Each person is mysterious in his own way. And everyone, no doubt, has their own secrets. For example, often many people long years keep all sorts of trinkets that remind you of significant life events. If you fall into this category, you may need a secret box. In souvenir shops you can easily choose the item you like, and it can be locked with a key for secure storage of “secret” little things. But in ancient times such devices were not on sale. And therefore, those who wanted to hide something from others came up with various tricks. One of these useful things there was a box with a secret made from an ordinary book. Only its owner knew on which shelf and in which row of the huge library (which was a mandatory tradition in those days) the keeper of the innermost secrets stood. This article will tell you how to make a box with a secret with your own hands - from a book, and even in the form of a book.
Making a real cache. Method one
You will need any book you don’t need that differs from the rest in its monumental thickness. It is desirable that the workpiece has a reliable hard cover and a thick cover. So, let's begin. Place the book in front of you and open it to the front endpaper. Prepare a thin wooden board in advance, which should have the same dimensions as the book. Place it underneath all the pages on top of the back cover. After this, draw the outline of the hole with a pencil on the first page. It can be either rectangular, round or oval. Naturally, cutting a rectangle is much easier. Yes, be patient: you will have to cut a hole in each page separately. Use a special sharp cutter for these purposes or, following the marked lines, bend the finished pages with a niche inside. So gradually work everything up to the bottom cover. The antique box with a secret is ready. Imitation of this product can be homemade device, which is described below.
Second method: secret box using cardboard
Such a craft may well become an original gift with a surprise. Taking this little thing tied with a bow, the birthday boy is unlikely to immediately realize that a boring, nondescript volume from the collection of classical literature is an interesting and unusual hiding place. The frame of an old unwanted book is used as a cover. Cut and glue four rectangles from cardboard (these will be the sides) and place them inside the blank, following the example of the previous box, forming an empty niche in the middle. You can pre-draw on front side border lines imitating pages. After this, firmly glue the inner frame to the bottom cover and spine. Make a rope bookmark for originality. Surely the gift will be memorable!
Japanese box with a secret
One of the ways to keep secrets is the traditional things of some peoples. For example, the history of wooden Japanese boxes goes back to the distant past. You can open such a hand-made device in several stages (sometimes there are more than a dozen of them). It all depends on the difficulty level. By moving fragments and walls decorated with ornaments and mosaics in a certain sequence, all the secret drawers of the box are gradually revealed. The process is somewhat reminiscent of a children's puzzle - tag, only here everything is much more complicated.
The world is full of wonders and mysteries! Build your own box with a secret, let the secret settle in your home!
The boxes were originally intended for storing jewelry and expensive things, so they were found mainly in the homes of wealthy gentlemen.
The variety of shapes, sizes and materials used to make the boxes was amazing. They were made of gold and silver, encrusted with diamonds and other precious stones. There were also simpler wooden boxes. Centuries have passed, but the fashion for these original and elegant products has survived to this day.
Remarkable, but do wooden box DIY is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. The main thing is to apply a little skill and use your own imagination.
Where to begin
Making any craft begins with a project, a diagram. The master imagines exactly what his masterpiece will be like, and, starting from the drawings, stocks up necessary materials and tools.
For many people, a wooden box looks like a box. rectangular shape with a closing lid. This is true, but not entirely. A box is a real work of art, and even a handicraft made from scrap materials can look like an expensive antique.
Any box has its purpose in the house. Based on this message, the master thinks over the shape of the product. The following options are possible here:
- for jewelry. Such wooden models have a traditionally rectangular shape, but the internal surfaces are lined with velvet, and the lid is complemented by a mirror. As a result, jewelry is not scratched and is convenient to try on;
- for jewelry, trinkets. Characteristic feature Such a product consists of drawers that move freely inside the body. The number of retractable elements is unlimited, and a tight fit does not require special guides;
- a small box for cherished and memorable items. Made in the shape of a heart and great for storing letters, cards, photographs and other things;
- Puzzle . Quite a complex product that simultaneously serves decorative decoration and a children's toy. A system of wooden gears, reminiscent of a clock mechanism, is installed here, and the lid opens after rotating the handle or one of the wheels;
- to hide a small amount of money. It is made in the form of a rectangle, but external finishing made to look like a book;
- for needles, threads. Such wooden boxes usually have several compartments where you can store sewing supplies. The case is often complemented by a carrying handle.
