Thread: Secret lock for box

How about using one of these commercial kid-safe latches...

http://www.bunnings.com.au/dreambaby...-pack_p4212029

I've seen them used to create hidden gun cabinets (you can never be too far from your firearm in the US) in some YouTube videos.

Or you could go for the "Yes, it's locked" approach if you are feeling really creative:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ8WRDVgKrk

I seem to remember that the Jim Tolpins Toolbox book had details of quite a clever card activated lock you might be able to get some ideas from if you have a copy.
Ben

Hi Dengue,

Fit the box with a false front, part of which slips down to reveal the escutcheon. Of course, to allow the part front to slip down, one has to remove/slide the lower skirt pieces. A secret compartment holds the key. I made one before I had many tools (and even less woodwork know how). I'll try to find one like it on the web.

Paul

Here's one. Is this what he's after?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKFC-iqt8eU


My box was similar to that in the video. The version I made didn't have the box sliding forward on the base but the skirt had a loose join so part could be slid away to allow the false front to slide down.

Actually, I found this buried deep down in the Artistry in Wood website. Looks pretty simple, probably a bit too simple, easy for others to watch and work out

Hi Dengy,
i'm not at my home computer AND into my 5th gin and tonic but I posted a few years ago on 'a box for Lucy' that had a hidden catch. The main thing that made it 'secret' though was that it wasn't obvious HOW it opened? Make your box look like a normal box but the bottom or end opens?
fletty
6th g and t...... !

Box for Lucyhttps://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...light=Box+lucy

Thanks for the heads up Fletty, and for the link, PacMan, you beat me by a matter of seconds

Fletty, excuse the ignorance, but logic theory is not my strong point, and I really can't see how this lock works. Can you help me out here please?

Incidentally, beautiful box you did for Lucy

I like the idea of a catch that can only be unlocked with a rare earth magnet to pull the catch open.
That way even if the older brothers work out you need a magnet they also need to work out where to put it to pull the catch open.
Or they may try with a less powerfull magnet which doesn't work.

You can hide the magnet in a fridge magnet so it doesn't get lost.

Maybe a pin in each side (instead of front) on a gentle spring, then 2 magnets to pull pin back and then can lift the lid to play his games.

There's 4 latches on the side of the box and these engage with 4 spring loaded latches on the lid. When the centre of the lid is pushed down the 4 latches disengage allowing the lid to slide free and be lifted off.
I still think that you could make an 'obvious' but false catch on the top to confuse unauthorised entry BUT the bottom is held on by rare earth magnets and just pulls off ?

fletty

lost count now....... !

I built a box way way back when I was at high school and I didn't want my brothers and sisters to get to. I just used some extra loose nails. I used a drilled hole and hammered the around the hole so when the nail was installed it just looked like I missed with the hammer when hammering them in. The flat nail was a snug fit, they didn't come out even if shaked, you used you fingernail to get it out. The siblings never worked it out

Long ago, when my kids were little, I built a gun cabinet. Couple of rifles, couple of shotguns.
Beneath those were 3 drawers (draws as you call them) with some ammo, cleaning kits and so forth.
Most of it was pine, meant to look primitive, lots of large nail heads inlaid as decoration.
BUT, three of them were 15cm nails and all 3 had to be pulled out to get the thing open.
The design was in an ancient Field&Stream magazine, maybe 1950's?

Have a look on Instructables for hidden or secret compartments - there was one where 9 moves of a chess game had to be played in the correct order before a hidden compartment could be unlocked!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Secr...h-9-move-comb/