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 Replies: 14 / Views: 2,199 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1132 Posts |
Hello folks, I'm upgrading my home safe & was curious if anyone has any experience with the Sentry 3.4 cf fire/water safe. The size looks about right for my needs, and the build looks good...but I'm having reservations about the front keyless console. This model is available just about everywhere from Lowe's, Home Depot, Staples, Office Max, Menards & Sam's Club...but I can only find the same 7 reviews on just about every site! They are all pulled directly from the Sentry site. In my experience reviews on the manufacturers site tends to be a little bias. Does anyone have any real-life experience with this model? http://www.sentrysafe.com/Products/...al_Fire_SafeThanks. Edited by CopperCastle
02/06/2015 09:53 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
900 Posts |
Your link doesn't do what you intend it to do. I can't tell which safe you're referring to.
I have Model Number: SFW123GTC, which has a 1.23 cubic feet capacity. I wish I had gotten a larger safe. 3.4 cubic feet sounds about right. I may have to get a second safe. I like the dual digital/key lock entry. I haven't had a fire or flood yet, so I can't say whether those features work. I put my valuables in the safe and every time I open it, their still there. So, it does what I hoped it would do.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
604 Posts |
A little curious about the reservations you might have towards a keyless safe.
I've owed a Sentry keyless safe (not the same as the one you want) for over 15 years now without any trouble.
As a note: Just make sure the safe is large enough for everything you plan on putting in it. However, have some extra play room too. I ended up having to buy another safe because of the ever growing collection.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1132 Posts |
Quote:
A little curious about the reservations you might have towards a keyless safe. The safe itself, including the handle is comprised of steel. The keypad is housed in plastic & slides off to install the batteries. I just wish it was metal. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
604 Posts |
I've wondered that about the keypad myself. Isn't that plastic going to melt pretty easily in the event of a house fire? Then, how do you open the safe?  However, I must say the safe works great for storing Dansco albums. The adjustable shelves on mine stop about one inch from the top of the albums. (The albums sit upright too; not on their sides) Edited by Nickel Guy
02/06/2015 3:09 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2448 Posts |
Wow, quite a range of prices, and that surprises me.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
604 Posts |
@karmykle....you are correct!
I remember many years ago when I bought my first Sentry; it was the largest one Wally-world carried at the time.
They gave me 15% off on it:
5% off because all they had left was the display model.
10% off because I found a minute dent (1/4 the size of a dime) on the lower back corner.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1132 Posts |
Quote:
Isn't that plastic going to melt pretty easily in the event of a house fire?
Then, how do you open the safe? There's a backup key. My main concern is someone smashing it in attempts to open it. Edited by CopperCastle
02/06/2015 3:53 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
604 Posts |
If that happened, and they weren't able to open it, then you would end up having to pay someone to open it. (And get a new safe)
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
9159 Posts |
I have the same style but 5' tall and too small, make sure you get one that is big enough.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
I know Costco was selling a nice mid-size safe recently.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5207 Posts |
Quote:
My main concern is someone smashing it in attempts to open it. I have 5 Sentry fire safes. A couple of keyed, a combination, a digital, and a digital with barrel key lockout. The keyed safes were purchased years apart but both use the same key  The combination is fine. The word on the internet on the digital is you can smash the digital block and plug in your block and unlock them with your blocks combination. Word on the internet is you can pick a barrel key lock with a pen cap AKA Kryptonite bike locks and then smash and install your digital block and combo. But all of that is a mute point because Sentry Safes are filled with a fire resistant material, not concrete and can be cut open with a circular saw in 20 seconds as seen on youtube. They are good for preservation of your valuables in case of a fire but not for security against a real burglar. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
I've had a few Sentry safes, not a big fan of them, for fire protection they are okay, I suppose, thankfully I've not had to test that feature out in my life. But every Sentry safe I've seen are all really easy to break into with simple tools or by dropping them. Yes that will destroy the safe, usually beyond repair, but a thief doesn't care about that.
My current GOTO safe is the Fort Knox brand, I try to stay away from the cheap big box store gun safes. But buy one larger than you need now, it's amazing how fast they fill up!
"Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1132 Posts |
Thanks for the input everyone. Much appreciated.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
Here is a post with a great video containing much information that is useful on safes, I posted in another thread, watch it, I think you might enjoy and get something from it. Also the whole thread is pretty darn good. https://goccf.com/t/138498&whichpage=2#1261506For a safe that small, I would sure consider hiding it's location, and making sure it is secured with lag bolts. "Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 2,199 |
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Posted 02/06/2015 1:46 pm
