Author Topic: Pistol Storage Idea For Gun Safe Door, High Density  (Read 2817 times)

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Offline Sidecar2

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Pistol Storage Idea For Gun Safe Door, High Density
« on: October 29, 2018, 02:40:23 PM »
I want to store my pistols and revolvers on my gun safe's door.  Its inner surface is sheetmetal.

Finding affordable and adjustable pistol cradles is a challenge.

I considered SlatWall and the louvered steel bin hanger system but rejected them, usually because the pistol cradles available were too expensive, too deep (I don't want the pistols to hit my safe's shelving) or simply not a cradle.

The best, most flexible wall-mounted cradle was the HOLD UP at Amazon. 

( https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Up-Displays-Handgun-Storage/dp/B0764GW723?crid=2WNTHMIV2GX1D&keywords=hold+up+gun+display&qid=1540835117&sprefix=hold+up+gun%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-11&ref=sr_1_11 )

But they are $12.33 each. That would be $270 for 22 guns. Ugh.



Then I spotted the display wall behind a Sig video. It had vertically adjustable T-Slots with cradles that looked great.



Moving to eBay, I found a supplier that sold T-Slot that takes 1/4-20 hex head bolts. Four, 48-inch sections for $60. Pricey, but they work great and got here really fast. Low profile (3/8" x 3/4") and pre-drilled for mounting with flathead 6-32 machine screws,

( https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-4-48-Aluminum-T-Track-3-4-x-3-8-Accepts-1-4-Hex-1-4-5-16-T-Bolts/152038683416?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 )

I mounted the T-Slots to the door with just two 6-32 x 3/8" flathead machine screws. I could add more later, but honestly, the two held fast. That way I can easily adjust the T-Slots left or right if necessary.



The cradle hooks I settled on were the Roos Small Hook from Amazon.

( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KMBW8R4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) 4 for $18.



The Tornado also work. 

( https://www.amazon.com/Tornado-00500-Small-U-Hook/dp/B0050PHTLS/ref=pd_bxgy_60_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0050PHTLS&pd_rd_r=6d4eac86-dba1-11e8-822f-6d69579ae4b5&pd_rd_w=na52g&pd_rd_wg=IXxiH&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=FEAH6PZ2QM1E6JFHWRRX&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=FEAH6PZ2QM1E6JFHWRRX ) $6 each



To widen the hooks so they could cradle a pistol or revolver, I had to bend the steel hooks apart.

I built a simple tool from a scrap 1"x1/2"x12" aluminum bar (if you have an old Ford "F" monkey wrench, that would work too) and mounted a large Crescent wrench into my vise to hold the hook.







I now could bend each hook quickly and easily to receive a given pistol or revolver, small or large. Interestingly, almost all full-size and compact pistols have about the same distance between the web of your hand and the front of the trigger guard. Only tiny mouse guns like the Beretta Pico were shorter. The giant FN FNX 45 and the P-10 C both fit the same cradle.



I squirted black hot-melt glue onto the exposed steel and nut so I couldn't scratch the pistol. The door looks textured because I mounted some thin rubber tool box liner to the door earlier and have fussed with various mounting systems for a couple of years.

I can now safely store around 22 pistols on my small 21x55-inch safe door's interior surface. The best part is that I can rearrange the door easily using only a 7/16" socket wrench if my collection changes. Well, more like "when."



Costs:
$60 for the T-Slot
$90 for 20 Roos hooks
$5 for 3/4" 1/4-20 bolts, nuts and 3/8" flathead 6-32 screws
_________________
$155 Total




If we open a quarrel between past and present, we shall find that we have lost the future. -- Winston Churchill

Offline Scarlett Pistol

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Re: Pistol Storage Idea For Gun Safe Door, High Density
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2018, 01:11:50 AM »
I love seeing these kinds of posts! Thanks for sharing.
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Offline Psyop96

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Re: Pistol Storage Idea For Gun Safe Door, High Density
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2018, 02:15:42 AM »
I have seen that SIG wall display too and wondered but never got around to accomplishing what you did. Great post!

