| Posted by | Message |
Helo 
LSU Fan
Orlando
Member since Nov 2004
3181 posts
| Gunsafe Refurbish Project Log (The Great Glue Up - 3/10) (Posted on 12/17/12 at 6:42 am)
I meant to start this last month but I forgot so I missed many in between pictures but I still have a bit to go. I will try to go back and fill in some of the holes and then post more updates as progress moves on.
The Story:
I need a bigger safe so after Christmas I was planning on picking up a Liberty. My wife has a coworker that has been moving around every 6 mths to a year and each time, he drags this safe along. He asked if she knew anyone looking for a safe, so I get the call.
He sent pictures and I researched it (Misty Morn) and it was about what I was looking for except it was a bit older but this ended up being one of those 'favors' you sometimes get sucked into doing. He did throw in a real nice Amsec wall safe so the deal seamed decent.
After getting it, I immediately realized I hated the interior. The shelves are your typical MDF but with age they had started sagging. Also the finish fabric was a terrible mauve color and was exactly like those velour blankets.
Although not needing another home project on my plate, I decided I was going to refurbish the interior and make it how I wanted.
The Plan:
Tear out the inner fire liner (keeping the exterior shell and fire line intact), caulk up all the seams with fire barrier caulk, replace the inner liner (was 1" gypsum) with 1/2 hardy backer board and then glue (using fire rated adhesive) cork flooring (3/8) to that.
I am a huge fan of cork and the properties it brings so I figured it was a perfect fit and would give me something a bit unique.
I also need to replace the metal skids it came on. They were the factory skids which picked it up off the floor about 3" and one was so badly bent that I was afraid it might buckle. I am not planning to bolt to the floor at this moment but I wanted it off the floor so I need to replace the skids with a stand.
The Safe:
It is a Misty Morn 22-25 gun safe.
Weighs around 700 lbs so it is quite heavy for a safe in that size class.
Gutted safe:
*pics to follow
Panels:
I will post more but these are 1/2 hardy backer board with 3/8 cork flooring glued. The backerboard is cut to fit and after glue is set and cured, I flush cut with a router the cork flooring.
This post was edited on 3/10 at 7:35 am
|
| Back to top | Share on  |
Helo
LSU Fan
Orlando
Member since Nov 2004
3181 posts
| re: Gunsafe Refurbish Project Log (The Great Glue Up - 3/10) (Posted on 12/17/12 at 6:46 am to Helo)
I am only going with the left rifle section so the other side will not be cut out.
This top piece is 3/4 baltic birch. Very stiff and strong, heavy and expensive.
Before you comment that my grain is going the wrong way, this it doesn't really matter with baltic birch plus this piece was a cutoff end that would possibly been wasted.
I cut out the center with a jigsaw, then used a 1 1/2 pattern cut bit to do the rough cutting then a 1/2 flush cut to finish.
|
| Back to top | |
bapple
LSU Fan
Member since Oct 2010
4437 posts
| re: Gunsafe Refurbish Project Log (The Great Glue Up - 3/10) (Posted on 12/17/12 at 10:26 pm to Helo)
Damn you started this post pretty early in the a.m.
But shit, you are one hell of a carpenter. 
|
| Back to top | |
TulaneUVA 
Virginia Fan
Member since Jun 2005
17476 posts
| re: Gunsafe Refurbish Project Log (The Great Glue Up - 3/10) (Posted on 12/17/12 at 10:35 pm to bapple)
Yeah, that last pic is some fine work.
|
| Back to top | |
Bleeding purple 
TCU Fan
Athens, Texas
Member since Sep 2007
16992 posts
| re: Gunsafe Refurbish Project Log (The Great Glue Up - 3/10) (Posted on 12/17/12 at 11:23 pm to TulaneUVA)
Is the shelf laminated? It looks like it is three layers.
I LOVE RECLAMATION PROJECTS!!!!! 
|
| Back to top | |
Helo
LSU Fan
Orlando
Member since Nov 2004
3181 posts
| re: Gunsafe Refurbish Project Log (The Great Glue Up - 3/10) (Posted on 12/18/12 at 4:49 am to Bleeding purple)
If you are referring to that piece standing up, that is one of the internal panels. I laminated 1/2 hardy backer board with a piece of 3/8 cork flooring.
The shelving will all be made of 3/4 and 1/2 Baltic birch.
I am still not sure how I am going to finish the padding on the inside of the rifle cut outs and the edges of the plywood shelves.
I can either route and then stain them showing the edge with actually looks decent or glue cork or hardwood banding on the edges.
|
| Back to top | |
Helo
LSU Fan
Orlando
Member since Nov 2004
3181 posts
| re: Gunsafe Refurbish Project Log (The Great Glue Up - 3/10) (Posted on 1/4/13 at 9:36 am to Helo)
Been a while since I could really work on this but over the New Years weekend I did quite a bit.
