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Posted: 3/14/2012 4:26:08 AM EDT
| I'm in need of a "fire rated" safe the only one available locally within my budget is the Stack-on 14 for $499 is it worth buying? Or should I wait a couple of paychecks till I can afford a better one? |
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At that price point I assume this Stack-On is the "safe" line and not the thin sheet metal security cabinets that they sell (green ones). First many will tell you how they suck and what not, but you have to remember what you are getting. For the price point you are getting some added security and "some" fire protection. The stated fire protection on these types of safes is usually exaggerated, keep that in mind. But it will give you some decent added protection over guns under the bed or in a closet. Remember a 14gun safe is fairly small and should be bolted down.
I own a Stack-on Total Defense 36 (dial lock), and have been happy with it. The Total Defense line has some decent upgrades over the lower end lines, which includes door seals and top and bottom bolts. When I bought mine it had upgraded fire protection, but I am fairly sure now all of the Stack-on safe lines have the same fire protection, something like 30min at 1400deg. Either way if you have a fire, you are gonna want water on your safe as soon as possible. To answer your question, you should be able to find a better deal, I paid $500 for my 36gun Total Defense. Remember the 14gun is small and fills up fast, the day I installed my safe and put my stuff in it I wished I had a larger safe. The Stack-on line gets a bad rap because most equate them to the cheap security cabinets they sell, but I would have no prob buying another stack-on safe. |
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I've got one of these bolted down in a closet. http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_535662_-1?color=Hunter+Green&ICID=CRT:0340-03254-1214
It only weighs about 300lbs empty but it's snug & surrounded on three sides in my closet. We live in a rent house so it is the best I could manage,right now. |
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Everything I've read suggests that getting any prolonged protection during a fire is something that most "safes" do not provide. Still, locating the safe in a part of the house that is likely to be extinguished first and getting a safe with an excellent fire rating might help. Can't hurt anyway.
Seems like you have to operationally define the level of fire protection you might need (hope you don't ever need any, BTW), and purchase a safe that meets that specification. It seems like fire rating and price are pretty well correlated on residential safes. |
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