In addition, there are boxes with watches, locks and secrets, original boxes and drawers for storing cigars, and products that make melodious sounds when the lid is opened. The shape is not limited to rectangular. Essentially, if there is modern instruments for wood processing it can be anything, including round.
It is noteworthy that all of the above options can be done independently at home. But still, it’s better to start learning how to make wooden boxes with your own hands with simple designs, making the task more difficult as mastery skills emerge.
How to make a classic box
Even a teenager with minimal skills in handling woodworking tools can cope with this task. Such a box is made from multi-layer plywood, and the selected sheet should not have visible damage: knots, cracks.
At the initial stage you will need a pencil and a ruler. In order not to complicate the task, it is better to choose the correct geometry of shapes for the walls, lid and bottom, for example, a square or rectangle. On a sheet of plywood, draw the outlines of four walls: 2 side walls are shorter and 2 front walls are longer.
Note! The sides of the bottom are calculated in such a way that after gluing the sides, it is recessed inside the walls.
Then all the drawn elements are carefully cut out with a jigsaw, the irregularities are processed sandpaper. To ensure that the end and side walls are beautifully connected to each other, small grooves can be made at the edges of the ends, corresponding to the thickness of the plywood sheet. This tip will help give the case a monolithic look and overall make the structure stronger. The walls are glued together, then the bottom of the box is placed. If the lower part enters with difficulty, the edges are processed with a file. The bottom should fit tightly.
After this, they begin to make the lid. To make the design more original, it is better to choose not a flat, but a deep lid. For this, the scheme described above is used. A large blank is cut out, which will directly serve as the lid, end and side walls. In essence, it turns out to be a smaller copy of the casket body. All parts are sanded and glued together. The lid is attached to the body using small hinges. After assembly, the finished product is varnished or painted in any color you like.
In a similar way, you can make a box from solid wood. For this they use wooden board. It must be sanded and cut into pieces of the required size. Wood is more difficult to saw with a jigsaw, it is better to use circular saw. Curly edges can be made with a router.
If you need a drawer
Overall the box is made of wood with drawer manufactured in the same way as classic version, but there are a number of features here.
A simple rectangular shape of the lid and bottom will spoil the appearance of the product. It is better to make the long sides of these elements wavy using an electric router. In addition, by choosing this option, the lid and bottom are not placed inside the body, but left outside.
The walls are being made different heights. In particular, the back part and ends are made of the same height and glued together. For the front wall, cut out a die half as wide as the back part. This element is not recessed between the ends, but is installed overlapping and fixed with glue.
The box consists of two parts: a box that fits freely between the walls, and front part– similar in size to the top die. The elements are also mounted on wood glue.
A partition is installed between the upper and lower parts, which will serve as the bottom of the upper compartment of the box. Inside the retractable and stationary drawers, you can make partitions from thin plywood, delimiting inner space for several departments. The lid is installed on decorative hinges, the wood is covered with several layers of furniture varnish.
How to decorate with carvings
Carved boxes look much more original and interesting, but such work requires certain skills and knowledge. For beginners who decide to try their hand at wood carving, experienced craftsmen recommend starting with simple geometric shapes and large patterns. With a certain amount of patience, even a novice master will be able to cope with such a task.
The drawing is applied to the surface with a pencil, each line is well drawn. After this, the pattern is carefully cut out with an oblique knife or chisel in strict accordance with the applied markings. Small flaws and irregularities can be corrected with a file or fine sandpaper.
How to put a lock
An interesting solution is mortise lock, which will be opened with a small key, but such work is difficult to perform even for an experienced specialist. Therefore, it is better to limit yourself to a padlock or a decorative hook.
To install a padlock, loops are placed in the central part of the side wall and lid, which are screwed with small screws. The location of the hinges must be calculated in advance: even a slight displacement will break the symmetry, and the box will lose its attractiveness.
Making a box complex shape solid wood will take significantly longer. To do this, you must use a power tool, while parts from plywood can even be cut with a hand jigsaw. To the artist for decoration finished product A large field of work opens up. You can paint it with paints, attach decorative fittings, decoupage or burn it.
A casket (translated from Latin “scatula” - box) is a small chest used for storing valuable things. Depending on the material of manufacture, plastic, wooden, and metal boxes are distinguished. Less common are items made of bone and stone.
In order to give beautiful view, the boxes are inlaid with precious stones, covered with leather, fabric, carving or embossing. They come in different configurations (round, oval, square, rectangular or describe an irregular contour geometric figure) and size (small – 50 mm x 50 mm, medium – 100 mm x 100 mm, large – over 150 mm x 150 mm).
