Locking your equipment up

[Silas Barker]

Any suggestions on a metal safe for a few handheld cameras, around 8 cubic feet would work.

[Shaun Roemich]

Silas: I USED to have a Knaack Model 42.

Knaack LLC - KNAACK JOBMASTER Jobsite Storage Chests

Only issue I had was the completely hidden padlock system was occasionally difficult to lock and required a VERY specific padlock to be purchased separately... If I did it again, I'd get one from the retailer...

[Mark Watson]

Old thread but I just took some photos of my editing suite and my gear storage room since I need to update my insurance. This place has very robust security, so I haven't worried about getting ripped off. My landlord stopped by the other day and freaked out about all my gear. I had just returned from a shoot and was putting it all away. He urged me to increase my coverage, soooo... here are some photos of the gear storage room.

I bought some steel cabinets from a used office furniture store for $500. They lock, but that's just to keep prying eyes away. It would be easy to pop them open. In one cabinet, I keep my dSLRs and other smaller cameras on the shelf, along with some video cables and LANC remotes.

I got some smaller metal/plastic cabinets for organizing all the smaller stuff; batteries, filters, data recorders, tripod accessories, cables, remotes, lens cleaning kit, memory cards, etc. In the top drawer below the cabinet, I keep some lenses, more filters, lens adapters, handy cams. In the 2nd drawer are project archive storage and in the bottom drawer is mostly camera support items.

I keep most of my audio gear in a Craftsman tool chest in a 2nd steel cabinet. In the closet I have a Kessler Cineslider and Pocket Jib as well as a couple tripods and several suction cup mounts and loads of gaffer tape. I have a little charging station area that can handle all my batteries. I keep the FS7 in the Jason Cases large Pelican case, and in one 1510 is all my action camera stuff. 8 cameras with all their batteries and mounts, cables. In the bottom drawer of the Craftsman cabinet I have the Oracle controller, battery pack, high hat and tripod head for use with the Cineslider. Various loose gear are my monitors (SmallHD DP6 and Odyssey 7Q+).

Those steel cabinets helped clear up lots of clutter. Highly recommended. Use smaller electronics parts-type cabinets inside to sort out your smaller items. Label everything.

[Mark Watson]

... and a few more pics!

[Chris Hurd]

Excellent post and pics, Mark -- definitely a discussion topic worth reviving. Thanks!

[Jon Fairhurst]

Somehow, I get the feeling that the username and password on Mark Watson's router are NOT "admin" and "admin". ;)

[Dan Gunn]

That is not secure! Get a safe or two and add your own shelves. Used gun safes can be had cheap. Also an alarm system. I have a whole house system AND a separate system for my editing/equipment room.
The last system has a warning on the door. If you open the door without disarming the alarm, you will be greeted by two absolutely ear shattering sirens (illegal). I only tested it ONCE and my ears were ringing all day. Police response time averages 21 minutes and the thieves know it.

I am a private investigator and have worked on toooo many burglary cases! I live in Atlanta, GA. Every day, we have at least one burglary in our surrounding neighborhoods.

Good luck.

[Dan Gunn]

Originally Posted by Shaun Roemich

Silas: I USED to have a Knaack Model 42.

Knaack LLC - KNAACK JOBMASTER Jobsite Storage Chests

Only issue I had was the completely hidden padlock system was occasionally difficult to lock and required a VERY specific padlock to be purchased separately... If I did it again, I'd get one from the retailer...

That looks like a great system. It has NO wheels so the bad guys can't roll it out the door.