First, sorry about the quality of the picture.  The above pic is actually a picture of the SB-02C.  Which is identical to the SB-03c but the SB-03c is taller. 

Cobalt Safes model SB-03c Fireproof Safe with Burglary Safe.  Has a lifetime fire warrenty and a 5 year warrenty against manufactures defects in labor and materials.  This is an extremely good warrenty in that most manufactures will cover similar but Cobalt Safes goes the extra mile and sends a locksmith to your location to repair.  Most manufactures are also only 1 year in coverage.

First take a look at the door, you will see that it is open. There are two major parts,  an outer door and then a bolt assembly behind it.  This gives it a solid 5 inch thick door on the  SB-03c.   Take into consideration that when  the average thief breaking into the average home.  He is coming into the house with empty hands and wants to leave with them full.  Chances of him bringing tools such as a  crowbar or sledge hammers are not the norm.  If he does find the safe he will most likely be too unprepared to even beat on it and will quickly move to everything else we leave available in our homes that is easy to pocket and easy to pawn.  Such as our laptops, tvs, dvrs and even my son’s Nintendo! (God forbid that gets taken)

Now for something hypathetical. Lets say you left the a crow bar and sledge hammer next to it and a small sticky note that says “beat me” on the safe.  The SB-03c is going to hold up.  The outer steel wall, which is an extreme thickness of about 1/8 inch steel is reinforced by a cement based fireproof wall with another steel wall on the interior.  This makes for excellant strength against common tools. 

The 5 inch thick door is also too thick to get a crow bar down deep enough to actually gain enough purchase to even begin to start using a crow bar on the door.  So in my opinion the SB-03c is one of the best buys on the market today.

Combine this with a 2 hour fireproof  and a center bolt down (so the safe can’t picked up and carried away) for a sturdy little fortress of protection. 

I also like the size.  Though it may be too large for most home situations it does offer good room to grow into.  The last thing most of want to do is purchase two safes.  I often advise to purchase 1 during your life.  But make it something you can grow into because this safe is designed to last a lifetime.  See more details at Cobalt Safes SB-03c

Cobalt Safes model SB-02c Fire Safe /Burglary Safe.  Comes with a lifetime fire warrenty plus a 5 year warrenty against manufactures defects in labor and materials.  This is a very good warrenty in that most manufactures will cover similar but Cobalt Safes goes the extra mile and sends a locksmith to your location to repair.

Lets start at the door of the safe. There is an outer door and then a bolt assembly behind it.  This makes for a hefty 5 inch thick door on the  SB-02c.   When we examine the average thief breaking into the average home.  He is coming into the house with empty hands and wants to leave with them full.  Chances of him bringing a crow bar or sledge hammer are slim to none.  If he does find the safe he will most likely be too unprepared to even beat on it and will quickly move to everything else we leave available in our homes that is easy to pocket and easy to pawn.

Now for something hypathetical. Lets say you left the a crow bar and sledge hammer next to it and a small sticky note that says “beat me” on the safe.  The SB-02c is going to hold up.  The outer steel wall, which is an extreme thickness of about 1/8 inch steel is reinforced by a cement based fireproof wall with another steel wall on the interior.  This makes for excellant strength against common tools. 

The 5 inch thick door is also too thick to get a crow bar down deep enough to actually gain enough purchase to even begin to start using a crow bar on the door.  So in my opinion the SB-02c is one of the best buys on the market today.

Combine this with a 2 hour fireproof  and a center bolt down (so the safe can’t be picked up and carried off) and its looking even better to me.

But wait, it gets better! The lock is a Sargent & Greenleaf group II dial lock.  Made in the state of Kentucky by real American hands.  The design and quality of these locks last for 100 years (warrenty is only like 5 but they are very well built).  Includes an extra sensative “glass relocker” on the safe to keep out the intelligent thief that may show up with better tools than a crow bar and hammers.

Last I want to point out the hinges.  Notice they are of a monsterous design.  That is because these are ball bearing hinges just like you see in bank vaults.  These keep the door from sagging after decades of use.

