Trying to secure all shop tools.

[hickfied]

In a few weeks I will be moving into a rented bay in a shop. In total, there is another bay being rented out by someone else who also works on his own projects at night, and someone who rents the office.

My tool box locks, but I have a ton of shop tools I would also like to lock up. Plasma, welder, bench grinders, vises, buffer, drill press, jack stands, massive floor jack etc, as well as a ton of corded and cordless tools that I do not put in my tool box.

I need to devise a plan to lock everything up, to keep honest people honest. A few minutes with a roll back or the overhead crane and it would all be gone anyway.

I was thinking of building a huge "closet", with barn doors that I could mount the drill press , grinders, and buffer into, along with a built in bench, and could wheel the welder and plasma into.

I've never seen nor even considered building something like this before, but I have also never shared a shop with anyone but friends. I was wondering if anyone else had any ideas on this before I start throwing money at an idea.

 

[carcajou]

Buy insurance and a couple cheap lockers and don't worry about it. It can never be too secure for a determined thief.
If you want a storage container the small seacans would work well and are easy to buy and resell.

 

[wendlwacker]

What about a dog kennel like 6 x 8 with the top panel on? you could secure most large items inside and still get in and out to work? Just bolt it to the floor. Or if they wouldn't let you bolt it to the floor put some straps of 1 x 1/4 across the floor and put the drill press and other large items on top and attach to the kennel. You couldn't lift it up then and just crawl under.

 

[ncfh]

Inland marine insurance and/or metal cage. You can rent them.

 

[LXCam]

^^^ expanded metal cage would be cost effective. You could even install a wireless internet connected camera with a alarm for notification for you to monitor on your phone if the shop has a wireless network set up.

 

[toolz]

globalindustrial.com/c/material-handling/trucks-carts/security-cage

Something like these - lots of choices out there.

 

[mickeyone]

knaack box designed for work sites, chain it down to something immobile.

 

[930dreamer]

X2 on all the tool cage ideas, be sure you have a complete inventory with serial numbers just in case.

 

[zkling]

Is it just open bays or are there walls and doors separating? I can't see much of anything that will not be either
a.) a huge pain to get your tools out when you need them or
b.) will not be easily opened by a 4.5" grinder, 1/2" drill and bolt cutters.


Do the other tenants do anything to prevent their tools from growing legs? The main question is, how nice is their stuff vs your stuff?

 

[bcradio]

Sea can if it fits would be my suggestion... Also good insurance

 

[Jagmandave]

JobBox sounds like a good idea.....fairly available on Craigslist too.....

 

[fanatic]

If it's that big of a headache it isn't worth doing, I would find a shop to move to where I wouldn't have to share with anyone.
One of the things you're overlooking is if one of the other tenants "accidentally" leaves the door unlocked you may lose everything and depending on your insurance policy they may not pay.

 

[LXCam]

knaack box designed for work sites, chain it down to something immobile.

That's a great idea. Knaak or kanuck depending on who you ask around here has a great selection if job boxes, even ones that fully open in the front. And if you have never tried breaking into one, well it sure ain't easy. But you could bolt it down to the floor or wall if okay with the owner and it'd be as secure as it can get.

 

[hickfied]

The only other tenant with access to the bays is a welder. He doesn't secure anything.

Ended up talking to couple guys at the race shop beside it today. They have a great impression of the other tenant. Turns out the shop i am looking at leasing, can't be used for vehicle storage, because of fire codes. I'm going to have to call the city on Monday and find out if I can actually work on vehicles inside. I hope so, the bays are long enough to fit a tractor and trailer in at the same time, seems like this place used to be a truck repair shop.

 

[ncfh]

... And if you have never tried breaking into one, well it sure ain't easy. But you could bolt it down to the floor or wall if okay with the owner and it'd be as secure as it can get.

Actually the more accomplished thieves know where to attack straight down through the top and done.

Yeah... My Koike "Handy Auto"

This is why I have inland marine insurance, covers your tools and equipment from any misfortune, anywhere at full replacement value, cash within 24 hours, and all kinds of other nifty riders.