Introduction: Personal Safe Lock Box - First Time Author

Do you ever need something to hide money in? Or maybe keep items away from your little siblings? Well the safe is just that! You can hide many items in it for only $80 instead of going out and buying one for over $100. This creation is really helpful for storing important stuff or anything you want to be stored and kept safe. The safe will help prevent problems because if there is something you want to be kept up or away you can store it into the safe. The safe has a lock and a key so people cannot get into it without the key which will prevent things of your getting stolen. I chose to solve this problem because my sister likes to take my things like money so to be able to keep it safe and locked up she will not be able to get to it because there is a lock on the safe. Anyone can use this creation for whatever they like.

This was a great project assigned in my Computer Technology class at LBMS in Westlake, Ohio. Thanks to my Dad for helping me learn about woodworking!

Step 1: Cutting Out the Wood

In this step you are going to cut out a 12 by 12 inch square for each side. To cut the wood, use a table saw to cut out 4 panels of wood. You are going to have to cut out one 12 by 12 inch panel on each side. On one of the sides make sure to cut the square opening in the middle to make a spot for the door of the safe to go.

Step 2: Materials

The cost of everything I purchased was a little over $80.00 and I bought everything from Lowes and Home Depot. Most of the materials I had to buy.The only material I had at home were the nails for the nail gun and regular nails that you use for the hammer. If you are like me, you probably did not have a lot of these tools and materials you most likely do not want to spend a lot money. Instead of using a nail gun you can just use wood glue which is something you would already need. Also another thing you could use instead of a level is a ruler. There are lots of things that you can use to spend less money for this project.

  • hammer
  • screwdriver
  • saw
  • pencil
  • level
  • nail gun
  • sander- if you want
  • drill

Step 3: Fastening the Wood Together

In this step you will have to get all four pieces of wood that you started with then put the wood glue on the side you want to glue. Then you can use a clamp to help the wood stay in place while it is drying. You might need someones help to glue the wood pieces together and to put on the clamps.

Step 4: Nail Gun Wood Together for Extra

This step is a step that you can do but you don't have to do. This step is here if you want your safe top have extra support after it drys.

Step 5: Cut and Glue

This step is another step that can be added for decoration. You will need to cut out pieces of wood that are 12 by 4 inches.Then you will need to glue the pieces onto the safe and then let them dry. After that's done you can add the other additional pieces of wood on the other sides of the safe

Step 6: Make the Door

during this step you will need to cut out two pieces of 7 by 7 inches and glue them together. This will be the set up for the door.

Step 7: Set Up the Lock, Hinges, and Handle

These are the materials you will need to make the door. You can add a handle for extra if you want but you will need a lock to keep it shut and need the hinges to hold the door on and in place.

Step 8: Put on the Hinges

In this step you will put on the hinges. First make sure you measure the spot and make the spacing even between the two spots where the hinges will be going.

Step 9: Cut the Hole for Lock

In this step you will be setting up the lock. You will need the door and a hole saw which will help create the hole for the lock also called the dead bolt lock. To set up the hole saw connect the orange piece in the picture to a drill and then drill it into the location you would like the lock to go.

Step 10: Placing the Handle On

In this step you will be placing on the handle. You will need to mark a location for the handle. Then drill two holes for the screws. After that place the screws through the holes then attach the handle.

Step 11: Staining Your Safe

In this step you will be staining your safe. You can use any stain you would like but I used a black stain. First start by staining the top then go around I found it easiest to start on the top then make my way around. One tip when you are staining it make sure you stain it in the direction the grain is to make it more appealing.

Step 12: Conclusion



The creation I made or the Safe was not to hard but not to simple. When making this project I
would make sure to follow the directions carefully so you know what you are during. While making this project I learned that when you cut the wood or place it down that it has to be the same length and size. If the wood is off by a little bit you can tell and then it won't be even. While doing this project I thought there really weren't any challenges that I came across. When I did this project I received a lot of help from my dad because of the types of tools we used. But over all I think the creation or project itself came out cool and was fun doing it.