The high cost of the box reduces the demand for this product. However, do not despair, it is easy to build a chest yourself.
Let's look at the history of its appearance, types and how to make a box with a secret with your own hands.
Video training “How to make a box with a secret with your own hands”
The emergence and formation of “secret” boxes
The first box appeared two thousand years ago in the Middle East, and a little later the “know-how” spread throughout Egypt, Japan, and China. During excavations carried out within Mesopotamia, archaeologists discovered fragments of wooden caskets. The chests found were decorated with lacquer tree sap, ivory, carving, inlay.
In Europe, “amazing boxes” appeared in the Middle Ages and indicated the status and prosperity of the owner. IN Ancient Rus' Every home already had a chest and was used to store jewelry, love letters, and memorabilia.
Before the appearance industrial production, the wooden box was made by hand directly according to the buyer's order.
Russian craftsmen sought to outstrip their colleagues in terms of workmanship. Thus, “cunning” boxes were born that opened only after pressing a secret button.
First music Box appeared in Switzerland, its action is based on special mechanism- a carillon, then boxes for self-winding watches were created that emitted a melody when opened.
Today, the chest has evolved from an expensive item to an "everyday" item that is mass-produced by contractors. At the same time, the scope of application of the box has increased beyond recognition: in addition to boxes for storing jewelry, products for banknotes, documents, watches, cigars, business cards.
Creating a box with a secret
A truly real work of art is the Japanese Himitsu-Bako chest. It first appeared in the vicinity of Hakone a hundred years ago. In addition to its attractive appearance, which depended only on the imagination of the master, the box was a kind of puzzle.
Not everyone can open such a box. There is no hidden lever, button or locking mechanism. To get out the “secret” contents, move the walls and fragments of the box in a certain sequence.
The box with an average degree of complexity opens in seven rotations. At the same time, there are hiding places designed for up to 125 movements, serving reliable protection from thieves.
Let's look at how to make a box with a secret with your own hands.
- Prepare a block of rosewood, measuring 40 mm x 46 mm x 75 mm, check the perpendicularity of the canvas so that the parts of the box can move correctly. Perform this procedure regularly throughout the entire work.
- Cut out the lid, walls, and bottom of the box into a rectangular shape. This procedure should be performed using a jigsaw.
- On the lid, draw and cut out a key in the shape of the letter “T”.
- Make a cut on the wall of the box. Set the sawn-off lid aside.
- Draw a line around the workpiece 3 millimeters from the edge, intended to go around the key slot. Using a drill, drill a small inlet hole in one corner and make a cut along this mark.
- Cut out the lifts. These end parts will subsequently be inserted inside the secret cell, supporting its lid.
- Glue the sides of the chest to the bottom. Do not lubricate the area near the key slot with glue.
- Attach lifts. To do this, apply a layer of glue to the inner ends of the walls of the box. Then place lifts at both ends. Replace the secret compartment lid as it holds the sides in place.
- Clamp the box in a vice and leave it to dry for 10 hours.
- Sand rough edges using a sanding block and sandpaper.
- Apply finish using Danish oil paste wax.
- Cover the chest with varnish.
A box with a secret is a proven way to hide personal belongings (money, jewelry, letters) from unwanted eyes and intruders.
We suggest watching an online video on how to make a chest yourself.
Japan delights us with numerous secrets. This is one of those countries whose cultural development has created an amazing atmosphere. However, if other nations have forgotten about them, they keep them and constantly remember their ancestors. This is clearly reflected in their cultural objects, where true diversity is celebrated.
I would like to say a few words about Japanese boxes. Traditional ones have always been distinguished by unnatural beauty, supported by mystery. Many people have such boxes, but cannot unravel their secret for several years. Surprisingly, at first glance, a very simple object can contain a sea of grace and beauty that is inaccessible to other things.
Japanese boxes are special, they surprise people not only with their beautiful appearance, but also with striking features that allow us to talk about their true perfection. Masters who make Japanese jewelry boxes are like jewelers who spend many decades honing their skills in order to create a unique masterpiece. There are not many such examples, but at the same time we constantly encounter their high cultural and material value.
