Repurposed Books and a Secret Hiding Place...Shhhh

by ScavengerChic

5 Materials

Do you like secret hiding places? If you do, this easy project may be for you and better yet, it goes together in about an hour.
If you look at this picture you may think this is a post for a great upcycled bookend. But, if you looked at the title, you would know that it’s actually the books that are repurposed. Can you see the lockbox sitting on the shelf?

repurposed books and a secret hiding place shhhh, diy, how to, repurposing upcycling, storage ideas

For months our insurance advisor has been telling us we should get a safe in the house to store all our valuable papers. The safe was not necessarily for theft prevention but to keep papers safe in case of flood or fire.

We finally heeded her advice and bought one.

They really are not that expensive. This SentrySafe was from Walmart for about $20. It claims to be fire and water proof and it comes in several different sizes, I just wanted a small one because I really don’t own anything that is safe worthy.

Now that I had it home, I really didn’t want it sitting around. While it just looks like a small suitcase, it does nothing for my decor so I needed to hide it.

I’ve used this set of books before, first for “book shelves” and more recently for a chandelier. When my husband and I first got married we got a great set of old books at a yard sale for the sole purpose of filling up our then empty bookshelves. We had no intention of ever reading the books, and now that our shelves are full of books that we have actually read or want to read, those old books are slowly being repurposed…this time to hide my safe.

Use the lockbox as a rough template for where you should cut your books then make your actual cut line 1/2 inch above that line.

I used a scroll saw to make my cuts but I eventually found it was quicker to start the long straight cuts with a chop saw then switch over to the scroll saw for cutting just the corners. You may want to use a dust mask, that paper pulp goes everywhere.

Once you have one book cut, use that book as a template for the rest of your books.

For the ends, leave one of the covers intact.

When all my books were cut, I tacked them together with 2 1/2″ finish nails with the aid of a nail gun.

Some leftover scraps of 1/4″ mdf secured with builders adhesive reinforces the books.

The mdf was clamped until dry.

Make sure you click on the link below for more pictures and a list of papers that our advisor thought we should put in the safe. You never know when you may need it.

Enjoyed the project?

You can do it! Saved to your projects

Frequently asked questions

Have a question about this project?

Ask a Question

1 question

Landsharkinnc on Mar 14, 2018

why not just put the 'safe' in a drawer or closet self ?

5

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 108 comments

Linda on Aug 25, 2018

CAUTION! Safes are "fireproof" only to a certain temperature, some nearly useless.
YIKES! Valuable or not, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle means if an item can be reused as is by others, pass it on.
FYI! Before sawing up a useless book, drill 2 holes near either squared edge of the unused (to be discarded) portion & use binder clips or cord to make a hinge for "books". Give them to a crafter or toss into your next bag of donations.
PLEASE sign me EcoQueen of Crafts!

2 Reply
Anita on Jan 31, 2020

I like it! Great use for old books!

Like Reply