The SB-01c Fire Safe /Burglary Safe. Is made by Cobalt Safes.  Comes with a 5 year warrenty plus a lifetime warrenty for fire.  Though the picture is not the best here you should still be able to see what I’m going to point out to you.

First look at the door. There is an outer section and then a bolt assembly behind it.  This makes the SB-01c door about 5 inches thick overall.  When we examine the average thief breaking into the average home.  He is coming into the house with empty hands and wants to leave with them full.  Chances of him bringing a crow bar or sledge hammer are slim to none.  If he does find the safe he will most likely be too unprepared to even beat on it and will quickly move to everything else we leave available in our homes to steal.

But lets say you left the family crow bar and sledge hammer next to it and a small sticky note that says “beat me” on the safe.  The SB-01c is going to hold up like a champ.  The outer steel wall is reinforced by a cement based fireproof wall with another steel wall on the interior.  This makes for excellant strength. 

The 5 inch thick door is also too thick to get a crow bar down deep enough to actually gain enough purchase to even begin to start using a crow bar on the door.  So in my opinion the SB-01c is one of the best buys on the market today.

Toss in a 2 hour fireproofing with a center bolt down (so the safe can’t be picked up and carried off) and its looking even better to me.

But wait, it gets better! The lock is a Sargent & Greenleaf group II dial lock.  Made in the state of Kentucky by real American hands.  The design and quality of these locks last for 100 years (warrenty is only like 5 but they are very well built).  Includes an extra sensative “glass relocker” on the safe to keep out the intelligent thief that may show up with better tools than a crow bar and hammers.

I honestly feel that this safe, as well as the rest of the SB line, is built to pass along to the grandkids in a few decades from now.  Take a closer look for more details or to purchase at SB-01c.

SB-01C

Outside Dimensions

Height: 18″ Width: 17 3/4″ Depth: 20 1/2″

Inside Dimensions

Height: 12″ Width: 12″ Depth: 12″

Weight

170 lbs.

I just got off the phone with Fire Fyter Safes company.  They are trying to sell off their company as it is no longer of benifit to manufacture safes in the USA.  Sad day for the people in Ohio who are watching another old and established company close production.   There is faint glimmer of hope that someone will pick up the manufacturing but as of this writing it has not been done and we are removing  their line of safes from our site. 

If some “White Knight” takes over and restarts production again in the USA we will proudly pick the line up again.

The ES-031D and the SS-031D are the largest in 1 hour fireproof home safes that is made by Cobalt Safes.  Has good pry resistant locking bolts on the door opening side and a staionary locking bolt on the hinge side. Just in case the hinges  are cut off with a grinding tool or torch. 

Es-031D comes with an electronic lock that is one of the better import keypads on the market today.  Non volitale memory so it will not loose the combination if batteries go dead or are removed.  There is also a “lock out” mode on the keypad if the wrong combintion is entered more than 5 times.  It will stay in lock out mode for 5 minutes and then reset itself. (You cannot reset the timer by removing the batteries)

The SS-031D comes with a combination dial and key.  Yes, it takes both to open the safe.  The dial must be unlocked and then the key is used in place of a handle to retract the bolt.  Many folks open the dial in the morning and use the key to get in and out of the safe during the daytime.  Then lock the dial when they are finished using the safe for the day

1 Hour fireproof protects against most fires (but its not good enough if you live in a wildfire zone in California…try two hour in those areas) Also has center bolt down hole and comes with bolt down package.  Which we recomend you bolt down your safe. 

Pull out drawer located at the top of the safe and 1 removable shelf comes with the safe.  No option for more shelves on this model.  To view more safes like this model or to purchase this model. View Home Safes.

ES-031D

Outside Dimensions

Height: 20 1/2″ Width: 16 1/8″ Depth: 17 1/2″

Inside Dimensions

Height: 16 1/2″ Width: 11 3/4″ Depth: 12 1/2″

Weight

132 lbs.