Himitsu-Bako - traditional Japanese secret boxes appeared more than 100 years ago in the vicinity of Hakone. Many years ago there was a station on the main road to Edo and were developed as souvenirs for tourists. These places are distinguished by a wide variety of tree species. A special wood processing method is used to make boxes. Unpainted wood boards different color cut into thin strips and glued into plates. Then new strips are sawn off from these plates, which are then glued together again. And so on several times. The result is a block glued together from different types of trees and having a unique pattern on the cross section. Next, using special tool, cut paper-thin sheets, which are used to decorate boxes.
The secret of the box is that it consists of several parts and you need to know which of these parts, in which direction to move in order for the box to open. In most cases, in order to open the box you need to make from 4 to 66 movements. Although there are boxes for 78, 122,119,125 movements.
Shape of Japanese boxes
Probably few people saw it live Japanese jewelry boxes, their distribution is not so widespread. Of course people are interested in them, but their production is nothing like any other product. It is worth noting that industrial production of Japanese boxes is simply impossible, because each of them must contain a secret. They are presented on the market in small quantities. Most often these are simple fakes that are not able to please people with real quality.
The shape of the Japanese box is unusual, but there is no constancy in it. If we are accustomed to the fact that a box is an ordinary rectangular box, then the Japanese prove that it is not always so simple. The fact is that many can be made in round boxes or a simple cube, on which even the lid itself does not stand out. This is what becomes one of the main features of Japanese boxes. The shape depended only on the complexity of the closing mechanism, so each master chose it to his own taste.
We usually find ordinary rectangular boxes on the market, but they cannot be called masterpieces because they lack real originality.
The secret of Japanese boxes
The Japanese box is a truly original work of art. Its shape and size depend only on the imagination of the master manufacturer. There are no specific standards that everyone adheres to. Thus, we sometimes find boxes that resemble simple cubes. Sometimes it seems that they don’t even open, but each one keeps its own secret.
The Japanese box looks more like a kind of puzzle, because opening the lid is not so easy. There is no locking mechanism as we understand it; rather, you need to look for a small lever or button. Historically, Japanese boxes were the property of the ruling part of the population, who used them to store wealth. However, a simple lock cannot provide sufficient protection against thieves, so real masters made boxes with a secret. A similar secret always concerned the opening of the lid, that is, it was never opened by simply tilting the lid. Most often, you had to rotate some part of the picture or press a hidden button, the mechanism would work and the lid would open. Creating such a box took a lot of time, so real masters can be counted on one hand.
Drawings on Japanese boxes
Japanese boxes always fascinated with their secrets, as well as with the beautiful drawings that decorated each of them. You can look at the drawings, seeing in them interesting myths and legends, but one cannot think that the apparent simplicity of the drawings does not hide any secrets.
All drawings on Japanese boxes bright and catchy. They reveal pictures of the country's history or one of the legends, although in some cases a simple ornament can be seen. However, some of the drawings were made convex, which seemed simply amazing. This kind of skill could only be found in Japan. True, the convex pattern was not always a simple picture. Often it contained a secret mechanism that allowed the lid to be opened. You just had to find a bump to press on, because there were simply no keys for them. The beauty of the pictures was carefully thought out; it was impossible to simply draw a landscape. Each picture by the Japanese master carries an important meaning that may not be revealed to every person. Moreover, in some cases it is he who becomes the clue for opening the box.
Japanese boxes still bear interesting, but incomprehensible drawings, which most often cannot be used to help open them.
A little about the history of boxes in general and Japanese boxes in particular
The boxes came to us from the depths of centuries, from the mysterious countries of the East. Since then, their design has not changed much, but they began to use latest materials And modern mechanisms, improved production plans. However, no matter what materials the boxes are made from, each of them has its own little secret.
It is believed that the very first boxes were created to store jewelry. Two thousand years ago, talented craftsmen from Japan and China made unique cases for storing valuable things. They were various forms and sizes, decorated with lacquer tree sap. Craftsmen strived to get ahead of each other in terms of craftsmanship, so more and more new processing methods appeared: decoration with fabric or leather, inlay with precious stones, decoration with ivory. Such boxes were a real masterpiece; they were valuable in themselves, especially if precious and semiprecious stones or noble metals.
Russian masters and craftsmen created boxes that were very clever in their design; such boxes could only be opened by pressing a secret button. The Russian people have always loved riddles and secrets, so secret boxes began to enjoy great success. With or without secret, but basically, boxes for jewelry and treasures were made and they were of all sizes from small to large.
Music boxes originated in Switzerland. It was there that the first musical mechanism was created, which was placed in a box - the carillon. Switzerland is famous for the creation of watch mechanisms; it is not at all surprising that self-winding watch boxes were created here, which emitted a pleasant melody when opened, and consisted of many plates and metal teeth.
