"Secret" Hollow Book - How to

[AuD1073cH]

First of all, I realize that this isn't a computer mod, but I thought you all might enjoy it. And you can make your own too.

We've all heard of those secret hollow books where you can stash your goodies. Well, I figured it couldn't be too hard, and made my own.

Here's some that I did,
http://eagle2.american.edu/~nl1125a/book1.jpg
Clockwise from top left:

Principles of Information Systems for Management 3rd ed. (1990)
Current Trends in Programming Methodology Vol.1 (1977)
Programming Languages: Design and Implementation (1975)
The World Book Encyclopedia: Reading and Study Guide (1961)
Computers: Programming and Applications (1976)


http://eagle2.american.edu/~nl1125a/book3.jpg
I realize hacking up books like this would give my grandmother (a retired librarian) a heart attack. But rest assured, these were on their way to the trash heap in a hurry. I just gave them new life.

Plus you can stash all sorts of cool stuff inside!

[Yoshi]

Is what I use old windows books for.... :)

[nate007]

nice mod. I should do the same thing sometime.http://members.shaw.ca/wenpigsfly/smileys/thumb.gif

[SLAY3R]

Is what I use old windows books for.... :)

Excellent!!!!


The ATF found some of my books like that.

[AuD1073cH]

I'll have to split these up, the vBulletin only allows 2 images per post.

The first step into making the hollow book is to select a book. Make sure this is a book you own, and not one belonging to the library, or your family. I suggest rummaging through books at yard/garage sales.

I chose Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia vol. 1

http://eagle2.american.edu/~nl1125a/book materials.jpg

Make sure it is a hardback, otherwise you will cut all the way through the other side when you are cutting out the insides.
You'll also need:
Elmer's white glue
a container to hold glue solution (I've chosen a film canister)
X-acto knife, and/or boxcutter. Both if you have 'em
brush to apply glue solution
pencil/pen
ruler, or other rigid strait edge


Here we go:
http://eagle2.american.edu/~nl1125a/book page.jpg
Select a page that you want to be the first one cut out, and save that page to be cut out at the end. (I'll explain later) Even if you don't want to save any pages at the begining of the book, you must set one aside for a later step.

[AuD1073cH]

Mix a solution of white glue and water. Just enough for the glue to be runny, and absorbed by the edge of the book's pages. 50% to 70% glue (30% to 50% water) worked well for me. - Half a film canister full was enough for this book.

http://eagle2.american.edu/~nl1125a/book glue1.jpg
Holding the remaining pages together, brush the edges with the glue solution - enough to soak in pretty well, but not too drippy.

http://eagle2.american.edu/~nl1125a/book dry1.jpg
Allow this to dry, but use a spacer so the first couple pages, and the front cover don't get stuck. I spaced mine with post-it notes, and used some old hard disk platters to apply pressure. It drys quick- about 15 to 30 min.

[AuD1073cH]

When dry, open the book to the first glued page.
http://eagle2.american.edu/~nl1125a/book measure.jpg
Draw out a half-inch boarder around the edge on all four sides. (Don't forget along the spine too.)

http://eagle2.american.edu/~nl1125a/book cut1.jpg
Using a strait edge and knife, cut out along the inside of the line. Try to make the cut as vertical as possible, or else try to tilt so the hole will narrow as you go down.

[AuD1073cH]

http://eagle2.american.edu/~nl1125a/book cut3.jpg

Continue cutting down through the layers. I found that a box cutter was easier to keep straight. This part takes a long time. I recommend listening to music while you work. Watching TV though could be distracting, and you could also cut a page out of your finger. (no, I didn't.)

The longer you spend on it, the smoother and straighter the inside edges of your book will be. My first attempts a this yielded rough edges, but the fuzz flattens down a little when glued (later).

http://eagle2.american.edu/~nl1125a/book progress1.jpg

After a while, you can store some of your tools in it while you take breaks. I did this book in 2 evenings.

