What size bolts to secure safe?

**jeffncs** · February 7th, 2013, 10:34 PM

My local Lowe's and Home Depot have basicly the same stuff. I settled on 3/8" x 2" concrete sleeved bolts. LINK

Do you think these are adequate? I don't know the thickness of my basement concrete floor. Do I need to go to 1/2" and longer bolts?

Some specs:
Liberty Centurion safe weighing 500#
12 gauge safe floor with 2 mounting holes

Mounting directly to the concrete floor with a rubber mat acting as a moisture barrier.

Love to hear your thoughts.
Jeff

**ForeverPA** · February 8th, 2013, 01:17 AM

I have fastened a small safe(50lbs tops) to the subfloor using 3/8 lag bolts. 3/8 is a little on the small side for a 500 lbs safe IMO.

**stainless** · February 8th, 2013, 02:28 AM

I have a small Winchester safe about the same weight and it came with 1/2 inch X 3 1/2 long. Four corner holes for floor mount.

**indiandave** · February 8th, 2013, 07:28 AM

Sounds like a plan. You should put a desiccant in the safe to keep your guns nice and dry. Good idea putting a rubber barrier between the floor and the safe .

**imashooter2** · February 8th, 2013, 07:57 AM

Even junk grade 2 3/8 bolts have a tensile strength of over 4,000 pounds each. Go up to grade 8 and tensile strength is over 9,000 pounds.

**DucatiRon** · February 8th, 2013, 08:23 AM

If your anchoring into concrete its not so much the strength if the bolt that matters as much as the strength of the sleeve. You need to finds the holding str of the sleeve/bolt combo which was not provided in the link and go from there. If that's the strongest you can buy ok but I'd probly be looking in the 1/2" diameter.

If your safe weighs 500 is be looking at fasteners that hold at least 500 each.

**Jim8300** · February 8th, 2013, 08:41 AM

I would look at longer bolts, 3/8" should be fine but 1/2" would be better. I have used thousands of concrete anchors 1/4" to 1/2" mostly. We used 3/8" for warehouse shelving uprights, they took a lot of abuse.

How thick is the bottom of your safe?

How old is your home?

How thick is your floor?

You will need a carbide tipped drill bit and if you have access, a hammer drill will make your life easier.

**Iron Sights** · February 8th, 2013, 09:08 AM

Watch out for Lowe's and Home Depot stuff. I believe all their stuff is second rate, even if is a name brand, it is not the same quality. I know they buy in quanity, but that is not the only reason they can sell it cheaper.

**ungawa** · February 8th, 2013, 09:49 AM

I would put some fat washers on those things with a 12 gauge floor. I don't know if it's quite necessary but it wouldn't hurt and only costs a dollar. If it was any thinner I definitely would.

**7998** · February 8th, 2013, 10:22 AM

1/2"x 4"or5" Stainless steel expandable bolt, hammer drill it with a 9/16" bit and use an epoxy. If you use the 3/8" x 2" I could pull your safe over and those 2" will pop right out. I just mounted a 3500lb sluice gate under a 30' head of water using nothing more than 5/8" threaded rod and epoxy, it works.