Vault Door

[InjectorService]

Does anyone know anything about vault doors? I recently acquired one from an old bank, maybe 70s or 80s. I can't find a tag or anything on it. It's very heavy, I'd suspect the 1500-2000lb range without the frame.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Planning on taking your shop security to a new level?

 

[Kaizen]

damn..........pretty simple devices when you can see the inside. strange design makes it look hard to attach to surrounding structure

 

[Alflee]

They should be removed with the door frame work attached. Any way to go and get that? If it was a concrete vault construction it was grouted in place.

 

[InjectorService]

I'd say this is most likely going in my next house. And yes, it will be a bit of a challenge to attach to the structure. I'm thinking I need to have a frame of sorts welded up, then pour it into concrete.

And it is a very simple system, almost something you could build yourself.

 

[InjectorService]

They should be removed with the door frame work attached. Any way to go and get that? If it was a concrete vault construction it was grouted in place.

Unfortunately that wont be possible. I didnt remove it, I just bought it, but apparently it wasn't possible (or feasible at least) to remove the frame.

 

[Walkers]

Whatever you do, make sure you have a second way into that room for when you can't get the thing open.

 

[FL Guy]

Whatever you do, make sure you have a second way into that room for when you can't get the thing open.

or get out!

 

[Fav Onefour]

I used to work at a little place that had quite a few walk in vaults. I had to open and close them every day.

That door with dual spinners will not be a quick open setup if anyone spins one by accident. I'm guessing they are both 100 digits. Do they still spin free?
I get the idea of wanting to put it in your next place. Would you actually use it as a locked room?

The weight is a factor in convenience. It's a lot to move even with perfect hinges.
Those doors are a bit dangerous if you're not careful. Once they start swinging, they have a lot of momentum. A true taper will crush and the right angel will shear if something is that deep into the opening. I'm guessing that the stainless is just a fake skin put on for looks. If you build a frame and try to hang the door, the stainless will probably get damaged. Maybe try to peer underneath where the skin already looks loose. I bet the real door is just a multi step square angle.
There would normally be an inside cover skin. It's nothing fancy in most cases. You could make one out of whatever material you desire. It should also allow for internal release. I can't see a single throw lever, but I'm guessing it had one.

With all the practical stuff aside. That's a pretty cool thing to try and use if possible. It takes one heck of a wall. Go out and drop 1,500 lb weights from about three feet onto unsupported building materials for awhile. The structure that lasts will be your wall construction. A true vault needs more than walls.

 

[couch67]

or get out!

Oof. was I the only one who had an instant cold sweat reading that??

 

[Fav Onefour]

Oof. was I the only one who had an instant cold sweat reading that??

Vault doors should have an internal release.

Want to get real nervous? We had dual swinging doors. The second one locked and swung inside. The second door wasn't reinforced as heavy, but it still made you nervous. That setup is relatively rare, but used in situations where people work inside vaults all day.

 

[WillyBoy]

The weight is a factor in convenience. It's a lot to move even with perfect hinges.

I see you have the hinge blocks. Remove them if you can and clean them completely. There should be some type of bearing in there. Fav gives good advise. Make sure the hinges are mounted absolutely vertical. This is not the kind of door that should have a bias to swinging open or closed unattended.

 

[Kpaige]

Time for a very cool 2nd amendment safe!

 

[Pate]

Most vault doors are made to order. Mosler is a common mfg for vault doors. That appears to have 2 S&G spy proof dials for dual custody.

 

[nadogail]

A vault door will discourage any but a skilled Professional.

 

[CJDave]

The important info was probably on the inner skin that seems to be missing. Mosler would be my first go to for info. CJDave.

 

[wssix99]

That looks to predate the modern doors with safeguards to keep you from locking yourself in a vault, suffocating, etc.

IMO - I would turn it into a coffee table, workbench or charcuterie board.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

I'd say this is most likely going in my next house. And yes, it will be a bit of a challenge to attach to the structure. I'm thinking I need to have a frame of sorts welded up, then pour it into concrete.

You sure about that? I think it would be risky. Someone may get trapped or may lose an extremity. It would be a huge liability if someone gets hurts.
As for protection, in a regular stick-built house it will offer absolutely no protection. Unless you are building a concrete bunker with no windows, anyone can get inside using a window or cutting a hole through the wall.

 

[ctandc72]

Not going to lie - that would be an epic conversation piece.

"Fred, where's the bathroom?"

"Down the hall, door is on the left. Combo is 12-21-45-39-23-19. Good luck."

 

[p00p]

could be a cool refrigerator door...

 

[driftpin]

That is scaw-ey!

 

[Old tool guy]

Looks like the 3-dial time lock is still attached on the inside of the door.

 

[Metal-Marc]

Make sure you build the room with reinforced concrete 3 ft thick.

 

[Zeke]

could be a cool refrigerator door...

Or welding table.

 

[RalphInCA]

My first thought was “why in the hell would anybody want one of those?”

Then I remembered what forum I was on.

 

[bbbarracuda]

My first thought was “why in the hell would anybody want one of those?”

Then I remembered what forum I was on.

It isn’t worth doing if it can’t be overdone!!

 

[bluedog225]

It’s very cool. I used to have a giant cash vault. Way too heavy for my foundation. Learned the hard way.

On the inside, behind the dial, there was a small metal box with glass tubes filled with greenish liquid. The fire dept speculated teargas or a nerve agent.

Problem with a vault door on a room is that you are most likely to die when emergency personnel can’t reach you when you have a stroke etc.

 

[NUTTSGT]

It would be a lot easy to incorporate it as a house was being built rather than retrofitting an older home.

It would probably be more secretive if it was done DIY, during either. People talk and now, they take pics with their phone.

 

[Old tool guy]

Build the vault door into a room, put a sign on the door: gun safe, keep locked. And then put the guns in the clothes closet on the other side of the room.

 

[Uncle murph]

That looks to predate the modern doors with safeguards to keep you from locking yourself in a vault, suffocating, etc.

IMO - I would turn it into a coffee table, workbench or charcuterie board.

Coffee table

 

[bbbarracuda]

That looks to predate the modern doors with safeguards to keep you from locking yourself in a vault, suffocating, etc.

IMO - I would turn it into a coffee table, workbench or charcuterie board.

Now we're talking. A charcuterie door.
That'll hold a whole cow and all the cheese.

 

[lolaetype]

I'd say this is most likely going in my next house. And yes, it will be a bit of a challenge to attach to the structure. I'm thinking I need to have a frame of sorts welded up, then pour it into concrete.

And it is a very simple system, almost something you could build yourself.

If you are going for looks only disable the locking mechanism. If it is missing the back cover panel I'd clean up the mechanism and make a cover out of Plexiglas so everyone could marvel at the mechanism.

At 1,500 pounds minimum it's going to require a really stout frame of welded steel and the structure that will keep the frame plumb when the door is opened will probably prove especially challenging in a residential construction setting. .