DIY Gunsafe Shelving

11wideglide · Apr 18, 2017

Hey all,

My girlfriend was given a gun safe recently it is a newer Field and Stream 16 (or so) safe. It does not have any kind of shelving in it, its actually lined with carpet. We were going to tear the carpet out (assuming there is felt under it), but we need a solution for shelving / barrel rest for her guns. I already contacted F&S and they said they do not sell just the shelves. Has anyone ever made shelves and barrel rests before? I am assuming just cheaper 3/8" (some kind of wood) with felt stapled to it than secured to the safe with the tracks. Just wanted to get a few opinions or ideas. Thanks in advance!

Applehd · Apr 18, 2017

Felt-wrapped, plywood shelves wood be correct... and...
forget barrel rests... use these instead to store more long guns...

http://www.cabelas.com/product/shoo...-gun-storage-solutions-rifle-rods/1370816.uts

ohen cepel · Apr 18, 2017

Another vote for the rifle rods. Will be much faster to do and hold more in the end.

I don't think I would tear the carpet out of it, could end up with a mess unless you plan to redo the entire interior.

If you need a shelf low enough for the rods to work that should be doable. However, hard to say without pics or more info.

May be easier to build up with a few ammo cans (or similar on the bottom) if needed to get the height right for the rods to work.

11wideglide · Apr 18, 2017

I will have to look into the rods, might be able to make a top shelf so she can have storage on top, guns below with the rods. This is the safe interior as it comes from the factory. This would work perfect

ohen cepel said:
Another vote for the rifle rods. Will be much faster to do and hold more in the end.

I don't think I would tear the carpet out of it, could end up with a mess unless you plan to redo the entire interior.

If you need a shelf low enough for the rods to work that should be doable. However, hard to say without pics or more info.

May be easier to build up with a few ammo cans (or similar on the bottom) if needed to get the height right for the rods to work.

davsco · Apr 18, 2017

i have a similar-sized safe that i bought just to hold ammo. it has a divider in the middle (from top to bottom), shelves on the right and then the left side was open for long guns. to add shelves on the left side, i screwed some furring strips into the left side of the safe inner wall and the left side of the divider and then just cut some shelves out of plywood and rested them on the furring strips. i drilled a small hole in the back so that the cord for a elec dehumidifier could be run thru that.

Trekker · Apr 19, 2017

I bought a good safe secondhand that had no shelving, just the metal internal walls. As you mentioned, I also used plywood to make my back/side walls and shelves, though I attached carpeting to the plywood for cushioning. I got the carpeting for almost nothing as a end-of-the-roll sale item at Lowes. I do not have enough long guns that I needed to install barrel rods, but if I did, I would.

Bootknife · Apr 19, 2017

I have a couple Safes but the Problem is Multiplication....Never enough Room! These have simple rippled vertical barrel rails and a Shelf at the Top , I made Wire "S" rods to hang some pistols on.

ironpony · Apr 19, 2017

Damn BootKnife!

If anyone needs wood cut I'll help and may have scraps (cabinet grade stuff) that I'm happy to give. I need to find that wood project thread.
I was in HD yesterday and noticed some of the rubber door seal may make good material to rest a barrel on (not foam) around a slotted shelve??

Good Luck OP, your on the right track.

Streetgang · Apr 19, 2017

Make your shelves from 3/4" Baltic birch ply (no voids). Make sure you seal the wood with poly. It will prevent any moisture in the wood from attacking your nice metal guns. Felt is available from Joanne Fabric in many colors. I use it for shadowboxes and glue it with rattle-can contact cement.

Streetgang · Apr 19, 2017

ironpony said:
Damn BootKnife!

If anyone needs wood cut I'll help and may have scraps (cabinet grade stuff) that I'm happy to give. I need to find that wood project thread.
I was in HD yesterday and noticed some of the rubber door seal may make good material to rest a barrel on (not foam) around a slotted shelve??

Good Luck OP, your on the right track.

Rubber seal might work pretty well. Agreed on not using foam. Closed cell may be ok but not worth the chance.

Bootknife · Apr 19, 2017

I do not use Foam as it can attract Moisture http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=116545 this is a post from the Past and says it all! I do suggest only using very dry wood and Sealing with three coats of good Polyurethane ...You will see two Red Oak Vertical Braces under the Shelf on the Steelwater Safe. That shelf collapsed due to the Cheap Shelf Brackets supplied with that safe....Replaced them with Stanley Products but also braced the Shelf.Steelwater Never Made good on the Damaged Pistols that hit the Floor....Would never Recommend them.

ironpony · Apr 19, 2017

Russian plywood? well they could use the money.

Semper Noctem · Apr 19, 2017

Bootknife said:
I have a couple Safes but the Problem is Multiplication....Never enough Room! These have simple rippled vertical barrel rails and a Shelf at the Top , I made Wire "S" rods to hang some pistols on.

Your safe makes my head feel like it's going to explode.

Bootknife · Apr 19, 2017

Too Cluttered?.....I know Sixty Years of collecting is stupid!

11wideglide · Apr 19, 2017

Thanks all for the help!!

ted76 · Apr 30, 2017

Semper Noctem said:
Your safe makes my head feel like it's going to explode.

I know what you mean, they make my safes look half way organized. I do like the idea of the gun socks on some of the long guns, as they would prevent most minor nicks on the most valuable ones.

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