Making metal cabinets in DayZ can be a great way to store your loot and items securely. With the right materials and some time invested, you’ll have sturdy storage cabinets that other players won’t be able to easily break into. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about crafting metal cabinets in DayZ.
Introduction to Metal Cabinets in DayZ
Metal cabinets are secure storage containers that can only be accessed by the player that placed them. They cannot be damaged by melee weapons and are explosion resistant, making them ideal for stashing valuable loot. Metal cabinets come in three sizes:
- Small metal cabinet – Holds 20 inventory slots worth of items. Requires 8 metal sheets to craft.
- Medium metal cabinet – Holds 40 inventory slots. Requires 12 metal sheets to craft.
- Large metal cabinet – Holds 60 inventory slots. Requires 16 metal sheets to craft.
Metal cabinets are locked by default when placed. To unlock them, interact with the cabinet and input a 4 digit code. Other players cannot access your metal cabinet without the code, so be sure to remember it!
Below we’ll go over everything you need to know to craft metal cabinets in DayZ, including:
Gathering Materials to Make Metal Cabinets
The key ingredients needed to craft metal cabinets are:
- Metal sheets – The main crafting component. You’ll need between 8-16 sheets depending on the size of cabinet.
- Code Lock – Creates the lockable interface for your cabinet. Requires a combination lock.
- Screws – Required in the crafting recipe. Usually found in industrial areas.
- Pliers – Also required for crafting cabinets. Look in sheds and garages.
Let’s go over how to find each of these:
Finding Metal Sheets
Metal sheets are most commonly found at industrial and construction sites like:
- Cranes
- Warehouses
- Factories
- Workshops
- Garages
When loot spawning, head to these areas and check any large metal freight containers. Metal sheets commonly spawn inside.
You can also find sheets already crafted into structures at some sites:
- Check around the base of cranes and construction equipment. Metal sheets are sometimes found placed here.
- Pile of rusty sheets can spawn at industrial zones. Search through them to salvage clean sheets.
- Fences and barricades may have sheets you can dismantle with pliers.
With some searching, you should be able to scavenge the 8+ metal sheets needed. Now let’s look at securing that all important code lock.
Locating a Code Lock
Code locks allow you to set a four digit PIN to lock your cabinet. These are crafted from combination locks, which spawn at:
- School lockers
- Post offices
- Police stations
- Fire stations
Search any lockers and shelves at these locations to hopefully find a combination lock. You’ll need one to craft each code lock.
Pro Tip: Combination locks are small, so keep an eye out carefully! Check the ground near lockers as they can fall and be easy to miss.
Finding Screws
Screws are needed for the metalwork involved in crafting cabinets. Your best bet for finding screws is searching at:
- Garages
- Industrial areas
- Construction sites
Check any table or shelving and loot any toolboxes found. Scavenge through piles of scrap as screws are small and easily missed.
Locating Pliers
Pliers are our final ingredient and are also common at garages and industrial zones. Check toolboxes, tables, and any shelving. Also keep an eye out in:
- Farm buildings
- Sheds
- General residential areas
With some luck, you should now have all the materials needed to start crafting! Let’s look at the actual metal cabinet crafting process step-by-step:
Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Metal Cabinets
Once you’ve gathered all the ingredients, here is the detailed process to craft your lockable metal cabinet:
1. Craft a Code Lock
Take your found combination lock to any crafting surface like a workbench. Combine it with:
- 1x Metal wire
- 1x Screw
This will create a code lock that is ready to be attached to a cabinet.
2. Craft the Cabinet Frame
The cabinet frame forms the base structure and storage space. Craft it by combining:
- 8-16x Metal sheets (depending on size)
- 2x Screws
You should now have the unsecured cabinet frame item ready.
3. Add Code Lock to Complete Cabinet
Take the crafted cabinet frame and code lock to a crafting surface. Attach the code lock to the frame using pliers to complete the metal cabinet.
You now have a fully crafted metal cabinet ready for secure storage!
4. Place and Access Your Cabinet
You can now place your metal cabinet firmly in a base or building. Once positioned, interact with it and input a 4 digit PIN to lock it.
To access the storage, simply interact and enter the PIN again. You alone will have access – perfect for safekeeping the best loot!
Some tips on effectively using your cabinets:
- Try to place in concealed locations to avoid drawing attention.
- Memorize the code and don’t share it with other players.
- Change the code occasionally in case it gets compromised.
- You can deconstruct cabinets with pliers to pick them back up.
And that covers the complete process! You can make as many lockable metal cabinets as you need. Just collect enough materials for each one.
Now let’s look at answers to some frequently asked questions about crafting cabinets in DayZ:
Frequently Asked Questions About Metal Cabinets in DayZ
Q: Do I need to have specific skills to craft metal cabinets?
No specific skills are required! As long as you have the ingredients outlined above, any player can craft metal cabinets.
Q: How do I know if a cabinet is empty or full?
