Author Topic: First time building anything (Secret Door)  (Read 2658 times)

Chareth Cutestory

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First time building anything (Secret Door)
« on: November 02, 2017, 08:55:04 AM »
I've always wanted a secret door in my house. They are available to buy, but are $700+, which is WAY too much money, so I decided to try and build one myself.

I live in an apartment, and I didn't want to build an entire door I had to install. I wanted it to be something I could easily take with me when I move, so I built a frame to hang over my existing door.

I don't have any previous experience building anything, but it really wasn't that bad. I just made the measurements, went to home depot, found very thin, light wood, had them cut it for me, and nailed it together at home. The books took the most time. I had to take all the pages out, which took A WHILE. Then cut the books so it was basically just the spine and a little bit of the cover and back. I then super-glued all the books onto the shelf frame. The only ones I didn't glue are covering the doorknob (you'll see in the pictures).

Total cost was about $45-$55. Took a while, but it was a lot of fun, and now I have a secret frickin' door going up to our finished attic (This was about a year ago, which is why the Christmas tree is in the corner of the picture.)

PoutineLover

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #1 on: November 02, 2017, 08:58:30 AM »
THIS IS SO COOL I WANT ONE!

GuitarStv

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #2 on: November 02, 2017, 09:04:53 AM »
+1

Secret doors are cool.

Guesl982374

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #3 on: November 02, 2017, 09:20:49 AM »
Awesome

Heckler

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #4 on: November 02, 2017, 11:57:55 AM »
Wife says " for what reason??" 

I say because its a friggen secret door!

I'm a red panda

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #5 on: November 02, 2017, 12:00:08 PM »
Very cool!

ChipmunkSavings

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #6 on: November 02, 2017, 12:28:33 PM »
That is awesome!

Wimsey1923

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #7 on: November 02, 2017, 02:37:15 PM »
But it has a door frame around it. Otherwise I'm impressed.

ketchup

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #8 on: November 02, 2017, 02:47:24 PM »
But it has a door frame around it. Otherwise I'm impressed.
He lives in an apartment, so I'd say it's great given the limitations.

To echo everyone else here, that is awesome and now I want to build one too.

dandarc

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #9 on: November 02, 2017, 02:48:14 PM »
But it has a door frame around it. Otherwise I'm impressed.
Looks like a built-in bookcase to me.  Pretty common minor renovation to change a door or window into built-in-shelves, and you'll generally have some trim if you do it that way.  Well, we have one of each of those in our house anyway.

stashgrower

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #10 on: November 03, 2017, 07:39:33 AM »
+1 cool

former player

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #11 on: November 03, 2017, 08:25:02 AM »
As a lifelong book person I'm half envious and half feeling sad about the destroyed books.

If the door were opening the other way, presumably you could do this without the frame, just gluing the books directly on to the door with some lath for the "shelves", as the architrave around the door would act as the "frame"?

Hmm, now that does give me an idea.

Chareth Cutestory

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #12 on: November 03, 2017, 10:03:39 AM »
Yeah the door frame around the shelf isn't ideal, but eh, whatever. Close enough.

I tried my best not to destroy any classic books, if that makes you feel better. Also, the guy I got about half the books from was about to chuck them all in the dumpster... so at least they are kind of getting a second life.

ketchup

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #13 on: November 03, 2017, 10:13:40 AM »
Yeah the door frame around the shelf isn't ideal, but eh, whatever. Close enough.

I tried my best not to destroy any classic books, if that makes you feel better. Also, the guy I got about half the books from was about to chuck them all in the dumpster... so at least they are kind of getting a second life.
Just noticed your username. A+.

acroy

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #14 on: November 03, 2017, 10:27:26 AM »
Badassity!

HawkeyeNFO

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #15 on: November 04, 2017, 05:26:37 PM »
Our house has one just like that, which was put in about 40 years ago.  The biggest issue is the hinges, because the door itself becomes very heavy, even with just the spines of all the books.

former player

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #16 on: November 05, 2017, 01:35:24 AM »
Yeah the door frame around the shelf isn't ideal, but eh, whatever. Close enough.

I tried my best not to destroy any classic books, if that makes you feel better. Also, the guy I got about half the books from was about to chuck them all in the dumpster... so at least they are kind of getting a second life.
It's a big change in my lifetime that physical books have become disposable and many of them worthless, so I understand and don't blame you at all, just have this left-over feeling of regret that books should be valuable and valued and now are not.
Our house has one just like that, which was put in about 40 years ago.  The biggest issue is the hinges, because the door itself becomes very heavy, even with just the spines of all the books.

That's useful information about the hinges.  Has it stood up well over time otherwise?

Minnowstache

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #17 on: November 05, 2017, 02:41:14 AM »
Great idea and execution!

Chareth Cutestory

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #18 on: November 06, 2017, 08:43:56 AM »
Quote
Our house has one just like that, which was put in about 40 years ago.  The biggest issue is the hinges, because the door itself becomes very heavy, even with just the spines of all the books.

Yeah, the weight was a concern of mine. It has been up for almost a year and the door has not started sagging... yet. It weights about 22lbs, which I think is a lot for the hinges to support? We'll see what happens over time, but so far it is fine.

sequoia

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Re: First time building anything (Secret Door)
« Reply #19 on: November 06, 2017, 03:16:57 PM »
Whoa very cool!

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!