I needed a place I could keep spare keys and the keys I didn't want to carry around with me everywhere,

I came up with a place that was very accessible to hide my keys in plane sight.

Step 1: What I Started With

I got this sign as a gift from my wife, it hung in the garage for a month or two before I decided that it was just too plain.

Step 2:

I used a scrap piece of pine and covered it with masking tape, marked out the dimensions of the sign and centered it on the wood, then cut it down to the size I needed, routed the edges smooth and recessed the area for the hinge.

The hinge I used is a locking bi-fold door hinge.

After I had the edge and hinge area routed out I mocked it up to check the fit of the sign face.

Step 3: Preserving the Wood

After mock up it was time to put some color to it, I wanted to try a Japanese technique of preserving wood called Shou-sugi-ban, so out came the blow torch. The burning Smell was very earthy and warm.

I wanted a rustic look, So some area's got the torch a little heavier than others, after I charred the whole board I sanded it with 250 grit sandpaper, and gave it a second burn ( I sanded it too heavy in some area's ) after the second go with the torch I used 2000 grit sand paper to bring the shine out, finally wiped it down with tung oil and let it dry.

Then assembled it for the next step.

Step 4: Trim and Final Parts

I covered the edges with masking tape (can you tell I love this stuff?) and marked where the edge of the sign came down.

I used 1/2 inch trim molding to frame the sign so you couldn't see behind the edges, I also used the same burn technique on the trim piece's then gave them a quick sanding and wipe down with tung oil.

Marked where I wanted the brads to sit in the trim, pre-drilled the holes, pulled the tape off put a light coat of wood glue on the back of the trim pieces and tapped the brads in place, I used clamps to hold everything in place till the glue was dry.

(I do apologize for not having more pictures, it's very easy to move ahead a couple steps without taking pictures, I'll try to explain to the best of my abilities.)

I placed 2 neodymium magnets one in the bottom on the inside of the sign and one on the base to hold the cover down while closed.

I then used 2 brass studs on the inside near the top to hold the key rings.