[AuD1073cH]

http://eagle2.american.edu/~nl1125a/book progress2.jpg

When you get to the back of the book, and through the last page, stop. Dump out all the little paper fuzz that inevitably comes from the cutting.

http://eagle2.american.edu/~nl1125a/book glue2.jpg

Next, brush the glue solution on the inside edges of the pages. Give it a bit to soak in. A little bit of drippiness is okay, as the glue dries clear. This is also a good time to apply a second coat to the outside of the pages with the excess glue.

[AuD1073cH]

http://eagle2.american.edu/~nl1125a/book glue3.jpg

Brush the rim of the book with a light coat of glue. This will affix it to that one page we saved earlier (and will cut through later).

http://eagle2.american.edu/~nl1125a/book dry2.jpg

Close the book again, this time without any spacers. Give it another 15-30 minutes to dry. Clean up any glue that drips on your desk, like it did mine.

[doorman444]

looks good i'll have to make one

[kennyt772]

hmm i have an old large text book...........

[Metae]

this is an awsome tutorial. I will do this.

[AuD1073cH]

Remember that first page we saved? Its now glued to the rest of the book. Lets all turn there now.

http://eagle2.american.edu/~nl1125a/book cut4.jpg

Cut through this first page with your knife to open it. The insides of the book may still be a little gooey since there was no air inside to let it dry. -So let it dry now.

http://eagle2.american.edu/~nl1125a/book done.jpg

When its dry, you're done!
Fill it with whatever treasured items (or contraband) you choose.


Happy hiding.

[Kal-El]

You should send that to Yoshi as a possible article. I think you had it well written with easy instuctions and clear pictures. Sure this isnt high tech but maybe there can be a spot for misc. mods. 1000 rep points for the promotion of hiding contraband :)

[kennyt772]

/me gives a 1,000 rep for showing me how to sneek things into school. . . . .

[AuD1073cH]

Just to get things straight- Here's my legal rant:

I will assume no responsibility for the use of any information provided here. It is provided "AS - IS". I do not condone the posession of any illegal items or substances, or illegal use of any other item.


Have a nice day. ;)

[nate007]

Just to get things straight- Here's my legal rant:

I will assume no responsibility for the use of any information provided here. It is provided "AS - IS". I do not condone the posession of any illegal items or substances, or illegal use of any other item.


Have a nice day. ;)

Nice disclaimer, I will begin work on one of these tomorrow.
I give you 99999999999 rep pts.http://www.bornhigh.com/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif

[kennyt772]

just to cover you butt aye?

[Yoshi]

Yes would be happy to have this be a tutorial on the new site.
Take note people. Easy to understand, interesting and something you could easily duplicate from the instructions.
:)

[reeseslover531]

ya good job!

[AuD1073cH]

Thanks everyone!


Yoshi-
I'd be happy and proud to have you put this on the new site.
I think you can pull everything off the site, but let me know if you need anything.

[dhuss]

I do have one question, you never really explaned why you did that first page seperate from the rest of the book... is it an apperance thing or does it actually serve a purpose?

D.H.

[AuD1073cH]

I do have one question, you never really explaned why you did that first page seperate from the rest of the book... is it an apperance thing or does it actually serve a purpose?

Separating the first page actually does serve a purpose.

It allows you to close the book completely on the final drying step.
Without it, one of two things would happen.

One - the front cover would be glued to the rest of the book from the inside (and much tearing/difficulty fixing it),

or Two - You would have to let the book dry while open, and the glue mixture makes the insides of the pages fan out a little bit because it soaks up the solution. If it dried like this, you would have an unsightly gap when you tried to close the book, and it would not look like a normal book on the shelf - when you want to have a perfectly normal looking book when hiding things.

So because there is the extra page, we can glue, close the book, and have it dry in a normal closed position.


Thanks for the great question! I forgot to explain this fully.