1 hour fireproof Pre-drilled anchor hole (2) 6 number digital lock (1) steel pull-out tray (1) adjustable steel shelf 1 1/2″ wall thickness 2 1/2″door thickness (2) 5/8″ solid steel chrome plated bolts (1) stationary hinge side bolt (4) AA external batteries Non-volatile memory

Cobalt Safes model EM-030 fireproof home safe is favorite size of mine though not the most popular of this series.  It has a relatively convient weight in that it is easy to move for a home safe and yet large enough to hold the typical household paperwork.  Such as passport, wills, deeds, trusts, etc.  If you are a pack rat though you may wish to consider a larger model.  1 hour fireproof safe protection.  Good protection from a “sticky finger” thief and pry bar resistant…… you know I just looked at the picture again and it looks like the Em-015 but know that this picture doesn’t seem to do it justice in regards to the size.  Its good one and you will not be sad you purcased the EM-o30 from Cobalt safes.  To see one or purchase one see the EM-030

Tags: cobalt safe, EM-020, Fireproof safe, fireproof safes
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Fire Fyter Fireproof Home Safe

Friday, August 15th, 2008

Still waiting to hear more about Fire Fyter’s fireproof home safe manufacturing move to China.  Supplies are still coming from here in Ohio.   But they are starting to sell out of models and most are marking them sold out in thier stores.

We wait with anticipation for to see the upcoming quality.

Tags: fireproof home safe
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Cobalt Safes model EM-016 1 hour fireproof Safe

Tuesday, August 12th, 2008

 Cobalt Safes model EM-016 1 hour fireproof Safe.  Is designed the exact same as the SM-016 1 hour fireproof safe.  Except it has a keypad on it.  You will notice on the left is the turn handle to pull back the bolts.  On the right side of the keypad is the battery compartment.  It holds 4 AA size batteries.  Also has a non volatile memory.  Which means if you remove the batteries and then put them back in, you had better remember the combo because the keypad will!  Great theft deterant.

Excellant value for protection against theft and fire.  Be sure to bolt it down to your floor so it will not be carried away or leave the through bolt hole exposed.  Below is some good information on it or you can follow here to for more. EM-016

EM-016

Outside Dimensions

Height: 15 3/8? Width: 11 5/8? Depth: 12 5/8?

Inside Dimensions

Height: 12 1/4? Width: 8 1/2? Depth: 8 1/2?

Weight

54 lbs.

1 hour fireproof Pre-drilled anchor hole (2) 6 number digital lock (1) steel shelf 1 1/2? wall thickness 2 1/2?door thickness (2) 5/8? solid steel chrome plated bolts (1) stationary hinge side bolt (4) AA external batteries Non-volatile memory

Tags: cobalt safes, em-016, fireproof home Safes, fireproof safes, Safes
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Cobalt Safes EM-015 Electronic Fireproof Safe

Saturday, August 9th, 2008

Cobalt Safes model EM-015 is the same safe as the SM-015 but with an electronic keypad instead of a dial.  It does have a hole in the bottom of the safe and is designed to be bolted to the floor.  Yes, it comes with the bolt down package.  Remember, if its not bolted down.  Its not very fireproof! See the specs below.  Very good quality especially for the money.

Tags: em-015, fireproof home safe, Safes
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Fire Fyter Safes

Monday, August 4th, 2008

Sad news hit me last week regarding Fire Fyter Safes.  They are shutting down their manufacturing facility here in the USA.  Ohio will be a little worse off as unemployment will rise.  Fire Fyter is shutting down its products and starting to import the safes from China!

So they are going from making a high quality product made by American hands to importing a Chinese knock off.  We will have to wait and see if they can maintain quality standards.  I’m a bit depressed about this because Fire Fyter safes were in high demand.  Quality was there.  Why move it over seas?  They were the last low end, affordable, made in the USA safe.

Time will tell and I will let you know the quality results as they come in.

Tags: fire fyter safes, safe manufacture, Safes
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Cobalt Safe SS-031D Fireproof Safe

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

Cobalt Safe model SS-031D. Is the most  popular in the line up of Fireproof Home Safes.  Its also the largest.  Why is it so popular? I’m not 100% sure.  But the comments I get on it range from “Most size for money”, “Pull out drawer and adjustable shelf”, “Its big but its not too cumbersome”.

