This will show you how to make a secret compartment that can be built into a bookcase, or some other piece of furniture. It uses a sneaky lock that doesn't expose any hardware to the surface. If you can keep from showing all your friends (I couldn't), this would actually be a useful place to store valuables. This design is very flexible to all sorts of shapes and sizes. It can also be installed vertically.
You will need:
UPDATE 1/9/08:
WOW! Thank you so much to everyone who has commented and checked out my instructable! I had no idea people would find it this interesting! Keep experimenting and sending me your thoughts and variations on my design!
Also, Cousin Eddie wanted to see if neodymium magnets could open the lock, instead of the key, here are his findings:
"Anyway I checked to see if I could open a latch with simple neodymium magnets & found that it took at least 3 small (watch battery size) neod. magnets to open it. BUT you have to have the polarities of all the magnets (including the one inside the latch) lighted up.... otherwise it wont work. Simple to do though. Think I will mount the magnets in my own "key". "
Thanks for the findings!
UPDATE 1/27/08:
I received a request for some pictures of what my bookcase looked like as a whole. I put it them in at the end.
You will need:
- A bookcase. I built my own, but virtually any sort of furniture will work: bookcases, china cabinets, dressers, whatever. Just be sure there is a clear amount of space underneath, and the surface for the hatch is at least half an inch thick.
- Magnetic Child Lock
- Concealed Hinges
UPDATE 1/9/08:
WOW! Thank you so much to everyone who has commented and checked out my instructable! I had no idea people would find it this interesting! Keep experimenting and sending me your thoughts and variations on my design!
Also, Cousin Eddie wanted to see if neodymium magnets could open the lock, instead of the key, here are his findings:
"Anyway I checked to see if I could open a latch with simple neodymium magnets & found that it took at least 3 small (watch battery size) neod. magnets to open it. BUT you have to have the polarities of all the magnets (including the one inside the latch) lighted up.... otherwise it wont work. Simple to do though. Think I will mount the magnets in my own "key". "
Thanks for the findings!
UPDATE 1/27/08:
I received a request for some pictures of what my bookcase looked like as a whole. I put it them in at the end.
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1: Cut out the hatch...
Use a hand-held jig saw to cut out your hatch. I was able to remove the shelf during this step, which makes this much easier. For best concealment, cut along a joint, (ex: in the corner) so the cut looks as natural as possible. For this example, I didn't, but the outline is still faint. Use as narrow a blade as you can, as any gap would look really obvious. This is where you are free to adapt the size and shape of the your hatch.
Visit Our Store »
Go Pro Today »
Same idea with the the hidden hinges and child locks, but a bigger door would make for easier access to the entire space. You could leave the visible screws, but cut them off so they don't actually bite into anything, and reinforce it on the inside with a skeleton instead of a solid board for the structural bit.
Also, instead of hinges, you could add some small rails to keep it in the correct position and use two child locks, one on either end, and then it would pull out like a drawer, and be a bit more secure as well, because someone mught accidentally find one og the mag locks, but probably wouldn't think of there bing two.
.... Thanks !!!!!
I LOVE IT!!!!!!
What do you think they were talking about? If you build something to hide things, drug users will come (not that they should have to).