Secret compartments

[gasman]

Hello everyone - I have lurked here for a good while and made a couple of comments previously...
However, I wonder if I could pick anyone's brains about secret compartments / drawers in boxes? I make one-off, bespoke items for friends and colleagues but not very often as it is a hobby. I have attached a photo of my last effort - a jewelry cabinet in aformosa, sycamore, ebony and yew.[attachimg=C:\Documents and Settings\Mark\My Documents\Work pictures\woodwork\jewellry cabinet.jpg]
I would love to learn some more tricks as to how to put secret compartments and drawers into such pieces. This jewelry cabinet did have a secret compartment in the base but it was very basic. Does anyone know of a book or any other resource which could point me in the right direction? I have searched on Amazon and other book resources on the web and in various woodworking sites but have not found anything yet.
Here's hoping.....
Thanks

 

[jonny round boy]

If we told you, it wouldn't be a secret anymore... ;D ;D ;D

Sorry, I couldn't resist. I wish I had a more serious answer for you, but I don't have any experience with that sort of thing.

 

[Qwas]

A quick easy one to do with your jewelry box would be make the drawers about 1-2 inches less in depth. On the main box, make a removal false back where the drawers now stop at. You could put some small hooks on the inside of the false back to hang jewelry from.

Another quick and easy one is to make a new base that the box rests on. With a twist, the new base pops off to reveal the hidden compartment. Same could be done for the top but you would want to include it the design.

 

[mhch]

A few ideas can be found in
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignArticle.aspx?id=26008http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesPDF.aspx?id=2186http://www.taunton.com/finewoodwork...dDesign/ProjectsAndDesignArticle.aspx?id=5199

You might have to subscribe for internet access to read that.
I'm not sure I can forward the copies I got because of this.

 

[gasman]

Thanks mhch - i had quite forgotten i had a subscription to FWW - so they were very useful. I am most grateful to you for the suggestions

 

[mhch]

My pleasure from over the pond 

 

[Per Swenson]

I will give you a hint.

'Cause as Jonny said.... then it aint a secret.

A impossible joint to see, is one that is split along the straight grain, then  reassembled, not cut.

Per

 

[Rocker]

A method I have used is as follows: A drawer is made shorter than the full depth of the cabinet. A box with two rare-earth magnets set in its front face is slid in behind the drawer. To remove this secret box, a piece of wood with matching magnets is temporarily attached to the back of the drawer, so that the secret box can be pulled out with the drawer.

Rocker