Sentry SentrySafe Executive Fire-Safe Fire/Waterproof Safe with Keypad Lock 4.7 Cu. Ft. (EF4738E)

This is my third purchase of a SentrySafe product. My primary reason for continuing with SentrySafe is the excellent support and assistance I received when problems with the internal mechanism of my prior one. I am still using it in addition to the current one purchased.

Burglary was not my prime concern for buying this safe. We live in a secure building and theft would be very hard. However, 2 months ago someone left a candle burning in their apartment and it started a fire. There isn't a lot to burn. Can you say concrete, steel and firewalls. So the fire was a nonissue. However, the sprinkler system soaked 6 units on each floor from #23 to #18. Everything ruined. I was alarmed. I am the keeper of our family history. Most of which I have converted to DVD and CD formats. Furniture, electronics, etc. can be replaced; the family history can't. So I wanted a safe that would protect from fire long enough for the sprinklers to do their job, and keep it all dry. NOW THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS..... WHEN READING THE DIRECTIONS I FOUND OUT THE SAFE WOULD NOT BE WATERPROOF UNLESS IT WAS BOLTED TO THE FLOOR. THIS WAS NOT IN THE LITERATURE, BUT I DID FIND A WORKAROUND. SO I AM HAPPY, BUT I WISH I HAD KNOWN SOONER. MIGHT HAVE MADE ANOTHER CHOICE. By the way, quick delivery, easy to put into place, good size for our stuff, good build quality, and the price was right.

Overall well built but one improvement would give it five stars. I bolted it directly to a flat concrete floor but it wobbled. I thought the floor may have had a high spot but did not. Looking down into the bolt hole cavities after re- bolting, the problem was revealed. The bolts were tight. It was the bottom of the save flexing that was causing the wobbling. The bottom of the safe either needs to be made of a thicker gauge of steel or beefed up to prevent wobbling.

Brought this safe after looking at it for over a year. It finally went on sale. Gives us peace of mind. Heavy enough so I know that one person can't carry it away. I can lag it down if I want. bolts are 1-3/8 thick. Carpeted insides. I even left a few dessicant bags in the baack to keep out all moisture to protect paperwork, even though it may not be needed. Seems to be constructed well. Can't say anymore until a disaster hits. And I'm not looking forward to one!

I do like the safe I have an issue with the industrial oil smell that it has at this time as I bought this to store plant based medicine and the smell could ruin my meds. I also had an issue with the door not locking removed the inner panel and discovered a bent piece, bent it back and works fine now. I do like it but something needs to be done about the smell.

This was the only safe in its size class which was water resistant in addition to being fireproof. Reasonably priced, and unlike other manufacturers, offered free delivery to the door...others would only deliver to the curb, which for a safe this size, would require more umph than this aging retiree possesses to push up a sloped driveway to the house. The safe arrived in perfect condition, and opened right up once batteries (not included) were installed. The electronic lock was easy to program, and instructions and information (in a bag on the outside of the safe) were clear and easy to follow. Internal shelves are padded and adjustable. This is a qualified gun safe, which, at least here in Washington State, means it is exempt from sales tax. For me a 10 percent bonus! Hardware is included to bolt the safe to the floor for additional security, but at a few hundred pounds once loaded, is not something that could be carted away easily! Sadly, the safe comes with two bolt holes predrilled and unplugged in the bottom, which for those who rent or have hard concrete floors which can't be drilled, makes the safe less water resistant. I suppose placing it on a rubber sheet might work. In my case I bought a tube of silicon sealant, filled the holes and let it cure. It would be nice if this model came with rubber plugs or just made the holes as knockouts, but this is the only issue I had with the safe. I have two smaller Sentry safes which have served me well for many years. This will likely be the last one I'll need to buy, and so far, I love it!

I bought this for its size. I wish it was 1700 degrees for an hour but again I needed the size. It was very heavy so you will need a dolly and 2 people to move it. I had to insert the batteries twice to make the safe lock and unlock.

This is a big piece, my concerns is that it had to be bolted down in order to be waterproof. I did bolt down and feel that the bolts were not long enough, one bolt got down good the other would not tighten like the first. Inside the frame of door has partial weather stripping foam. Think it should all around have the foam strip not just part of it. Be prepared to buy something extra for dampness. I got a nice one online, just heat and re-use..I do hope I never have to deal with a fire like I have had in the past. That sentry safe held up to the fire just not the door,, because someone tried to force it open without any luck. I believe that it was the right price for my money. So if you want a good safe sentry is the way to go.

It is what I expected. However, the smell is horrendous. Sentry needs to find another adhesive or liner for the inside. We put the safe in our garage with the door open for one week to let it air out. I had a portable fan blowing inside of it the entire time. It still smells. Every document and my stamp collection got sealed into food saver vacuum bags before getting put into it. I open the safe once a week and let it sit for several hours so it can air out. The smell isn't as strong, but it is still there. I read other reviews about the smell prior to this purchase but didn't realize how valid their complaints truely were.

My school administration purchased the safe so that we could be in compliance with regulations for test storage. But I cannot lock the safe. The bolts slide easily into place when the door is open (which is great, so the system works)