I will say this, the picture is a fairly acurate picture of the safe except you can’t see the black pull out tray that is also included.  You can see the adjustable shelf with the door open.  You also get a good view of the bolts on the door opening side.  However, there are also fixed bolts on the hinge side to add support and strength against crow bar attacks.  Though its primary purpose is not strength against burglary but it is strength against fire!  A solid 1 hour fire rating. 

The Cobalt Safe SS-031D is steel lined hole in the bottom of the safe to bolt down to your foundation to keep the safe from being carried off.  It is important to note that when you buy a safe you are buying “Time” time against fire and time against theft.  If you live in a high crime area and you want to keep 50k of cash and jewelry in this safe, then this is not the safe for you.  This safe is made it hold important papers, some cash, some jewelry, a pistol or other medium size items.  It will hold up against a prybar attack in that it would be classified as “resistant” but not for an extended period.  You will notice I like to “under sell” most safes.  Which means I’m not going to push a safe like some kind of late night infomercial selling Ginsu Chopping Knives!  But hopefully give you as realistic picture of the safe and its intended purpose. 

That being said this is an excellant Fire safe to protect against fire and protect against “light” theft or sticky fingers as I like to say. Go here to see a model SS-031D or the rest of the fireproof home safes.

Tags: cobalt safe, fire safe, fireproof home Safes, Fireproof safe, SS-031D
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Fireproof Home Safe SM-030 by Cobalt

Saturday, July 26th, 2008

Fireproof Home Safe model SM-030 by Cobalt is the same safe as the model SM-020 only its put on its side and the hinges are are now on a different side.  Still uses the key to pull back the bolts after the combination has been dialed open. Don’t loose the keys.  I have also noticed some people leaving the safe dial in the dialed open position and only using the key to get in and out.  Though this can be done its not good to not relock the safe with the dial. 

There is also a handy pull out platic tray on this model and comes with a bolt down kit.?

Tags: cobalt safe, fireproof home safe, home safe, Safes, sm-020
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Cobalt Sm-020 Fireproof Home Safe

Friday, July 25th, 2008

 This is a picture of the Cobalt SM-020.  One hour fireproof safe.  Comes with a steel lined predrilled hole in the center and mounting hardware.  Dial lock is secure but it is not a Group II lock.  You will not be able to change the combination on this lock easily like a Group II.  Though it can be changed by a locksmith but not set to any specific group of numbers.  It just comes up random because the way the safe is designed.

You will also notice it comes with a key and no handle.  This is because the key acts as a handle and adds an extra security measure to the safe.  Security aim is to keep sticky fingers off your schtuff!  It will hold up to a small tool attack but that is not its main purpose. Fireproof and stopping sticky fingers is.

Tags: , cobalt safe, fireproof home safe, home safe, sm-020
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Fireproof Home Safe model SM-016 from Cobalt

Friday, July 11th, 2008

Fireproof Home Safe SM-016

Fireproof Home Safe model SM-016 is from Cobalt Safes.  You will also find this safe under a variety of manufactures. Such as Gardall Safes and Adesco.  However, you will notice that we have them at a much more affordable price.  You will also notice a different selection of paints on each brand because they all have a contract with the manufacturer to paint it in their colors. 

Its important to point out that this is the same safe as the SM-016.  Only its turned on its side and made to open up a different way.  But other than that it has the same dimensions.

Which ever manufacturer you purchase this safe from you will be getting a great quality Fireproof Home Safe.  Factory tested for 1 hour with bolt down hole in the center.  It even comes with the bolt to bolt it down.  VERY easy to do.  I have included a paper on our website that teaches how I do it.  

I get a lot of questions about burglary resistant.   Well, its designed to keep out “sticky fingers” (sticky fingers are people that would break in a safe but would help themselves if tempted)and it can hold up against small tools.  I would not qualify it as a high security safe.  Though it is well made.

You will notice that it comes with a dial or electronic keypad.  The dial is not a group II lock but it is a good one.  I have noticed that the dial works more like a locker lock that you may have had in high school.  I would suggest to elderly and impatient people to choose the keypad.  Its just easier to get in and out of….and if its easy, you will use it more.?