I finish cutting most of the shelves, added the banding, sealed and put the lacquer on.
Since the interior is darker with the cork, I decided to keep the birch plywood natural so it is lighter in color. Initially, I was going to strip the front out in poplar but I could not find a stain I was happy with so after I cut all the wood in poplar, I scrapped it. I ended up having to redo it all in hard pine which I am much happier with.
I decided to leave the front strip on the rifle portion to add rigidity. I also like the look. If I find that I don't like it later on, I can easily cut it off.
I am finishing it using Deft Sanding Sealer and top coating with spray lacquer. There are 5 coats underneath and 8 coats on the top. I will be topping off with wax to add additional protection.
You can see some of the different in the color from the bottom to top.
Next up this weekend is putting the cork cushion on the rifle insets.
|
| Back to top | |
Helo
LSU Fan
Orlando
Member since Nov 2004
3181 posts
| re: Gunsafe Refurbish Project Log (The Great Glue Up - 3/10) (Posted on 1/16/13 at 5:23 pm to Helo)
The idea of using cork on the inside of the gun inserts didn't work so I have a backup plan to do this weekend.
The past couple days I was working on the inside of the door. In stead of going with the same cork flooring, I decided to take the original inside panel, remove the covering, laminate it with cork floor underlayment and the cover it with a nice grey wool fabric.
Next up is my hand at stretching fabric.
|
| Back to top | |
Helo
LSU Fan
Orlando
Member since Nov 2004
3181 posts
| re: Gunsafe Refurbish Project Log (The Great Glue Up - 3/10) (Posted on 3/10/13 at 7:47 am to Helo)
I had to put off stretching my fabric over the door panel and have been busy with some other projects but I got the safe moved and bolted to my built up platform and I started yesterday gluing in the first panels.
Top went on Saturday and today should be the bottom and hopefully the back.
The glue:
Loctite, fire rated panel glue, low VOC.
This is the same glue I laminated all the panels with.
Top:
Bottom:
|
| Back to top | |
bbvdd 
Alabama Fan
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
6692 posts
| re: Gunsafe Refurbish Project Log (The Great Glue Up - 3/10) (Posted on 3/10/13 at 8:11 am to Helo)
This is the first time I've seen this. Great work you're doing there.
|
| Back to top | |
KingRanch
LSU Fan
The Ranch
Member since Mar 2012
32595 posts
| re: Gunsafe Refurbish Project Log (The Great Glue Up - 3/10) (Posted on 3/10/13 at 9:55 am to Helo)
I can't wait to see that thing finished! Refurbishment projects are the best!
|
| Back to top | |
Helo
LSU Fan
Orlando
Member since Nov 2004
3181 posts
| re: Gunsafe Refurbish Project Log (The Great Glue Up - 3/10) (Posted on 3/10/13 at 10:10 am to KingRanch)
Thanks.
This will end up being the most expensive "cheap" safe ever.
|
| Back to top | |
SportTiger1
LSU Fan
Stonewall, LA
Member since Feb 2007
2055 posts
| re: Gunsafe Refurbish Project Log (The Great Glue Up - 3/10) (Posted on 3/10/13 at 11:27 am to Helo)
quote:
This will end up being the most expensive "cheap" safe ever.
Don't these projects always end like this? But who cares, it'll be yours and can be proud of it. Great work man.
|
| Back to top | |
TClayboy99
LSU Fan
in the woods...
Member since Dec 2007
17706 posts
| re: Gunsafe Refurbish Project Log (The Great Glue Up - 3/10) (Posted on 3/10/13 at 11:57 am to Helo)
quote:
This will end up being the most expensive "cheap" safe ever.
No kidding. I would have just built the stand, ripped everything out, and used it to stack ammo in...
This is gonna be nice though.
|
| Back to top | |
Helo
LSU Fan
Orlando
Member since Nov 2004
3181 posts
| re: Gunsafe Refurbish Project Log (The Great Glue Up - 3/10) (Posted on 3/10/13 at 6:43 pm to TClayboy99)
Back part 1:
There is no way to fit the entire back in as 1 piece so I cut off just the top 8 inches or so. Tomorrow I will glue in the missing hardy board and then accurately cut the cork to fit which should look like it was meant that way.
I am a little concerned with the slight curve in the back of the safe and the final back cork piece since it is snap in.
|
| Back to top | |
Cracker
LSU Fan
in a box
Member since Nov 2009
3449 posts
| re: Gunsafe Refurbish Project Log (The Great Glue Up - 3/10) (Posted on 3/10/13 at 8:02 pm to Helo)
look how neat his shop is! I like what you did by reversing the clamps i never thought of that.
|
| Back to top | |