[BigD145]

I've done something like that to a very old biology textbook. But I used no glue. It's a loose page book missing the middle of almost every page. The book looks completely normal when laying flat. Come to think of it, I did this some 10 years ago. How time does fly.

[josermj]

I did that couple years ago when I my school was giving away old text books. They work pretty good. On one I used velcro around the opening to keep things from falling out. Porn Stash!

[kennyt772]

u mean pr0n right? nothing of the type should be included in the forums.....j/k just try to keep it clean.

[josermj]

ya, what I meant.

[reeseslover531]

lol Ya I am currently using your tut to make one of my own. I put too much water in the glue/water pixture so it might be kinda interesting.

[AuD1073cH]

I made this into a web page of my own.

There's a link to it from my main website (click on my sig).

let me know if anything is unclear.

[Lockblade]

Nice Tutorial. Get a big wnough book (AKA Dictionary) and put a mini--ITX system in there! Have the spine fold up, and there are your ports. THAT would be neat!

[snack]

cool mod good way to dodge the fed...i mean friends...friends

[AuD1073cH]

A medium sized one could hold a switch or router. (hidden wireless anyone?)

Someone could make a whole bookshelf wireless LAN/fileserver setup. Ooooh, the possibilities.:)

[Yoshi]

I say you are the man to do that. Youve brought us this far. Take us all the way!

[reeseslover531]

If you could have a computer in a book I would love you forever!

[crobey01]

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/KEEBOO.htm

got one for christmas, but may need to make my own as well

[AuD1073cH]

I'm not running wireless right now (poor student, yada yada, you know.) but I've got a couple old hubs.

hmm... I may need a little time with this, I've been a little busy lately. The forums will be the first to hear when I get something done. :o

[reeseslover531]

makeing you own is much more fun

[Lockblade]

I'm in the process of creating my own hollow book... I might put a WAP in it. I like the idea of a comp workstation in a bookcase, that has possibilities

[JustJon]

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/KEEBOO.htm

got one for christmas, but may need to make my own as well

Does that one look believable? The coolness factor from the homemade is that (a) it really looks like a real book and (b) it's a book that someone would believe you have because it's sandwiched between other computer books (in this case).

And very cool mod, very nice tutorial.

[Amish666]

i did that to an old phone book and then put my friends birthday present in it (halo 2) he freaked at first when he thought i gave him a phone book as a present. I laughed and laughed. As for the comp, i had that idea a couple months ago but i don't have the resources (ie $) to do it.

[crobey01]

Does that one look believable? The coolness factor from the homemade is that (a) it really looks like a real book and (b) it's a book that someone would believe you have because it's sandwiched between other computer books (in this case).

And very cool mod, very nice tutorial.

yeah, making your own is more fun, but the one i got is the real book which they have changed, it has the begining of the story and everything inside

[victorpan320]

Im going to make one as soon as I find a big book my parents will let me use.

[merritt]

how did you get your corners so perfect, mines drying now but corners are a lil rough

[FuNkyGuY]

Im going to make one as soon as I find a big book my parents will let me use.

alot of times libaries have a freebies section and they have really old books that are free, usually entire encyclopedias. Im sure you could grab one from there if you got a libary close by, that way your parrents dont know either.

[crobey01]

same deal with my corners thay hav big lumps of paper in them :'(

[Killdogg5000]

This is great and im tempted to try it.

Victorpan320 what would Mr.Hollis saw if he caught you with one of these.

[AuD1073cH]

My first one had some lumpiness and rough edges on the inside too. The glue will smooth some of that out, and I havn't got it perfect yet.

The Key is mainly slow, accurate cuts. They really take a long time. As I go deeper, I press the tip of the blade into the corner, basically trying to "over cut" into the edge a bit. (hard to explain.)

The fuzz and some rough edges will soften and lay down when you put the glue on them.

