Secret Compartments

[cabinetman]

Have you created any secret/hidden compartments in any cabinets, desks, or entertainment centers? If you have pictures that would be great. If not, explain what you made.
.

[Stytooner]

If I told you about them, they would not be secret anymore.
I have done hardback book voids before. I remove the binding first, then clamp the pages between two boards using screws. Then cutout from the binding side.
Then hot glue the cover back into place. Perfect little hiddy spot.

I have seen some secret hide spot on some chests and cabinets before.
The best I have seen is a relatively easy to locate secret spot, but then that spot has a false bottom.
They don't search for a false bottom once they have found the initial secret spot.

[Uncle Cracker]

I have done a couple of things in the past... I did one pier wall (bridge over a bed) where some of the face frames were hinged to reveal hiding places. I have also done one desk and a dresser with false bottoms below the lower drawers. Sorry about having no pics, but I didn't take any...

[radhak]

I made a table last year for my daughter http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=44516, which had 'hidden' drawers sections at the back.

It has simple mechanism : small stops on the inside of the drawer opening that obstructed the false back of the bigger/front portions. But effective - neither her sister, nor her mom have ever figured out that there is anything secret about this table!

[cabinetman]

A great area that's usually unused is the area in the toe kick. An area under the floor of a base cabinet works out very well. The cabinet is constructed without a floor, and the toe kick creates the box. It's 4" deep by whatever the dimensions are for the cabinet.

In this picture the floor section is actually hinged at the side with euro hinges. If there are two base doors hinging them high enough the floor will clear the hinge as it's lifted. For a cabinet with one door, hinge the lift lid on the same side as the cabinet door is hinged. In this case, a bank of drawers are above the lift lid, and a few would have to be removed to lift the lid. Sizing for the lid can be with 1/32" or less gap.
.

.

[Lee4847]

The bottom drawer in this RV pantry is special. I don't have a clear picture on file and the RV is in storage so I can't go out and take a picture. The drawer slides are mounted on a frame that has 4 dowel pins sticking up. then the drawer is on a matching frame that sits on the dowels. The front of the pantry is about 3 inches deep plus the bottom frame is up a couple of inches. We pull the drawer out and lift up and have a 14" x 24" by 5 inch deep secret location. The only apparent difference in the drawers is the front lip is wider than the rest. We did this after the RV was broken into and they took the wife's purse.

[MilDoc]

http://www.finewoodworking.com/Skill....aspx?id=26008

http://www.scribd.com/doc/8401774/Th...-Hiding-Places

http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Rooms-C.../dp/0967113903

That last one I have followed - nice results.

[Pappy]

Never took pictures of it, for obvious reasons, but suffice to say there is an emergency key to the house that I don't worry about anyone finding.

[LCHIEN]

All my work has secret compartments. I just don't know where they are.

[Uncle Cracker]

Get some BORG plywood... It's already chock full of secret compartments...

[JimD]

I've used the toe kick area, as suggested by cabinetman. I also have a DVD storage end table with a shallow drawer using the area covered by a couple 3/4 inch mouldings. It isn't exactly a secret compartment but has been challenging for some to find. I put the remotes in it. I didn't want to make the end table taller so I used this space.

Jim

[Salty]

I'm working on something now but I don't know if it would qualify for 'secret'.
The end table I made has a short pull-out shelf right below the top. This will have thin cork glued into the recess and will be for holding cups and glasses, instead of coasters.
I am trying to devise a hidden mechanism to push it out about 1/2", then a recess in the underside can be used to pull it out the rest of the way.
'When closed, it will not be apparent that it is a shelf as it will not have a handle to pull.
I think I got the mechanism worked out, some of it still in my head..so-to-speek.
I'll get a picture later.

[charliex]

Get some BORG plywood... It's already chock full of secret compartments...

Now that is funny!!

[Salty]

Well, you wanted pictures...here ya go.
Pictures did not load in order...darn!
4 of the pics show the lever pushing the tray forward. It moves it about 3/4". I spring loaded it so it would be in the correct position when the tray is slid back in.
The underside of the front lip is recessed so it is easier to pull it the rest of the way out. It slides out about 6".
To make it even more hidden, I plan to recess the underside of the top where the lever is located.

Salty