Fireproof/waterproof safe July 28, 2010, 07:44:08 pm Yahoo Message Number: 114860We were talking a little while ago about storing important papers, backup hard drives, and the like in a suitcase-style fireproof/waterproof safe. I was unable to find the one I use (labeled Brinks Home Security) online, but yesterday I saw the same one in Lowe's being sold under the Honeywell brand name for $39.97. I snapped a photo of the carton (I always carry a camera!), and based on that information, I found it online today for $24. Here's the information:Honeywell/First Alert model 2017 Waterproof Fire Protector http://tinyurl.com/232szaj>Key features:* 0.19 cubic foot capacity * Holds 8.5 in. x 11 in. papers flat * Waterproof when fully submerged * Fire resistant up to 1550 degrees F. for 1/2 hour * Convenient carry handle; secured by a clamping style latch with key lock That second point is important. Right next to this one at Lowe's they had a similar-looking unit for only $19.97... but when I looked at the inside dimensions, it was only 7.5" x 10.5", so any standard-sized papers would have to be folded to fit. Why would you bother to design a safe for important papers and make it an inch undersized? Stupid! But that's not a problem with this one. As I recall, Amazon offers free shipping on orders over $25. This sucker is heavy, so make sure you add at least one other item (even if it's only a $1.99 package of pencils) to get your order above that threshold, so you can get it shipped at no cost. (Unless you're like me and belong to Amazon Prime, in which case two-day shipping is free.) Or if you're in a hurry, buy it from Lowe's at list price. Either way, it's just the right size for a stack of papers, spare keys, and a couple of hard drives, while being small enough to stash almost anywhere around the coach. It'll survive an RV fire, and being doused with water by the fire department won't bother it. And the price is right. :-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Fireproof/waterproof safe Reply #1 – July 28, 2010, 09:59:11 pm Yahoo Message Number: 114862Thank you, Andy. I had tried finding one without success. I just ordered from Amazon.
Re: Fireproof/waterproof safe Reply #2 – July 28, 2010, 11:24:08 pm Yahoo Message Number: 114863Quote "I had tried finding one without success. I just ordered from Amazon." WOW! After reading the reviews on Amazon about moisture and mold being a known problem with this item, I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole if I had important papers to protect.Steve S. Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Re: Fireproof/waterproof safe Reply #3 – July 29, 2010, 12:58:17 am Yahoo Message Number: 114864"After reading the reviews on Amazon about moisture and mold being a known problem with this item, I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole" I agree that the comments about mold are disturbing. I didn't see those reviews, because I didn't look beyond the 3.5-star overall rating that indicates most customers are happy with the device--and of course I've had no such problems with mine, so I wasn't expecting anything like this. I wouldn't have been so quick to recommend it if I had read those reviews, so I'm glad you brought them to our attention. It seems the moisture problem doesn't affect all customers (otherwise, the unit wouldn't have a 70% overall approval rating), but does hit a significant fraction. My own safe has been in service for about five years, and the worst I can say about it is that it sometimes has a whiff of urea formaldehyde smell when I open it... but there's never been a trace of moisture, let alone mold. Yet on that Amazon page, some recent purchasers describe serious mold growth. Perhaps the manufacturer has changed the type of insulation it uses. What to do? One customer posted that "the company is aware of the problem and will give you free desiccants (silica gel packets) to soak up the moisture. All you have to do is call them and ask. I got my free silica gel packets in the mail a few weeks ago (they sent several big ones), and threw them in the safe. Now my documents feel nice and dry, and I'm no longer worried that they're going to get ruined by moisture/mold." Another customer suggested putting all documents in Ziploc-type plastic bags, and putting the desiccant packets in the bags. Given the number of people who've complained about moisture and mold problems with this product, I would do both. Why take chances?Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Fireproof/waterproof safe Reply #4 – July 29, 2010, 08:47:07 am Yahoo Message Number: 114867Andy, Steve: I admit, I didn't read reviews - For six months I have waded through thousands of reviews on products to remodel our RV, slipped up this time. I just looked through the reviews, thinking if they were old reviews, I would get it, too many bad new reviews. I canceled my order. Thank you, Steve, for the warning, and thank you Andy for following up once you saw it. Back to the search....
Fireproof/waterproof safe Reply #5 – July 29, 2010, 09:44:14 pm Yahoo Message Number: 114886I've seen fire rated safe's like those you mention (and years ago almost bought one until I researched them and discovered one's rated for media are much more expensive!) but unless there rated for computer media, your media won't survive a fire! (lots of people store their backup on CD's, DVD's and I used to store mine on Fujitsu DynaMo external Magneto Optical Disks that had a 100 year rated shelf life!) but if stored in one of the fireproof safes you mentioned, they would be Toast! Unless a safe states it is rated for storage of computer media, it's not! And those that are rated specifically for safe storage of computer media are quite expensive, and for good reason. It takes a much better insulated safe to protect your valuable computer media from the extreme heat that the inside must be insulated from, in order to safely protect your computer media inside the safe. Don't be lured into a false sense of security by a bargain priced safe, they will Not protect your computer media nor are they rated to do so. Don't take my word on this, write an email to the companies that manufacture the units you speak about. Their inexpensive safes are Not rated for protecting your valuable back up media. Even the hard drive manufacturers will Not claim their drives to be safe from damage in extreme temperatures, (extreme is usually anything in excess of about + - 135 degrees!) And those those inexpensive safes like those units mentioned are not rated specifically for the storage of media. Check this information out, better to find out now then after a fire when your media is rendered unusable after experiencing high extreme temperatures inside a safe not designed for media!Ed 94' Lazy Daze 26.5' MidBath Port Richey, FL
Fireproof/waterproof safe Reply #6 – July 29, 2010, 09:46:24 pm Yahoo Message Number: 114887Good information--thanks, Ed!Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
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