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Needed a way to a.) store firearms in a hidden place, b.) make it impossible for small children to get to the guns with a key, c.) make the storage box small enough to go under a bed and d.) make access to home defense quick and simple.

I used what I had - ash and quartersawn, spalted Sycamore. This lumber started off as trees on my own property that I cut down and took to a sawmill. Very challenging as this was done with air dried lumber vs. kiln dried. Who am I kidding… "very challenging"? I struggled significantly with lumber movement. However, I felt the beauty of the Sycamore was worth the aggravation. When quartersawn, it has a snake skin look and the spalted nature of the tree I used gives it even more character. All the mouldings on the outside were custom made the combination of ash and Sycamore. Top is a very rudimentary Sycamore inlay in the ash.

The box opens only via an electronic pin code lock on the side panel. The reason I did this is so that even if a small child found a key, they couldn't get into this box since there is no keyed lock. Reason #2 is so that if there is a home invasion, it makes getting to home defense much faster (no fumbling with a key, and no need to pull the box out from under the bed). You'll see 2 tip outs I made so that pulling a shotgun out of the side panel is made much easier. Once the side panel is opened, you can reach up inside and turn 2 wooden "locks" to allow the top to open up (you'll see a photo of this too). Again… the only way to open the box is if you know the PIN code.

Hope you enjoy - thanks for all the inspiration out there, everyone! Many of you make it look easy! Now then… what's next? :)

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Comments

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Wow. That's a beautiful box. And handy too!
 

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Looks great nice work.
 

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Boy O Boy Greg, that's a hell of a lot nicer looking then the old plastic case I have under the bed ! haha
I think something along those lines is going to have to go on the old to-do list.
Thanks for sharing your ideas.
 

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Looks awesome. What are the dimentions?
 

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Incredible… I go for the .40 in a pin activated lock box by the bed expecting that's good until I open the safe… Awesome work, a thing of beauty!! Thanks for sharing…
 

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Nice design, nice build. Good job on this project.
 

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Very nicely designed, constructed and with beautiful wood.
 

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very nice. now all you have to do is fill it up with guns and ammo. maybe an AR15 witha custom wood stock ?
 

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Cool design and great job on the build. QS Sycamore is one of my favorite woods.
 

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I like all these safety aspects, I will have to look into them. My firearms are locked several different ways, even though my youngest is 23. But ease of access is limited. I don't live in a high crime area, so I don't worry too much. I've seen tree companies cutting some sycamores down in the neighborhood. I'll have to stop and bum a log or crotch or two from them.
 

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Thanks everyone. You're always much too kind. Monte, the dimensions are 28×48x10 5/8. The 10 5/8 depth will be the one you have to alter for your specific floor-to-bed bottom measurement. Maybe the other dimensions too, if your bed has legs in the middle somewhere. I really designed around the combination of floor-to-bed bottom (11" for mine) AND height needed for a rifle hanging upside down inside the box with a scope. My rifle spent the duration with me in the shop for quick checks of my work. If I did it again, I would NOT do a full overlay on the lid again. Became an unnecessary issue getting hinges on, created a situation that just begged for cupping/twisting of the lid, and didn't look as finished as I'd like. I'd do a box lid next time. Again, thanks everyone - your encouragement is why I enjoy this site and the 1 am workshop nights.
 

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Nice work, I like it. Too bad we have to worry about quick access these days ;-(
 

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Very nice idea looks awesome.
 

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Great box, going in my favorites for sure. Your project includes everything important to me as well. Quick access, safety especially for children, and easily hidden. I've been tossing around ideas to keep our shotgun easier to access and this is it. Thanks for posting.
 

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Awesome!
 

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Very nice, I like the design with one quick access for a shotgun.
 

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Very nice and well thought out. Still not as secure as a metal locker or safe. Thieves will have a nice box plus all your firearms. Experienced thieves know where to look for items that they target.

"I don't live in a high crime area, so I don't worry too much."
AtomJack, I didn't either but they still stole all my guns.
 

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Nice storage box.It would be great for anything you want to keep little fingers off of! Where did you get the lock?
 

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Hi Dennis - the lock is a cam lock made for lockers. What's good about this lock too is that if the batteries die, there is a 9v override on the outside. In other words, if you forget to test/change batteries, you can hold a 9v battery to 2 contacts on the outside of the lock, punch in your PIN, and you're in. It also has options for many thicknesses of door.

Can't remember if I got mine here, but here is a link to it: http://assuredlockanddoorhardware.com/manufactures/codelock-digital-and-mechanical/cl1000-electronic-cam-lock/cl1000-electronic-five-button-cam-lock.html
 
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