Looking for info on hidden/secret compartments

[builderchad]

Anyone have any links to different types of hidden/secret compartments and thier design and construction? Most of the links I've found on google have been to commercial pages with no technical detail to speak of.

I am planning a chest based on Japanese document chest and want to build in one or two hidden compartments but wouldnt know where to begin on designing and building them in.

For an idea of what Japanese chests look like: http://www.shogunsgallery.com/Kodansu.htm

Cheers,

Chad.

 

[Colin C]

For a start you can make one or two of the draw short and add a compartment to the back of the draw.
It would mean to get to the secret part you wold have to pull the draw right out .
2/ Make the draw ( one of the bigger ones ) with a thin draw that slides in from the back.
I hope some of that is clear
We use to have real fun looking for them (secret compartments ) when a new piece of furniture come in to the workshop ( I am an antique restorer ).
So if you need any more just let me know as I can try to pm you some ggod ones :wink:

 

[Steve Maskery]

Hi Chad,
I'm afraid I don't have any links for you.

But I have incorporated a secret comp or two in my time. They are by definition small, sometimes just big enough for an envelope or a matchbox, and it was easier to do in ye olden days when furniture was more ornate than it is now.

But there are still places you can exp[loit, even in modern furniture.

Basic principles are as follows:

• Things that look solid are hollow
  Spaces are smaller in reality on the inside than they should be from the outside
  Voids (eg under a floor, behind a plinth) are accessible

The only writings I can recall OTTOMH are a very brief article I wrote in GW a few years ago, and a project for, I think, a tea chest in one of the FWW series. IIRC it had a foot which you rotated which allowed the back to drop away revealing a SC.

Anyway, best of luck, they are fun to do.

Cheers
Steve

 

[stewart]

Hi Chad
This link might be of use - one of my upcoming projects is to make one for my daughter. Some of them have secret compartments and some of the mechanism is made clear in the pictures - Writing Boxes.
Click on the pictures for more details.

Cheers
Stewart

ps nice avatar but where's the rest of the safety gear... :wink:

 

[builderchad]

2/ Make the draw ( one of the bigger ones ) with a thin draw that slides in from the back.

So you mean a draw within a draw, or is the secret draw part of the chest?

So if you need any more just let me know as I can try to pm you some ggod ones :wink:

Any info you have would be really helpful and pics if you have any. I'm still in the very early stages of design so the more info I can find out now the better.

The only writings I can recall OTTOMH are a very brief article I wrote in GW a few years ago, and a project for, I think, a tea chest in one of the FWW series. IIRC it had a foot which you rotated which allowed the back to drop away revealing a SC.

Would be great to get hold of that issue, where can I hunt it down?

My only experience of hidden compartments is from a Japanese puzzle box I had as a kid which was very intricate and I'm not sure very applicable because the whole construction was designed for hidden compartments.

I only want one or possibly two small compartments to hold a passport or roll of money (till the next Vertias plane comes out anyway :lol. Where there is a more secure door on the Japanese chests (normally in the bottom right corner) I am going to incorporate a very small fireproof safe behind the door. Very ambitious project but I'm dead excited about it and have been perusing the net for ironmongers who do nice ornate hinges, latches and handles. These guys do some lovely stuff: http://www.kirkpatrick.co.uk/

Thanks for the pointers, please send more info if you find any!

 

[builderchad]

Hi Chad
This link might be of use - one of my upcoming projects is to make one for my daughter. Some of them have secret compartments and some of the mechanism is made clear in the pictures - Writing Boxes.
Click on the pictures for more details.

Cheers
Stewart

ps nice avatar but where's the rest of the safety gear... :wink:

Thanks Stewart, I will have a good look at those.

P.S. Like your pic too! :lol: What is this "safety gear" you speak of? I only wear that mask to scare the neighbors :twisted:

 

[Colin C]

I do mean a draw within a draw
If you pm me your address Ican put some things to paper and send them to you ( would be mush easier for me to )
As I now know why you what them , I ahve some that wil be very good for what you want

 

[Paul Chapman]

I reckon builderchad and Stewart are twins :?

Paul

 

[Colin C]

I reckon builderchad and Stewart are twins :?

Paul

Paul what gives you that idea :shock: ( having just looked again )

 

[engineer one]

there have been some articles in FWW, and i am sure that a check
of their web site would give you some info.

i seem to remember one of the books by Joyce may well contain some
data too.

there are i seem to remember three things to remember,

1/ the secret compartment has to be smallish, certainly no bigger than foolscap.

2/ it has to be behind something so it is not obvious

3/ there is normally a gadget to release it, which requires opening
another drawer or door or something.

the japanese quite often used to do this too, and maybe the thing is
to look for some books about japanese furniture too.

remember though EVERYBODY knows about secret compartments,
so you need to think about how obvious it is.

i know i have seen them in the top of a tallboy accessed by
a hole in the roof of the cabinet which looks like it might be a
knocked out knot, and through which you poke your finger to
release a catch.

hope this helps too.
paul :wink:

 

[devonwoody]

builderchad, your original question and your avatar makes me a little concerned :roll:

Could you please remove the mask?

Only joking of course.

 

[ike]

Anyone have any links to different types of hidden/secret compartments and thier design and construction?

If we told you that, they wouldn't be secret anymore.....and then we'd have to kill you! :shock: :lol: