1 with carpeted interior, keyed dial and dehumidifier. Assembled it on a rainy Saturday afternoon when it was to wet to go trapshooting. Easy to put together and bolted it down on the concrete slab floor of my in home office. Gary |
|
Originally Posted By Melvin_Johnson: https://steelheadoutdoors.com/ |
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
|
That is great news! I got my safe disassembled this weekend. It took about 30 minutes working by myself. I can see that I bent more than one of the longer pins using a rubber mallet on them for assembly. I called Zanotti today and asked about replacement pins. The lovely lady who picked up said she might be able to get them in the mail today. I asked how much and she said no charge. I haven’t had a customer service experience like that since before COVID. I’m going to use my CPVC section of pipe and silicone grease on reassembly and skip the mallet this time. |
Get both is the answer.
|
The safe has arrived! Truck shipped to my residence (for a fee of course), and the driver even wheeled the pallet around to the back of the house. 3 boxes on the pallet: top and bottom on the first, left and right sides on the second, and door and back panel in the third. The miscellaneous parts were distributed throughout the boxes. Pics to come. |
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
Finally! Got the safe installed, goldenrod installed, lights installed, and drawer...almost installed.  pics and more description to come.And the pics: Attached File This pic shows how little clearance there is between the top and the ceiling. Makes it virtually impossible to tilt it over to take it out the door whole. I'm going to lie and say I planned it that way. Attached File Attached File Attached File This pic shows the optional drawer. I'm not sure it was worth the cost. It's handy for small items, but there are other, cheaper solutions. Attached File |
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
|
This one highlights the lighting system with room lights off. Attached File |
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
| I've been looking at a modular safe for a while and this thread definitely helped me in choosing the Zanotti over the SnapSafe. I placed my order during their spring sale which includes the Z Plus interior for free. Zanotti quoted me 12 week lead time on a Z2 5ft, which kind of sucks but I didn't need it in a hurry. |
|
Originally Posted By stimr2: I've been looking at a modular safe for a while and this thread definitely helped me in choosing the Zanotti over the SnapSafe. I placed my order during their spring sale which includes the Z Plus interior for free. Zanotti quoted me 12 week lead time on a Z2 5ft, which kind of sucks but I didn't need it in a hurry. Now I either need to get another one or sell some guns. Or both! |
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
|
Mine with the bottom drawers. The drawers are full of pistols so I also use the shelf hangers. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
WAR DAMN EAGLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
I have a Zanotti that I bought used (Craigslist). I've moved it twice. I like the way it goes together. Compared to my Dakota (another modular safe) the assembly/disassembly of the Zanotti is much better. It also seems like a higher quality box. |
In a truly free country, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms would be the name of a convenience store, not a federal agency
My Zanotti Z1. It is very heavy duty but wasn't hard to put together. The only help I needed was hanging the door and that took about 5 minutes. Zanotti actually came thru faster than they promised and I got it in about 3 1/2 weeks. I will say I had a Snap Safe vault door in my previous house and it too was very heavy duty. I'm not much on electronic locks and that was the only option with the Snap Safe but otherwise had on complaints. 
|
|
My Z2 5FT was delivered yesterday and I was able to put it together myself this morning. Hardest part was putting the door on since it's heavy. Having a 2nd person guide the door pins would definitely have been helpful. The fit and finish is definitely on par or better than my Liberty. I will never buy a Liberty safe again. Also I couldn't justify spending the similar amount on a Snap Safe that is made in China. Also not a fan of the SecuRAM electronic lock with key backup. It was definitely worth the wait and highly recommend them if you need a modular safe. |
|
I have had my Zanotti for about 15 years now. Still going strong and works well for me. No complaints at all and I have put it inside rooms where the doors are smaller than the safe. Movers are surprised when they come back from their lunch break and it is sitting in the garage... |
|
Originally Posted By billpete: I have had my Zanotti for about 15 years now. Still going strong and works well for me. No complaints at all and I have put it inside rooms where the doors are smaller than the safe. Movers are surprised when they come back from their lunch break and it is sitting in the garage... |
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
|
Originally Posted By MartinHewitt: Which lock did you get for your new gun safe? Originally Posted By MartinHewitt: Which lock did you get for your new gun safe? It came with a black S&G mechanical lock. Originally Posted By billpete: I have had my Zanotti for about 15 years now. Still going strong and works well for me. No complaints at all and I have put it inside rooms where the doors are smaller than the safe. Movers are surprised when they come back from their lunch break and it is sitting in the garage... Hopefully, I get to keep mine just as long. September will be my 5 year since I was diagnosed with tongue cancer. |
|
So a member asked me some questions offline regarding door installation and anchoring/leveling, and the easiest way to explain it was some drawings. I figured I'd post then here as well. The main issue is the door. No hiding it, it's heavy. The member to whom I'm speaking is sort of solo; his wife is available but can't lift or do heavy work. So I tried to lay out how to lift the safe door with one heavy lifter and one helper to steady things and shuffle blocking around. Fair warning, it's an MS Paint sketch and I was in a hurry. Attached File I also wrote: One person should be able to lift the door up onto the blocking. Then it's a matter of rocking the door back and forth to add more blocking underneath, and then "walking" it on the blocking so the pins are above the sockets. At that point you might need a jack under the door to lift it up enough to pull out some of the blocking and then lower it so the hinge pins engage. Another question that needed a sketch was anchoring and leveling. Because one sets the base of a modular safe first, it must be dead level, because small variations get multiplied with the height of the safe. I learned about equipment leveling in the nuclear industry and heavy construction, so here's what I recommended: Attached File And here's the text that went with it: You definitely do not want the safe base directly on the concrete. Concrete absorbs and releases moisture from the air constantly, and it will rust steel in direct contact with it. Anchor bolts are made to withstand that. Regarding the Zanotti warning not to tighten the base down before assembling the walls, the concern is that torquing down the plate will flex it, and then the panels won't align and drop in to their slots and the pins line up. The installation sequence would be as follows: 1) Lay the base directly on the floor where you want the safe. 2) Mark the hole locations on the floor. 3) Remove the base and drill your anchor holes. 4) Set the anchors. You now have 4 studs sticking out of the floor. 5) Test fit the base. If things don't align, use a dremel to open the holes in the base as needed. 6) Remove the base and spin a nut and washer onto each stud. DO NOT spin them all the way down; you need to leave room for a wrench. 7) Rough level the nuts and washers. Just get them close. 8) Put the base on the studs. It will now be resting on the nuts and washers and be roughly level. 9) Finish level the base front to back and side to side by adjusting the nuts underneath. Lift the low corners - dropping the high corners might decrease your wrenching room. 10) When the base is level, install the washer and nut on the top side of the base. Use a lock nut if you wish, but it's doubtful the nuts will come loose. 11) Tighten the top nuts evenly, the RECHECK level. Things may have moved. If they have, loosen and correct. 12) When everything is dead level, snug the nuts *very* lightly. Cut off the studs protruding excessively. I'd say anything over 1/2". This leaves enough to back them off in case the panels aren't fitting and enough to dress the end of the stud with a file. With heavy equipment the gap under the safe would then be packed with non-shrink grout, but the safe isn't *that* heavy. I know this seems complex, but if you are going to anchor the safe down, it's necessary. A few cautions: - The holes in the bottom of the safe are only 3/8" in diameter. 3/8" anchors are borderline strong enough, but you may not be able to get them *long* enough. Opening up the holes to 1/2 might be a good idea. - And they need to be long enough. Longer is better - you can always cut them short, but if they are too short you'll need to pull the anchors out of the concrete. - Don't bother with stainless steel anchors unless you have a water problem. And even then I don't know that I'd do it - they are expensive. Now, if you decide not to anchor it down, you need to use feet. I used these:  
I did the nuts in exactly the same way as I show in the diagram. These are stainless steel, because my basement *is* wet, and their load capacity is plenty high. The ones at the link are sold in pairs and are 8mm, which will fit the holes. I couldn't find the feet in fractional measurements. |