Thanks for the feedback. You can always get one from the thrift store, a yard sale, or a library's USED book sale for cheap.

[EvilMidniteBombr]

If someone really had some time on their hands, you could put several books together (i.e. encylopedias) with no seprations. That way you could hide larger objects in the same manner.

[TechnoRabbit]

Hey... To make a bigger box you could do the same thing, but use two books and glue the two books together (cover to cover) like you did for the original project, and then you just cut through the covers like you would for regular pages (it takes some work). The trick is to make it look like a random stack of books, so don't picks two books that are exactly the same size and don't stack them perfectly on top of eachother. In fact, it looks really cool if you slightly slant one book. It'll mean that one wall of the box will be thicker than the others and one will be thinner... but the overall look is nice. In fact, you could do this to an entire old set of encyclopedias and make a box long enough to store those posters you'd rather your mom not see.In fact... I'm yure that if you did it to a large set of books you could even build a compute into this big box.

[TMG]

Did you not read above? :)

[[GF]Burke]

Killer man
added (http://ramsinks.blogspot.com/)

[TechnoRabbit]

> Did you not read above?

I expanded on the comment. Thank you. Move on.

[TMG]

> Did you not read above?

I expanded on the comment. Thank you. Move on.

Who the hell are you? Please refraine from talking back to me for this is your last warning.

[Rocker]

I can hid things in the last place my friends would look.

[AuD1073cH]

A couple days ago a friend of mine found my tutorial on digg.com (http://digg.com/mods)
cool eh?

the link to the actual page is on my website (http://eagle2.american.edu/~nl1125a/book1.html)

and thanks for the link Burke

[xR4Ndomx]

Ya, I was the one who put it on there. I thought this was a really great idea, and I plan on making one soon. I would have mentioned I was putting it up there, but I was pretty rushed at the time. I saw the comment you left in there about the tutorial site. It is nicely put together.

[TechnoRabbit]

> Who the hell are you? Please refraine from talking back to me for this is your last warning.

Sorry. Just didn't like how you made me feel like my comment was useless even though I expanded on the concept of using multiple books.

[AuD1073cH]

the multiple books thing is great. for very long book sets, I may even think about using a few smaller size lengths of all-thread, (and some washers and nuts) to help hold them together. They'd have to be big enough books you could have a good inch or inch and a half boarder, to have room to make countersinks for the hardware.

at some size, a carrying handle may be in order. I think I'd need to cut a metal panel with a hole in it to go between different books, or inside some cover, and build a mounting plate maybe in the back. Or on the top if you just wanted to carry it around.

[XEON]

You can hide... YOUR BEST FREIND in a book? Is there big enough books for that? haah

[The Dragon Master]

You can always get one from the thrift store, a yard sale, or a library's USED book sale for cheap.

You can also get them for free from the local community colleges library when they get their new stock. (thats where I got mine from)

[captian_crunch]

yes i find this extremly fun....i ill take my hatred off matha nd hack up an old textbook....and have something usefull in the end ......hehehehehehe



thanks very much for this.... :)

[AuD1073cH]

You can hide... YOUR BEST FREIND in a book? Is there big enough books for that? haah

hmmm... perhaps the Unabridged Encyclopedia of Everything... oh, that doesn't exist. ummm... ooooh- the internet. just cut a hole in the internet an' stuff that guy right in. -j/k

[Hiawatha]

Just began work on my secret-cubby bible. ;) I intend to use this tutorial later on for something I'v been planning involving a book. Pictures when project goes underway.

[cubby]

secret-cubby
Yea my name was mentioned!:) Anyway im going to work on this. very cool tut.

cubby

[Hiawatha]

A little word of advice... cut the margins at least an inch in from the edge of the page. Any less and it'll bow out and get al screwed up. Moreover, electrical tape is really good for protecting edges from the glue solution and comes off paper easly (as well as resisting sticking to the glue).

[cubby]

electrical tape...never thought of that.