Hidden Compartment Shelf

by showmewoodworks

57K1.6K37

Intro: Hidden Compartment Shelf

In this project I make a shelf that has a nice little hidden compartment perfect for hiding valuables from thieves or children!

Some mobile applications won't allow the video to be played so here is the link

http://youtu.be/MDi_vMkJ16A?list=UUfNM36Ftt9feBvVuTyishag

STEP 1:


38 Comments

oaksquare617 6 years ago

Great project, I'll be making a version of it soon. I have a question before I do. There are two blocks on the frame that appear without explanation and are not there in the picture of the mounted shelf so they must be on the front side. Are they just spacers to add shelf depth? Again really great project, thanks.

monkeyB1 9 years ago

Now, I can hide every thing a man needs to hide. IYKWIM!!XD

AustinP22 8 years ago

Like your virginity ooooooooor?

jennifer.andersondowning 9 years ago

Nice and simple. People need to lighten up. I agree with the glasses. But, seriously people. Appreciate it for what it is. Quit critiquing everything he is doing / not doing. Just enjoy that this is a simple, good looking, fun project! ;)

mbrunette 9 years ago

I need to make this, it is absolutely beautiful, great work and thanks for sharing.

KenS2 9 years ago

Just a note on safety, pulling a cut piece back against the tablesaw blade is a very dangerous move, as the piece can climb the blade and start a kickback. Also it roughs up the forward cut. Otherwise its good to see people without gray hair getting into woodworking!

kudzu63 9 years ago

I saw a guy do that exact thing with a half of a sheet of plywood. It kicked back and I thought it had cut him in half. Knocked him across the room. That taught me all the respect that I needed for a table saw. That and watching a guy get his fingers detatched from one. LOL

jmcdonald23 9 years ago

I like this idea. Couple of questions. First, how come you didn't use dovetail joints on the corners of the drawer pieces and also use wood glue? Second, would it be better to add biscuits to the corners of the shelf when assembling it? I know those ain't load bearing but they might get hit and break. Make sure to mention to mount it to 2 studs and not just the drywall like some might do. I really like how you recessed the plywood on the top and bottom into the shelf so that you don't see the plywood edge.

showmewoodworks 9 years ago

Well to be honest, I am still not all that great with dovetails, when I am in my shop I want to build not practice stuff :) but you could easily use them but I also wanted to use miters because I didn't want a visible joint, and yeah you could use biscuits but like you said since its not load bearing its not that necessary and wood glue is a lot stronger than most people realize so for this task I felt like it would be good enough. I fought over putting in some splines to reinforce the miters with some walnut but my miters came out so clean and practically invisible that I wanted to stay with what I had because the front looked like one big piece of wood. There are so many things you could do with this and hopefully people build it and change it up so I can see what they did!

brv967 9 years ago

just 2 pics for me, is there a link?

showmewoodworks 9 years ago

I put the link in the description thanks for letting me know I guess that's just on some mobile applications.

TK Trooper 9 years ago

There is a youtube video too

tscoggin 9 years ago

Is there a link to a video? In the Instructables app it's just 2 pictures...

Pkranger88 9 years ago

Clever shelf. For all the high end tools you have, I'm surprised you don't do more advanced joints.
I probably would've cut a "squaring" board to keep the legs parallel during the glue-up and used a strap clamp.

Now, to really add some flare, put some actual drawer slides on it and a drop latch that will raise when a magnet is placed on top and then you've got something!

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