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
|
So my Z6 combo lock seems to be on the fritz. Safe has been great, but takes a dozen or more tries at the combo to get the lock to "drop" after the third combo number. Something feels "stuck" within the lock but I have no way to validate that concern. I've watched every YouTube video there is and I am doing this correct. Is it possible to have a locksmith switch the mechanical for electronic? Any other sage advice? If I needed my gear in a hurry I'm boned... Thanks, |
|
Originally Posted By jrf1983: So my Z6 combo lock seems to be on the fritz. Safe has been great, but takes a dozen or more tries at the combo to get the lock to "drop" after the third combo number. Something feels "stuck" within the lock but I have no way to validate that concern. I've watched every YouTube video there is and I am doing this correct. Is it possible to have a locksmith switch the mechanical for electronic? Any other sage advice? If I needed my gear in a hurry I'm boned... Thanks, |
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
|
Originally Posted By jrf1983: So my Z6 combo lock seems to be on the fritz. Safe has been great, but takes a dozen or more tries at the combo to get the lock to "drop" after the third combo number. Something feels "stuck" within the lock but I have no way to validate that concern. I've watched every YouTube video there is and I am doing this correct. Is it possible to have a locksmith switch the mechanical for electronic? Any other sage advice? If I needed my gear in a hurry I'm boned... Thanks, Have you reached out to zanotti for help? |
|
Originally Posted By jrf1983: Called twice, left 2 messages, neither were returned. They were happy to call me back when I wanted drop 3500 on the safe though! ;) |
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
| S&G has a standard (black) and a cheaper (plain zamak) line of locks. The standard has double locking wheels, the cheaper locks only single locking wheels. The cheaper lock are quite common, because they are ... cheaper. Due to the single locking wheels the code number the wheels are set to can shift. This happens usually with the last number. You can e.g. add or subtract one or two numbers from the last number in your combination to see if it improves the opening. I do recommend to have it checked too. |
|
Originally Posted By jrf1983: Called twice, left 2 messages, neither were returned. They were happy to call me back when I wanted drop 3500 on the safe though! ;) Yeah l found leaving messages is worthless. I called again the other day and after 2 attempts l finally got the girl on the phone. Indo have to say that l felt she was getting annoyed with all my questions. I wanted to say well sorry l am taking up al your precious time but maybe if you had a better FAQ on you website or better info l wouldn't have so many questions |
|
Originally Posted By Mav3rick: Yeah l found leaving messages is worthless. I called again the other day and after 2 attempts l finally got the girl on the phone. Indo have to say that l felt she was getting annoyed with all my questions. I wanted to say well sorry l am taking up al your precious time but maybe if you had a better FAQ on you website or better info l wouldn't have so many questions Originally Posted By Mav3rick: Originally Posted By jrf1983: Called twice, left 2 messages, neither were returned. They were happy to call me back when I wanted drop 3500 on the safe though! ;) Yeah l found leaving messages is worthless. I called again the other day and after 2 attempts l finally got the girl on the phone. Indo have to say that l felt she was getting annoyed with all my questions. I wanted to say well sorry l am taking up al your precious time but maybe if you had a better FAQ on you website or better info l wouldn't have so many questions I had quick responses from snap safe. |
have gun will travel
Well you seen much combat? ......... I've seen a little on TV.
We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns.
Lifetime NRA member SADLY
now GOA and ASA member!!!!!
Well you seen much combat? ......... I've seen a little on TV.
We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns.
Lifetime NRA member SADLY
now GOA and ASA member!!!!!
|
Originally Posted By dayphotog: I had quick responses from snap safe. Thanks. I can take a look at them again, but I think the reason why I passed on them as a choice is they only offer electronic locks and would prefer mechanical. If I am wrong please let me know. |
|
Originally Posted By Mav3rick: Thanks. I can take a look at them again, but I think the reason why I passed on them as a choice is they only offer electronic locks and would prefer mechanical. If I am wrong please let me know. Originally Posted By Mav3rick: Originally Posted By dayphotog: I had quick responses from snap safe. Thanks. I can take a look at them again, but I think the reason why I passed on them as a choice is they only offer electronic locks and would prefer mechanical. If I am wrong please let me know. no only digital with a key backup which I kinda like but many do not. |
have gun will travel
Well you seen much combat? ......... I've seen a little on TV.
We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns.
Lifetime NRA member SADLY
now GOA and ASA member!!!!!
Well you seen much combat? ......... I've seen a little on TV.
We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns.
Lifetime NRA member SADLY
now GOA and ASA member!!!!!
|
Originally Posted By R2point0: I thought they were a good idea until I started watching Lockpicking Lawyer on YouTube. That guy can pick anything |
have gun will travel
Well you seen much combat? ......... I've seen a little on TV.
We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns.
Lifetime NRA member SADLY
now GOA and ASA member!!!!!
Well you seen much combat? ......... I've seen a little on TV.
We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns.
Lifetime NRA member SADLY
now GOA and ASA member!!!!!
Want to get a modular safe - SnapSafe or Zanotti? (Page 1 of 2)
Armory Sponsor