Securing your shop

[Sparkey]

Moving into a new place and it has about a 10'x14' shop attached to the back of it. There is some rot in places so I will be rebuilding a portion of it and would like to install some windows so that I can have natural light and look off into the backyard.

I know if it difficult to make any building bulletproof, but I was thinking about buying some sheets of shatterproof lexon and building the windows myself with some bars or grates sandwiched in between two panes. Any thoughts on what to use in the middle or how else to secure it?

Thanks!

Josh

[smolder holder]

Quick connects for your torch, so at the end of the night you can just disconnect and take it inside with you.

Locks are a good deterent as well.

I also recomend a german shepherd or other large breed. No one will get onto my property without me knowing about it.

[funksizzle]

Ahh, So I'm not the only one that looked into the bulletproof pad under the bed? Paranoia itself kills. Don't be a victim of fear bud. Even in the ghetto, bud. Breakins, quite possibly, but don't waste your money on bulletproof anything. Go from paranoia to trust.

[Aaron Ellis]

Get good locks and find a steal worker have bars made for the windows and a gate for the door and you should be good
And when it comes down to it. If you get jacked who the hell can they sell your shit to anyway. Lampworking equip. Is a selective market.

[aREa541]

I would make silicone molds of all your equipment and build a decoy shop. Put up dummies in front of the kiln/torch molds and leave the lights on. Your real shop should be underground which could be accessible with a book lever hidden in a bookcase or possibly a retinal scan.

Or you could get a camera system which is quite cheap nowadays. If you wanted to go even cheaper they sell fake cameras that would also deter would be thieves.

[Sparkey]

WINNING!!!!


I would make silicone molds of all your equipment and build a decoy shop. Put up dummies in front of the kiln/torch molds and leave the lights on. Your real shop should be underground which could be accessible with a book lever hidden in a bookcase or possibly a retinal scan..

I'm not trying to be uber-paranoid, but I'd like to build a shop that would make thieves work a bit to gain entry. Had a good long discussion with a friend yesterday and his take was that the polycarbonate plastic windows would be enough to keep people out and that they would pretty much have to cut through the walls. Not bulletproof, but not too shabby.

And my home security system:

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z231/sprung598/tired_happy_chico.jpg

[godling]

It would seem that everyone's security concerns revolve around their equipment, which is totally understandable ... protect the expensive $#!+. Am I just being paranoid to think it's my inventory that a thief would be breaking in to steal? I can't imagine most losers hauling off my kiln (or to even know what one is), but can totally picture a "friend" that would bust in to steal a couple hundred worth of pipes.

[barefoot stash]

Locks and bars are the way to go. Bullet proof glass may get spendy. Dogs are okay as long as they know their job. Most "family pets" are trained to be docile and suck when it comes down to actually guarding a place.

[barefoot stash]

The only problems we have ever had in our studio have come from people we already knew and invited in to our space.

[jedi glassworks]

What about a wireless camera. These days they are pretty cheap, and you can see whats going on from most computers or phones.

Bryan

[TlkQ]

The only problems we have ever had in our studio have come from people we already knew and invited in to our space.


This^^ You may be good at picking out not-too-shady people to bring back to your studio, but who knows who their friends are. Everytime I've gotten robbed it's because a "friend" opened their mouth about my shit to their sketchy friends. Surround yourself with genuinely good people and it's all good.

[Sparkey]

I think the lexan plastic windows are actually pretty cheap - they get more expensive if you get a very large piece of it, but pretty reasonable in the more common sizes.

And, yes, cameras will be a part of it. I've got some cheaper wireless Linksys ones that will email me a photograph upon detecting motion. I work during the day, but like the idea of knowing real-time what is happening on my property.

I'm also working on setting up an account with a local electronics distributor; they sell both surveillance and home security products, so I will be fishing some wire to put in some alarm equipment too. I've had gear stolen in the past, so I just want to do some preventative medicine on the front end of things.

[smolder holder]

This^^ You may be good at picking out not-too-shady people to bring back to your studio, but who knows who their friends are. Everytime I've gotten robbed it's because a "friend" opened their mouth about my shit to their sketchy friends. Surround yourself with genuinely good people and it's all good.

This is where it's at.