Offline Sidecar2

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Re: Pistol Storage Idea For Gun Safe Door, High Density
« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2018, 04:19:58 PM »
Another T-Slot option is a 2-inch wide by 1/2" thick x 48 inch long extrusion.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/80-20-T-Slot-10-Series-2-x-5-Aluminum-Extrusion-2012-x-48-Long-N/331746873932?hash=item4d3da7924c:g:uDAAAOSwIFtaBKGa:rk:26:pf:0





This type uses metric nuts that slide into the triangular slot. This would allow a clean, flathead look on the front. I might have selected this if I had found it first. Also allows some left/right positioning as there are two slots.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/50pcs-M3-M4-M5-20-T-Nut-Female-Thread-T-Slot-Hammer-Head-Drop-in-Nut-Silver-Tone/382568797898?hash=item5912e096ca:m:mNJjcipV840U9cNZD81BHSg:rk:31:pf:0



If you want the industrial look, there's standard Superstrut (AKA Unistrut) at Lowes that's 13/16 inch x 1-5/8 inch galvanized steel. Comes in 10-ft lengths for $22.47.

But I was trying for the least projection into the safe.



Superstrut uses 1/4-20 (or 3/8-16 or 1/2-13, depending on your use) steel cone nuts that slip into the channel.

If we open a quarrel between past and present, we shall find that we have lost the future. -- Winston Churchill

Offline Sidecar2

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Re: Pistol Storage Idea For Gun Safe Door, High Density
« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2018, 04:39:40 PM »
Well, there's a lot of options with aluminum extrusions.


This one is a single slot, 48-inch, $9.63 each (three are $44.22 including shipping.) Dang. This would be ideal, stronger and less expensive than my original idea. Oh, well.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/80-20-Inc-T-Slot-10-Series-1-x-5-Aluminum-Extrusion-Part-1050-x-48-Long-N/372350451018?hash=item56b1d0fd4a:g:RTAAAOSwyP5aBODG:rk:1:pf:0

If we open a quarrel between past and present, we shall find that we have lost the future. -- Winston Churchill

Offline eastman

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Re: Pistol Storage Idea For Gun Safe Door, High Density
« Reply #5 on: October 30, 2018, 10:13:26 PM »
Well, there's a lot of options with aluminum extrusions.


This one is a single slot, 48-inch, $9.63 each (three are $44.22 including shipping.) Dang. This would be ideal, stronger and less expensive than my original idea. Oh, well.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/80-20-Inc-T-Slot-10-Series-1-x-5-Aluminum-Extrusion-Part-1050-x-48-Long-N/372350451018?hash=item56b1d0fd4a:g:RTAAAOSwyP5aBODG:rk:1:pf:0



I've used the extruded aluminum rail for construction of lab equipment. Extremely versatile, basically the "Erector Set for Adults"
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Offline Grizzlie

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Re: Pistol Storage Idea For Gun Safe Door, High Density
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2018, 10:45:22 AM »
I can't wait to start working on something similar. Looks great.
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Offline Sidecar2

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Re: Pistol Storage Idea For Gun Safe Door, High Density
« Reply #7 on: November 06, 2018, 09:10:35 PM »
One final thought: while regular 1/4-20 nuts will not fit into the extrusion (they're too thick; it's designed to take the head of a 1/4-20 bolt) it turns out the thinner 1/4-20 jam nuts will fit into the slot perfectly.

Using jam nuts allows you to use a 3/8" long 1/4-20 button head bolt facing in, instead of a bolt's threads facing out. That way you a clean button head that recesses close to the cradle and you don't have a 1/4-20 nut and threads sticking out toward the gun.
If we open a quarrel between past and present, we shall find that we have lost the future. -- Winston Churchill

Offline POPEYES8548

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Re: Pistol Storage Idea For Gun Safe Door, High Density
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2018, 10:40:06 AM »
Guns tend to get dinged when their stacked that close together with no protection, so I cover them with the thin silicon impregnated covers and tag them for identification. Pain in the ass but it works. Looking for better ideas also.
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