Welding backer inside house

[RayIN]

Aunt and uncle passed and wife was the executrix and she had to dispose of a Diebold floor safe in the basement. I don't even want to get into that fiasco except to say it weighed well over 2 tons and it wasn't on wheels either.

Dad bought one real cheap ($30 I think) at an auction one time. The buyer had to remove it from the basement.
Dad hired a wrecker service to winch it up the stairs leading outside on a ramp he built with native 2x6's and supports under the stairs.
Wrecker driver then delivered it to dads house.
The safe combination was missing, so dad called Diebold and requested a rep come and reset the combination when they were in the area.

 

[Sodo]

No pics, so we're all just "flailing about".

How much of the welding actually backs up against a stud?
Can you have someone on the other side to dowse the stud if it does happen to contact the red metal? It seems like the weld aligning with a stud would be a seldom occurrence.

The stud can be pre-wetted by your helper.
You can slip a sheet of roofing flashing as a heat-shield between the stud and the weld.

Your helper could hold a scrap stud TESTER agains the backside of your weld and you will know exactly what happens to the wood.

And what about skipping a couple inches where the weld aligns with a stud?

 

[BMan2005]

No pics, so we're all just "flailing about".

How much of the welding actually backs up against a stud?
Can you have someone on the other side to dowse the stud if it does happen to contact the red metal? It seems like the weld aligning with a stud would be a seldom occurrence.

The stud can be pre-wetted by your helper.
You can slip a sheet of roofing flashing as a heat-shield between the stud and the weld.

Your helper could hold a scrap stud TESTER agains the backside of your weld and you will know exactly what happens to the wood.

And what about skipping a couple inches where the weld aligns with a stud?

All good respected questions. So I’m waiting for hvac and electrical to be completed so I can cut my 1/4” sheets as needed. I’ve about decided to just go 2x 1/2” durock and 1x 5/8 Sheetrock then stud. This way no worry of extreme heat through to Sheetrock or stud and this should give very good thermal protection against fire as well.

 

[Sodo]

Performing an actual test-weld of 1/4” steel against a dry scrap 2x4 in a similar position will tell you what you need to do in 10 minutes.

I will predict that you will determine that “almost nothing” is required. Perhaps wetting the studs for good measure.
No durock, no sheetrock.

 

[workinonit]

Whatever you find and use you should leave it in place for permanent fire protection. My experience with safes is that it doesn't take much to protect from theft, the real issue is fire and heat protection. that metal box will have almost no fire and heat protection without something layered around it. Also, even the best safes don't protect documents(paper) from fire and heat. Those are best stored inside a small fire safe inside your larger safe.

 

[BMan2005]

Whatever you find and use you should leave it in place for permanent fire protection. My experience with safes is that it doesn't take much to protect from theft, the real issue is fire and heat protection. that metal box will have almost no fire and heat protection without something layered around it. Also, even the best safes don't protect documents(paper) from fire and heat. Those are best stored inside a small fire safe inside your larger safe.

Yeah the backers will be permanent.

 

[sandman2234]

I was asked to build a steel enclosure under a set of stairs many years ago to make a gun storage room. I used cardboard to make a template and tabs on every piece to bolt it together, then I welded in the areas where there was less risk of fire. Almost all of the bolts were welded to prevent disassembly. I had to pay a lot of attention to where I struck an arc, and always make sure my ground was securely attached. The owner was my "fire watch" anytime I welded inside. As many as possible joints were lapped, so the chances of sparks going between the plates was reduced. I can not tell you how many times pieces were installed and removed just to make a small modification! Lots of planning and even more backing up and regrouping, after several months it was finally done!
One of those jobs I severely under bid!
David from jax

 

[workinonit]

I'm sure you have it covered but don't forget about heating it.

 

[chim]

Why weld? With 1/4" you could butt it on studs.