Tags: cobalt safe, fireproof home safe, Fireproof safe, sm-016
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Fireproof Home Safe SM-015

Tuesday, July 8th, 2008

Fireproof Home Safe model SM-015 is from Cobalt.  You will also find this safe under several other manufactures. Such as Gardall Safes and Adesco.  However, you will notice that we have them at a much more affordable price.  You will also notice a different selection of paints on each brand. 

Which ever manufacturer you purchase this safe from you will be getting a great quality Fireproof Home Safe.  Factory tested for 1 hour with bolt down hole in the center.  It even comes with the bolt to bolt it down.  VERY easy to do.  I have included a paper on our website that teaches how I do it.  

I get a lot of questions about burglary resistant.   Well, its designed to keep out “sticky fingers” (sticky fingers are people that would break in a safe but would help themselves if tempted)and it can hold up against small tools.  I would not qualify it as a high security safe.  Though it is well made.

You will notice that it comes with a dial or electronic keypad.  The dial is not a group II lock but it is a good one.  I have noticed that the dial works more like a locker lock that you may have had in high school.  I would suggest to elderly and impatient people to choose the keypad.  Its just easier to get in and out of….and if its easy, you will use it more.?

Tags: cobalt, fireproof home safe, Fireproof safe, sm-015
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More News on Current banking. See article below.  

With economy in the tank, people are banking on safes

by Judy DeHaven/The Star-Ledger

Thursday October 16, 2008, 9:00 PM

At Cy Drake Locksmiths in Morristown, one of the most popular models of safes these days is the AMSEC combination fire-burglar-gun safe.

It’s not that Morristown residents are buying more guns, said the store’s owner, Henry Printz. They’re finding the larger model necessary, he said, for all the cash, jewelry and other valuables they want to keep, well, safe.

It’s all part of the new economic age, when every day brings another stream of turbulence from Wall Street and everyone is nervous that their bank is going to be the next to fail.

Jim Pathe/The Star-LedgerJeff Baldwin of Cy Drake Locksmiths in Morristown shows off one of the shop’s burglary- and fire-resistant models

“This time of year is usually a little slow,” Printz said. “But everybody’s scared. I’d say sales are up maybe 50 to 75 percent.”

While there are no formal statistics, safe manufacturers, online retailers and licensed locksmiths in New Jersey say sales of home safes have soared in recent weeks as people have grasped for some sense of security in these uncertain times.

“Nobody wants to admit it, but people are afraid the banks are going to crash,” said Dave C. Ribel, owner of Top Security Locksmiths in Point Pleasant, who has sold 15 safes in the last three weeks when his shop would typically sell three. “And they think people are going to turn to crime and break into their house and look for their stuff.”

The spike in retail sales has led to more orders for manufacturers. Sentry Safe, a manufacturer in Rochester, N.Y., said its sales have increased 20 percent to 50 percent over the last three to four weeks. And the Hayman Safe Co., another manufacturer from Ovido, Fla., said its sales are up 35 percent to 50 percent.

Zack Gilmore, an online retailer based in Corpus Christi, Texas, with two websites — www.valuesafes.com and www.vaultandsafe.com — said his internet sales are up 100 percent this year, and he is on track to see a 300 percent increase in the last month alone.

In addition, Gilmore said, some 200,000 people have Googled the word “safe,” in the last 30 days. That’s up from 136,000 for the same period last year.

“We’re getting a lot of folks here recently who are saying, ‘I’m pulling between $10,000 and $20,000 out of the bank,’” Gilmore said. “They’re not taking their life savings. But they’re taking an emergency fund.”

Earlier this week, Sovereign Bank, one of the nation’s largest thrifts, said customers pulled $4.2 billion, or almost 9 percent of deposits, in recent weeks, a trend seen by a number of other large banks since the start of the year.

Gilmore’s current best seller is a fireproof and burglary safe on sale for $539. Gilmore said that is a typical starter safe, which is 18 inches high and about 20 inches deep. But as people stop to think about what they can store in a safe, they often move up to the bigger models. Many are willing to spend several thousand dollars for a high-quality safe.

What about bank safety deposit boxes?

“People want the extra protection,” said Dick DiVittorio, vice president of the Hayman Safe Co. “They don’t know if a sticker is going to be on the door the next time they go to the bank.”