[Frostbite]

Bars can help somewhat, but lexan protected by steel bars would be even better. I worked at a construction fastener/supply store where we had every latest and greatest powertool displaying on the wall, all less than 30ft from the door, with security cameras, an alarm system and bars on all the windows/doors. One night had a few guys in masks back a truck up to the door, throw a rock through the glass, tie a chain from the bars on the door to his hitch, floored his truck to rip the entire door off from the steel bars, and two other guys loaded 50k worth of power tools and safety equipment into their truck and were gone before the alarm company stopped calling to see if everything was OK and sent the police.

I'm not sure how prevalent or expensive they are among security systems since it's been a few years, but you should check up on dewalt jobsite security systems. they are real similar to what you expect from an alarm monitoring company like ADT to install around your home, except you set it all up yourself. Had heard of a few stories of whole trailers worth of equipment and copper cabling being saved because of these things. Though we also had one customer super pissed off because of how many false alarms were trigged by birds, but I'm guessing that's due to setting up motion detectors on an outside job..

[Stable]

I loooooove security,
going to bed at night knowing everything is safe is a good feeling, and I live in a good neighbourhood.
PM for a website that sells lots of CCTV cameras, and other electronics free shipping! (from china of course lol)

[Sparkey]

but you should check up on dewalt jobsite security systems. they are real similar to what you expect from an alarm monitoring company like ADT to install around your home, except you set it all up yourself.

The Dewalt stuff looks like an interesting product - I've heard that the alarm monitoring services are next to useless in terms of response times. I'm going to gear my system toward monitoring it myself....

@Stable: What is the site you're referring to?

[Mr. Wonka]

Look on eBay for "Wireless Camera", and you can get a small system for less than 30 bucks.

[leatherneck8541]

deff love to see a pic of the neighborhood if bulletproofing is needed hah

[Sparkey]

deff love to see a pic of the neighborhood if bulletproofing is needed hah

I used to live on the west side of Chicago....nothing whatsoever like that :-)

The neighborhood is very quiet, I know the neighbor immediately next door, two german shepherds behind me, two rotties across the street. Great place and you guys are totally right, my anonymity is my best defense from thieves. Seems like torches tend to develop legs, especially here in Eugene, so I'd just like to be proactive about it....

[eb4evr]

I used to live on the west side of Chicago....nothing whatsoever like that :-)

The neighborhood is very quiet, I know the neighbor immediately next door, two german shepherds behind me, two rotties across the street. Great place and you guys are totally right, my anonymity is my best defense from thieves. Seems like torches tend to develop legs, especially here in Eugene, so I'd just like to be proactive about it....

over past the river? yikes

good luck keeping your stuff safe. i've seen cameras/systems that can even update to your phone.

[leatherneck8541]

hah hell yeah i know what you mean, i was in the corps. everything grew legs, "gear a drift, is gear a gift" ;) hah funny but yeah sucky when it happens to you:( maybe window shaded to pull down after work to keep the "lookie-loos" from peeking in

[2wheeler]

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=693&name=Video-Monitoring-Kits-All-in-One-Systems

my fiance and i own a salon/day spa... had some of my pendants and her retail stuff missing... bought this system above...haven't quite got it all together yet but seems really legit. my dad is a electronics guru and scouted this one out... it'll upload to your phone or save to harddrive... we're just waiting to hook it up to our tv and get some longer wire for the cameras.. you can even upgrade to a camera that you can control the movement... small investment for peace of mind.

[2wheeler]

i'm also a big fan of that razor wire they put around prisons... American Fence has it in the midwest , not sure how far they branch out...

[nodice]

Didn't feel like reading the whole thread, but figured I'd point out that bullets leave trace evidence. Someone could much more easily melt their way through plastic without leaving evidence compared to trying to break into a store with a gun. The whole idea of using plastic for windows is that wind will not break it easily. They say bulletproof, but what they really mean is high wind resistant, not robber resistant. I'd get some insurance and an alarm.

[Frostbite]

Right because a crackhead is worried about trace evidence..what they mean by bulletproof is impact and shatter resistant.. rocks, pipes, crowbars and small calliber guns aren't gonna smash through in a second like regular glass...

