How to Hollow Out a Book for Secret Storage

If you’re looking for a creative way to hide your valuables, check out this tutorial on how to hollow out a book for secret storage.

Checkout this video:

Introduction

If you want to keep your valuables hidden in plain sight, a hollowed-out book is an excellent way to do it. Books are commonplace objects that are usually left undisturbed, so they make ideal hiding places. Plus, hollowing out a book is a relatively simple task that anyone can do. All you need is a sharp knife and a little patience.

What You’ll Need

In order to hollow out a book for secret storage, you will need the following supplies:
-A book
-A sharp knife
-A straight edge
-A pen or pencil

First, you need to choose a book. It can be any size or shape, but it should be fairly thin. A hardcover book works best, but a paperback will also work. Once you have chosen your book, open it up to the middle and find a page that is entirely text. It should be as close to the center of the book as possible.

Next, take your sharp knife and place the straight edge against the top of the page. Slowly run the knife along the straight edge, being careful not to cut into any other pages. You want to make a cut that is about one inch deep. Repeat this process on the bottom of the page.

After you have made cuts on both the top and bottom of the page, use your pen or pencil to draw a line between them. This will be your cutting line. Once you have drawn your cutting line, carefully cut along it with your knife. Be sure not to cut into any other pages!

Now that you have cut out a one-inch deep rectangle from the center of the page, you can begin hollowing out the book. Start by gently tearing out any pages that are only partially attached to the spine. Then, use your fingers or a spoon to scrape out any remaining bits of paper until the inside of the rectangle is completely smooth.

You have now successfully hollowed out a space in your book for secret storage!

Step One: Choose Your Book

The first step in hollowing out a book for secret storage is to choose your book. You’ll want to pick a book that is large enough to fit whatever you’re trying to hide, but not so large that it’s conspicuous. Once you’ve chosen your book, open it up and decide which pages you want to remove. The center pages of the book are typically the best candidates for removal, as they will be the least noticeable.

Once you’ve selected the pages you want to remove, use a sharp knife or razor blade to cut them out of the book. Be sure to cut along the spine of the book so that your cuts are as clean and straight as possible. If you’re not confident in your ability to make straight cuts, you can always use a ruler or straightedge as a guide.

Once all of your selected pages have been removed, you should have a nice, empty space in the center of your book. This space is perfect for hiding small objects like jewelry, cash, or marijuana (if that’s your thing). If you’re planning on hiding something larger, like a handgun, you may need to remove additional pages from the front or back of the book in order to create a larger opening.

Step Two: Cut Out the Pages

Now it’s time to start cutting out the pages of your book. You can either do this by hand with a sharp knife, or use a power tool like a drill or jigsaw. If you’re using a power tool, be very careful not to damage the spine of the book.

Once you’ve cut out the pages, you should have a nice empty space in the center of your book. If you want, you can now line this space with fabric or paper to give it a more finished look.

Step Three: Create the Hinges

Now that you have your book cut out and the pages glued together, it’s time to create the hinges. This will allow you to open and close the book, and to do so without damaging the spine.

To create the hinges, you will need:
-1/4 inch thick binder’s board
-Scissors
-X-acto knife
-Ruler
-Pencil
-Bone folder (optional)

Cut two strips of binder’s board that are 1/4 inch wide and 3 inches long. These will be the hinges. Center each strip on the inside of the back cover, flush with the spine. Use a pencil to lightly mark where each hinge will be attached. Use an X-acto knife to score a light line along each pencil mark. Be careful not to cut through the paper!

If you have a bone folder, use it to crease along each scored line. This will give your book extra strength. If you don’t have a bone folder, simply fold the paper along each scored line.

Use strips of tape (I like washi tape for this) to attach each hinge to the book. Place one strip of tape over each scored line, on both the front and back cover. Fold the tape over onto itself so that it is secure. Your book should now be able to open and close!

Step Four: Assemble the Book

Now that the pages are glued together and dry, it’s time to put the cover back on the book. If you want, you can use a hot glue gun to attach the cover to the pages. This will make the book more durable, but it isn’t necessary.

Open up the book so that the pages are facing you. Spread a thin layer of glue along the edge of the pages where they meet the spine of the book. Press the cover gently into place. Hold it there for a few seconds until the glue dries.

Your hollowed-out book is now complete! You can use it to store whatever you like — cash, jewelry, secret messages, etc. Just be sure to choose a spot for it where it won’t be discovered accidentally.

Step Five: Decorate the Outside

The final step is to decorate the outside of your book to make it look like a normal book on your shelf. You can do this by gluing on a cover from another book, or by drawing and painting your own design on the front and back of the book. Make sure that the design is not too thick, or it will make the book look lumpy when it’s closed. Once you’re happy with your design, let the glue or paint dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Step Six: Fill Your Book

Fill your book with whatever treasures you choose. Place your items in the book carefully, utilizing all available space without over-packing and straining the spine of your book. If you want to be able to close your book without anyone guessing that it has been hollowed out, consider gluing a piece of paper or scrapbooking paper to the back cover, on which you can glue or tape your items in place. If you don’t mind a little bulkiness, simply placing your items inside the hollowed out pages works just fine.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to hollow out a book for secret storage, you can keep your precious belongings safe and hidden in plain sight! Be sure to choose a book that is the right size for your needs, and be careful not to damage the pages as you work. With a little practice, you’ll be able to create a hidden compartment that is both stylish and functional.

Additional Tips

Here are a few additional tips to keep in mind when hollowing out a book for secret storage:

– If you want to make the book look as close to normal as possible, choose a sharp knife or exacto blade and make clean, straight cuts. Avoid sawing back and forth, as this will create jagged edges.

– If you’re not worried about appearances, any type of blade will work. A serrated knife can be especially helpful in cutting through the spine of the book.

– You can use the cover of the book to help guide your cuts; simply line up the blade with the edge of the cover and cut along.

– Don’t forget to leave some space at the top and bottom of each page so that the pages can still turn smoothly.