It is not unusual for safe sellers to see an increase in demand after catastrophic events or downturns in the economy. When forest fires ravage the west, sales of safes increase. Ditto for hurricanes in the south.

Likewise, safe sellers saw increases at the turn of the millennium with the Y2K scare and also after 9/11, said Sondra McFarlane, director of marketing and communications with Sentry Safe.

“Our products are the types of products people become aware of in times of peril and uncertainty,” McFarlane said.

While locksmiths and manufacturers said they have seen a surge in sales during the last three weeks, Gilmore, the safe retailer, has also seen more subtle trends.

He said his sales first increased back in January, when the price of gold hit historic highs.

“We started getting what I’d call the fringe of society,” Gilmore said. “I talked to this one guy who said, ‘I live on this island. And I want to keep all my gold bouillon on my island with me.’ We started getting those kinds of odd ones.”

Then, when Bear Stearns collapsed in the spring, Gilmore’s businesses experienced another increase from the “folks that remembered the Depression,” he said.

“Now,” he said, “it’s everybody.”

The last three weeks in particular have been a boon for safes, as huge swings in the stock market have become the norm and the government has struggled to implement a bailout plan and restore a sense of calm in the markets.

“Many people are frightened because of the economic situation at hand,” said McFarlane of Sentry Safe. “Unfortunately, it’s causing decisions to pull money out of financial institutions and put it in our safes.

“We are not condoning the practice of taking money out of financial institutions and putting them in our product,” she added. “But if people are going to take out their money, and they’re going to end up putting it in a mattress or the icebox or a drawer or someplace that’s not secure, then certainly our product is better.”

WOW! The run on the banks still going on. The stock market was up almost 1000 points. But look behind the curtains. Banks still are not loaning!  Here is another article.  Be reassured though that you can get your money. But be carefull with your Safety Deposit Box.  “Big brother” will be watching you open your box if your bank collapses.

After last week’s record losses, the Dow today bounced back with the biggest one-day point gain since the Great Depression.

While stocks might be up today, some consumers are deciding their money is better off at home. Around the country, and here in Salt Lake, home safe sales are booming.

At Bob’s Lock, Safe and Key in West Valley, general manager John Pester told us he’s seen nearly a 40 percent sales increase in big gun safes and smaller fire safes. He says he’s noticed the sales spike particularly in the last month or so.

“We have had to replace a lot of inventory because of it. We’ve gotten a big shipment. We got about 15, 20 safes in from the factory just recently, so we have a lot of safes in stock to keep up with the demand,” Pester said.

He says they usually only carry a handful of safes in their store. They’ve bumped that number up to about 20 total, which is more than they’ve ever stocked before.

It doesn’t take a genius to see why sales are up. Pester thinks people are losing faith in the system and, instead, keeping their money where they can see it.

“I had one customer tell me that they needed a safe big enough to put $100,000 into. And I’m like, ‘OK, we have, we probably have a safe big enough for that.’ And I was a little surprised that they would tell me that, but that was just within the last month,” Pester said.

Pester says large gun safes generally sell for about $800 up to $3,500. The smaller ones range in price from $300 on up.

Federal data shows that in the last few months domestic bank deposits have dropped $40 billion.

Here is a copy of a recent article on the run on the banks.

Even though governments around the world are rushing to guarantee the deposits in their nation’s banks, nervous customers aren’t convinced.

When the banking system seems to be falling apart, some like to keep their cash as ’safe as houses’.

It’s good news for a shop in London.

“Well, we’ve noticed a real upturn in sales,” Anthony Setchell, sales manager of Home Safes said. “We are trading nearly three times as much as we were at the same time last year and installations have gone up as well, so much so that we are thinking of taking on a new member of staff because our current guys are overworked.”

Setchell said the phones have begun to ring a lot more.

“We’ve noticed an increase in enquiries relating to storing cash in safes rather than valuables which is what we were previously getting most calls about,” Setchell said.

It’s a sign of the times - no more complex derivatives; bits of paper and virtual wealth that nobody seems to have understood.

Instead, today’s insecure punters want something a little more, well, concrete.

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