[ITIS]

Didn't feel like reading the whole thread, but figured I'd point out that bullets leave trace evidence. Someone could much more easily melt their way through plastic without leaving evidence compared to trying to break into a store with a gun. The whole idea of using plastic for windows is that wind will not break it easily. They say bulletproof, but what they really mean is high wind resistant, not robber resistant. I'd get some insurance and an alarm.

not sure what you use for bullet proof glass, but plexi glass is not bullet proof and real bullet proof glass is not plastic.

Bulletproof glass (also known as ballistic glass, transparent armor or bullet-resistant glass) is a type of strong but optically transparent material that is particularly resistant to being penetrated when struck by bullets, but like all known materials, is not completely impenetrable. It is usually made from a combination of two or more types of glass, one hard and one soft. The softer layer makes the glass more elastic, so it can flex instead of shatter. The index of refraction for both of the glasses used in the bulletproof layers must be almost the same to keep the glass transparent and allow a clear view (not distorted) through the glass. Bulletproof glass varies in thickness from three-quarter inch to three inches. (just sayin)

[BrassMonkey]

shotgun pointed at the window, with a pully system tied to the window and trigger.

[barefoot stash]

= manslaughter charge for you

[BrassMonkey]

Ooook, then an anvil hung above the window with a tasty carrot below it.

[barefoot stash]

nice...I would bait it with a pint of Mad Dog 20/20 though.

[barefoot stash]

Or an Oatmeal stout if you want to catch hippies

[Julian]

Red Bull and vodka if you want to catch... ? People like that

[smolder holder]

Red Bull and vodka if you want to catch... ? People like that

I might shoot out a window for one of those.....depends on the vodka

[PrismGlassWorks]

As a retail owner in a bad neighbor hood i had to learn the hard way. In my old shop we had 3 smash and grabs over a 10 year span. I have tried all sorts of different glass types and learned that if they want in they'll get in. Get a camera because its not how they got in its WHO got in. Any way back to your question I found lamented glass to be the best it takes a lot longer to tear your way threw it. Plexy Glass scratches easy and if not installed right you can apply even pressure on it and push it out of the frame.

Phil

[LifeGlass]

...

[LifeGlass]

..

[LifeGlass]

If you know how to secure, you know how to penetrate....maybe this should be moved to a non public section?

[VertigoGlass]

Top way not to get your gear ripped off let no one in your shop. 90% of shop break-ins are related to someone you have let into your space be it them directly or someone they told. Bars over the windows and blinds on the glass. Good quality locks and a steel door are nice. Make sure the casing to the door esp around the lock area is screwed in with 3 inch long screws. Bolt and lock everything down. A friend of mine drills larger holes into the bases of his gtts and they get a large lag bolt with a hole drilled in the shank for a small lock. The areas where the torch is bolted to the base he has tig welded the nut to the bolt not 100% theft proof but would slow someone down. Prevent as much snatch and grab as you can. Also dont post on facebook or other forums about you being out of town or away from your pad.

[funksizzle]

Post deleted by funksizzle after second thought.

[Sparkey]

It was a good 'un :)


Post deleted by funksizzle after second thought.

[Sparkey]

These look like they might work well to cover the windows, and not too expensive either:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?keyword=burglar+bars&selectedCatgry=SEARCH+ALL&langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&Ntpc=1&Ntpr=1

[LFC]

http://burglarbomb.com/AB-2000.aspx

this would do the trick

[BK]

^ damn

[re-vit]

JOBOX (http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/JOBOX-Jobsite-Chest-1MCE9?Pid=search) workbench!... close the hatch and it's locked down for the night.

i'm no a fan of wireless camera systems. perps can park near your shop and tune in with their own receiver, using your cameras against you. it's a simple mod for a car that's already got a built-in backup camera.

add privacy film to your windows.

[Dubbz]

If you happen to invite somebody into your shop, scare the shit out of them. I like to keep my guns around, like in a hip holster, and then i talk about all kinds of crazy shit like killing related shit. To top it all off, I end with how I blasted the dude that was breaking into my house back out the window with a 12 guage to the chest. I've never had any problems, from anybody. I also once knew a guy that ran the corner gas station when I lived in houston, he kept like 5 guns nder the counter. I asked him why he had so many one time, and he told me because in the event someone tries to rob me and I kill them and find they had no weapon on them, one will be provided for them. I liked it, I use the same reasoning in my home defense now. But if you are not as trigger happy as I am, you should go with the quick disconnect idea and take your torch in with you, a torch looks a lot less valuable on my closet it shelf than it does on my bench

[Bunyip]

As much as I hate thieves and scumbags, if they're not threatening your life they don't deserve to die. I just don't think "stuff" is worth a human life. That's what insurance is for.

Not to say I won't defend myself or my family without hesitation.

[Shatner]

If you happen to invite somebody into your shop, scare the shit out of them. I like to keep my guns around, like in a hip holster, and then i talk about all kinds of crazy shit like killing related shit. To top it all off, I end with how I blasted the dude that was breaking into my house back out the window with a 12 guage to the chest. I've never had any problems, from anybody. I also once knew a guy that ran the corner gas station when I lived in houston, he kept like 5 guns nder the counter. I asked him why he had so many one time, and he told me because in the event someone tries to rob me and I kill them and find they had no weapon on them, one will be provided for them. I liked it, I use the same reasoning in my home defense now. But if you are not as trigger happy as I am, you should go with the quick disconnect idea and take your torch in with you, a torch looks a lot less valuable on my closet it shelf than it does on my bench

NEVER advertise that you have weapons, especially firearms!!! That's a thief's dream. Also, if you don't lock your guns up and they get stolen and the thief shoots someone with your gun, you can be charged with neglegence (of securing a firearm).

[Mr. Wonka]

believe that THIS SYSTEM (http://www.flashfogsecurity.com), along with an indoor siren of 115 - 140 dB (the pain threshold) would be effective in any shop.

Tom

[loco]

believe that THIS SYSTEM (http://www.flashfogsecurity.com), along with an indoor siren of 115 - 140 dB (the pain threshold) would be effective in any shop.

Tom

That is cool and I see how it could work in most any place along side a regular alarm system!

[Tsnider]

i have a 100 pound american bulldog guarding mine. my little 8x9 studio is built onto my house and someone is always home typically so im not too worried.


my dog is a big asshole to strangers. tries to bite people all the time its terrifying for me. anyway might sound paranoid but when people i dont know too well come over, i put him in my room and shut the door. dont let your dog become friends with people who know where your shit is.

Wonka those security systems are stellar and i want one. wish they posted prices makes me wonder

Bunyip, i feel ya. i wouldnt shoot to kill buy i promise i wouldnt hesitate to blow a knee out. if someone wants to rob and make money, they should do it to corporations, not hard working people.

[FredLight]

I'm triple locked up....

Plus, you can't get to my shop without passing a gate, a dog, my room, motion sensor lights and a beep that goes off when the studio door is opened.

Having said all that, I ask that the thieves take a break from taking our bread and butter.

Wishing everyone a safe and secure 2012.

[eb4evr]

Wow, those fog security systems are one of the coolest things I've seen in a while! Very smart and creative stuff, I wish they had prices put up

[Mr. Wonka]

I just spoke to the rep, and their small system, the Tiger 1500, will cover an area from 400 to 700 sq. feet. It takes 30 seconds on the low end, and 60 seconds on the high end to fog the room.

The system works with an existing alarm system (cheap ones are about 100 bux), and the fogger lasts for 4 to 7 activations before you have to change the $45.00 cartridge.

The system is a bit pricey at $2189.00 (shipped), but can easily pay for itself the first time it's needed.

You can call Jeremy directly at 519-747-7811 for more details or to order one.

I hope that helps : )

Tom

P.S.- He will be e-mailing me with a detailed quote, and I'll copy and paste it here when I get it.

[Mr. Wonka]

Oh, I forgot to tell you that the system also includes a strobe light , which makes things harder to see and induces confusion.

Tom

[Bunyip]

Bunyip, i feel ya. i wouldnt shoot to kill buy i promise i wouldnt hesitate to blow a knee out.

I understand the sentiment but I disagree strongly, and I'm very pro-gun. Turning a simple theft into a life-or-death situation is not smart. I won't get into a long conversation here but it's a bad idea on so many levels. Contact me privately if you'd like me to explain my thinking.