How to Turn an Old Book Into Hidden Storage
We've all seen it in movies--the otherwise unexceptional book in the bookshelf that, once pulled on, leads to a secret room containing priceless antiquities or valuable secrets. Well, unexceptional or old books are also good for something else, something a little more practical to the layman without jewels or an alter ego to conceal--for hidden storage. By carving out the interior of a book you can store valuables such as cash or other secrets like an engagement ring without much risk of them being discovered. Of course, it helps if you have a large bookshelf full of books in which to inconspicuously house your special book.
Things You'll Need
- Old book
- Box cutter
- Ruler or other straight edge
- Spare blades
- White Glue, such as Elmer's
- Container
- Brush
Instructions
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Turning an Old Book Into Hidden Storage
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Mix the glue with some water until the glue becomes runny. The solution should be about 1/2 to 2/3 glue. You shouldn't need very much solution, maybe an ounce or two.
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2
Choose a page of the book where you want the storage to start and save that page to be the last one you cut. If you don't want to save any pages, still leave a page at the beginning.
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3
Hold all the pages together that you intend to cut, then start brushing the edges with the glue solution. Be generous with the solution, you want the pages too absorb the glue, but try not to drip. Allow the solution to dry for at least 30 minutes. Keep the top cover and any pages you don't want to cut separate with some sort of spacer, like a piece of cardboard.
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4
Open the book to the first glued page after it has had time to dry and then draw a 1/2-inch border around all the edges, including the spine.
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5
Start cutting using your straight edge to guide the knife or box cutter along the inside of the lines. This part can be slow going since it's hard to cut more than a few pages at a time. Don't get impatient though, it's important to keep your lines straight, and the final product will look much better if you do.
If you start getting bored or tired you can take a break or listen to music or the radio to help district you from the tedious nature of the undertaking. I wouldn't recommend watching TV, as it could lead to unfortunate lapses in attention and ensuing accidents.
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6
Finish cutting through to the bottom cover of the book, and clear away all the extraneous paper bits that have built up during the cutting. You want the edges to be as straight and clean as possible. Then brush the insides of the storage space with glue solution. Be very generous, a few drips are even OK since the glue will dry clear. It's also a good idea to apply a second coat of glue to the outside of the book. Also apply a thin layer to the rim of the book (the top page of the hidden storage compartment).
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7
Close the book, this time without any spacers. The first page will now affix to the rim of the hidden storage area. After about 30 minutes, open the book and cut through the first page, which reopens the storage area. The inside of the book may still be a little wet, so let it dry for a little longer before filling it with your valuable treasures or secret love letters.
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Tips & Warnings
Be extra careful when using knives and box cutters. Also, if the blade starts to give you trouble, it's probably time to change it.