Japanese handmade boxes with a complex mechanism.
Secret boxes are made mainly and most often of wood. You can store anything in such boxes, in other words, the boxes are not props, but can actually be used for their intended purpose.
The first Japanese secret box was made more than 100 years ago. Made this miracle Jinbei Ishikawa (1790-1850). Ishikawa lived in the Hakone-Odawara region of Japan. Jinbei Ishikawa was surrounded by mountains and an abundance of high-quality wood, from which he made the first wonderful box with secret mechanisms.
Just like then, more than a hundred years ago, today such boxes are made different sizes, shapes and with different amounts steps (actions) to open the box and are done manually.
The surface of most of these boxes is decorated with “Yosegi” - a unique mosaic of different varieties wood This kind of mosaic dates back more than 10 centuries; this art received its greatest development from the 17th to the 19th centuries.
Initially it was used to decorate trays, chests of drawers and other items. It was, and is now, a fishing center, surrounded by forested mountains and long known for its crafts.
Well, now about the tricks and mechanism of Japanese puzzle boxes. No, this box will not play tunes, jump or do any other stupid and/or uninteresting things.
The trick of the box is that you can’t just pick it up and open it. The box has a lot of strips that can be moved in different directions (parts of the walls of the box can be moved). But in order to open the wonderful puzzle, you will have to move the parts of the box in a certain way and with a specific sequence.
Japanese secret boxes have the following differences from each other
1. according to the drawing.
2. By size (3 sun, 4 sun, 5 sun) and so on. The larger the size of the box (sun), the more expensive it is.
Sun is an ancient Japanese unit, one sun = 30.3 mm. Thus, if the box has 3 sun and 4 steps, then this means that the box has a length of about 9.1 cm and in order to open this box, you need to perform 4 actions (steps).
3. According to the complexity of the mechanism, namely the number of actions that need to be performed to open the box. The more actions than more complex mechanism(5 step, 6 step and up to 27 or more steps), the more expensive the box is.
In shape, boxes can be square or rectangular (mostly).
The internal volume depends on the number of steps, and on the size of the box, of course. If there are not many steps (4 - 8), then from the external volume (length, for example 4 sun multiplied by 3.3 external length = about 12 cm) subtract approximately 2-3 cm (i.e. 1.5 from each sides) cm, and we get an internal length of about 9 cm.
Approximate dimensions for different external sizes of boxes
Internal dimensions for 4 sun approx:
for the box 4 sun (approx. 12 cm external length) and 4 step (4 steps to open), inner dimensions are as follows: 8 x 6 x 3.7 cm.
for a 4 sun box, but with 27 step internal dimensions = 7.31 x 6.2 x 3.2 cm.
For 5 sun boxes (about 15 cm in length):
for 5 sun and 7 step int. dimensions = 10.79 x 7.5 x 5.35 cm.
For 5 sun box, but 27 step (27 steps) internal dimensions: 10.41 x 7.5 x 4.2 cm
Various Japanese boxes (photo):
Usage beautiful wood, elegant design and instructions - the DIY box below makes a great gift.
Designer sophistication with an artistic deviation from the usual corner connections- connection with tenons of variable width - adds zest to the corners of the box. Below we will present an option for making a connection - straight box tenons of variable width.
In production, you can also use pieces of various types of wood with a beautiful textured pattern, stored in advance. You can make boxes out of plywood, you just need to choose required thickness material.
Choose contrasting wood species for the body, lid and handle.
In this section, we will look at how to make a box with your own hands using straight tongue-and-groove corner joints.
- Prepare end walls A - 10x56x46 - 2 pcs. and longitudinal walls B - 10x56x292 - 2 pcs.
- To set up sawing machine To make the tenon joints shown in the drawing below, install a 19 mm thick groove disk and make a test groove on a piece of wood, then readjust to 6 mm and check the width of the resulting grooves.
- Cut a 19mm wide groove in the trim, trim a 10x305 spacer to a thickness equal to the width of the groove, and check the fit. Then repeat the operation with a 6mm wide groove.
- Reset the groove disc to 6mm, adjust to a depth of 11mm. Attach a wooden extension to the movable stop-carriage, protruding to the right of the saw blade at a distance of 15 cm. Place the extension over saw blade, cutting a groove. Cut a pin 50 mm long and 6 mm thick from a spacer 305 mm long.
Video on how to make a plywood box with your own hands