You won’t know if a cabinet has loot inside until unlocking it. There is no external indicator if it’s empty or full.
Q: Can other players destroy or steal from my cabinet?
Not easily. Metal cabinets have very high health and are resistant to melee damage and explosions. Players cannot access your loot without knowing the PIN code.
Q: Can I pick up and move an already placed cabinet?
Yes, interacting with placed cabinets gives the option to deconstruct them back into your inventory with pliers. You can then reposition as needed.
Q: Do combination locks respawn or are they finite?
Combination locks have a chance to respawn on server reset at applicable loot areas. However, they are rare, so cabinets should be relocated when possible.
Q: How many items can the large metal cabinet hold?
The large cabinet has 60 inventory slots for storage. This is enough for a substantial stockpile of gear!
Q: Can I craft cabinets without finding a combination lock?
No, the code lock made from the combination lock is a required ingredient for crafting all lockable cabinets.
So in summary, with some scavenging at industrial areas, you can find all the materials needed to craft strong metal cabinets. Place them securely to create powerful storage that will keep your most valuable loot safe!
Storing Different Types of Loot in Metal Cabinets
Metal cabinets are extremely versatile storage that can house many types of valuable loot. Here are some examples of ideal items to stash in your lockable cabinets:
Weapons Cabinet
Metal cabinets are perfect for safely stockpiling weapons:
- Rifles – Store sniper rifles like the Mosin Nagant or assault rifles like the AK-47.
- Shotguns – The Spas-12 and other powerful shotguns are perfect to stash.
- Pistols – Smaller handguns can be safely locked away too.
Keep your best modified weapons protected in a cabinet.
Food and Water Cabinet
Try dedicating a cabinet just for food and drinks:
- Can Food – Stockpile any canned goods like beans, tuna, or peaches.
- Bottled Water – Extra bottles of clean water are always valuable.
- Tetracycline/Charcoal – Medicinal pills that you’ll want secured.
This creates an emergency ration stash to fall back on!
Gear and Medicine Cabinet
Important survival gear and medical supplies are vital to lock away:
- First Aid Kits – Unused kits or extra bandages/rags.
- Blood Bags – Safeguard any rare blood bags you find.
- Heatpacks – These slowly raise body temperature when hypothermic.
- Radios – Store backup radios, batteries, or chargers inside.
Keep your most useful equipment protected.
Base Building Supplies Cabinet
For players looking to build a base, a cabinet can store key materials:
- Wooden Planks – Essential base building component. Stockpile excess planks.
- Nails – Required for crafting, good to have extra on hand.
- Combination Locks – Extra locks for expanding your base.
- Wire – Useful utility material for crafting.
Secure the supplies you need for base expansion.
Valuables Cabinet
Finally, a cabinet is the perfect place to stash your rarest finds:
- Jewelry – Gold chains, rings, precious stones, etc.
- Collectables – Rare hunter caps or designer clothing.
- Access Cards – High value cards allowing access to locked areas.
- Car Parts – Stash wheels, batteries or other rare vehicle parts.
Safely lock away the most prized loot you uncover!
Where to Position Metal Cabinets for Maximum Security
Picking the right spot to place your newly crafted metal cabinet is an important decision. You want to position it where it will be kept secure but also conveniently accessible.
Here are some tips on choosing ideal locations:
- Upper floors – Placing cabinets on higher floors reduces the chance of being ambushed when accessing them.
- Concealed corners – Positioning in out of sight areas stops players from snooping around.
- Low traffic areas – Reduce the risk of discovery by situating away from busy pathways.
- Vault rooms – Build locked and guarded rooms specifically for storage.
- Underground – Burying cabinets in underground stashes offers great concealment.
Some other examples of secure cabinet placement:
- Corner of a courtyard building interior.
- Basement level of a castle or fort.
- Back room upstairs in a house or shop.
- Forest shelter concealed by trees and bushes.
- Deep in a shipping container or hangar.
Avoid placing cabinets in very exposed areas. But also don’t make them so remote and hidden that you lose track of them! Find a good balance based on your base location.
Experiment with double layered security by keeping cabinets inside existing locked rooms behind multiple doors. The more layers protecting your loot, the better!
Conclusion
Crafting metal cabinets is an excellent goal for anyone looking to securely stockpile valuables in DayZ. By looting industrial zones, you can find all the needed materials to craft lockable cabinets resistant to damage and theft. Carefully position them in your base for an incredibly useful storage solution.
Remember to differentiate what types of items go into each cabinet – weapons, food, medicine, valuables, etc. This organizes your stockpile effectively. A series of vigorously protected metal cabinets can let you amass a small fortune in loot!
Make sure to memorize your cabinet codes and restrict sharing them so that only you have access. Following this comprehensive guide, you now have the knowledge to construct impenetrable metal cabinets to safely stash anything. Use them to establish supreme security and peace of mind in your DayZ adventures!