Bookcases with secret compartments

I have a couple of books with hidden storage, and I've seen bookcases that are actually secret doors, but this video shows bookcases with a variety of surprises.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=1pYqquG27pg

Anyone else have examples of bookcases with hiding places?

>1 TrippB:
I don't think this guy's much into books, though.

Os.

I installed drawers in my shelving and left a gap beneath the drawer that can't be seen (drawer open or closed) unless you're on your knees looking up under the drawer. The gap is just wide enough to hold my laptop, which I store there when away from home. Not protected from fire or flood, but unlikely to be found by a burglar unless he rips the drawer completely out of the shelving.

Os.

PS - some of the books on my shelves have been hollowed out, including a set of three glued together and then hollowed out to make quite a large interior storage space. My problem is that the most valuable things I own are my books, so secret compartments in books are not very helpful. :-)

>1 TrippB:
Re: the Q-Line in the video...I can just imagine when the bad guys are breaking down the door on the same night that your 9-year old decided to take the secret magnet/key book upstairs for a bedtime read! Ooops.

Maybe two books should be chosen for the magnetic key. I'd probably pick my copies of Outhouses of the West and Particle Size Distributions in the Gravity Thickening of a Softening Plant Sludge, since they probably would not be carried off by anyone looking for a good read.

Os.

Pretty cool. I've been making a few shelves that run along the ceiling as part of my basement renovation. I considered making some swing away doors that would open into the area between the floor joists above, but the desire to just hurry up and be done with it won out. I did make a few semi-hidden compartments in a wall though. I opted for paneling instead of sheetrock. On one of the hollow interior walls I took advantage of the space between the studs. I've got the panels mounted on frames and hidden hinges. They close with magnetic push latches. You have to know the right spot to push on the wall for them to spring open, though I suppose someone could lean against it and open it by accident. I'm not too worried about secrecy though, it's mainly just a bit of extra storage in a small house. And because it was a fun little touch to add.

This guy is afraid the FEDs will come busting in his home.

With space in my library quickly becoming scarce, I've been looking for ideas to build new bookcases. The hidden drawers would be a fun addition, and a convenient place to keep mylar covers and book repair supplies (more boring than an arsenal, I suppose, but also more useful). I found the childproof magnetic locks like what they used in the video. They seem simple enough. Might as well have a few James Bond drawers.

Wow, very cool.

I would hesitate to put anything valuable in a "secret" safe that could be discovered by tapping with your fingernail and opened with a carpenters hammer. I doubt I would spend that much money on a safe that "secure".

>9 TLCrawford:
Their endtable has key locks as an option for hidden compartment access. I wonder if that would be possible for at least some of the compartments on the bookcase. Even so, a pry-bar might overcome any lock that would be discreet enough to keep the compartments hidden.

Os.

Am I the only one who thought they were ugly as bookcases, never mind as home-arsenals?

Certainly wasn't my taste either.

Certainly posting a video of this on youtube more or less defeats the object?

The narrator mentions his clients so I think it is designed to drum up business for his carpentry work.

James