A quirky book like this can be a neat way to hide something, whether it's a spare key, a secret note, or even money. Most people wouldn't think of treating your library as a cache of private or personal items. This is also a great way to pass something on to someone discreetly and without attracting attention - an unsuspecting bystander will only think that you are just passing on an interesting book and nothing more! Great option for spies!
Step 1. Choose a book, preferably a thick one with a strong hard cover and good binding.
Step 2. Select as many first pages as you need and wrap them with the cover with plastic cling film, so they will not be damaged by glue. These, with the exception of the last of these pages, will not be cut. This will allow the book to look like a regular book when it is opened and will cover the cut hole for the hiding place with its unglued pages. The page closest to the cut cache will be glued together later (in the last step).
Step 3. Mix some clear glue and water. Let the glue be liquid enough so that the pages of the book can absorb it.The ratio is approximately 30% to 70% glue.
Step 4. Staple all the pages together that you selected from the first ones in step 2 earlier and brush glue onto their edges so that it is absorbed. This will hold them together. Wash your brush, otherwise it will dry out and become useless!
Step 5. Let the book dry for fifteen to thirty minutes. Place something between the pages and the cover so that they do not touch each other and stick together. Place something heavy on top of the cover to apply pressure.
Step 6. Open the book to the first glued page. Measure 1.2 cm from the edge on all four sides and draw lines with a pencil.
Step 7 Cut the edges along the inside of the drawn line with a knife. Try to make the "cut" as vertical as possible, otherwise the cut hole will narrow towards the bottom. Use a ruler as shown in the image, it may help. Click on the knife to cut multiple pages at a time.
Continue cutting out layers. Take your time, because the slower and more carefully you do this, the smoother and straighter the inside edges will be.
Remove any remaining paper from the inside that accumulates from cutting.
Step 8. Apply glue to the inside edges of the hole with a brush and allow it to soak in.
Let the glue dry, but in the meantime, apply a second layer of glue to the outer edges of the pages.
Ready!
Make sure the book is completely dry. Fill it with your belongings, close the book, and place it on your bookshelf. Now only you will know that this book has a secret compartment! Among the other books that surround it, it won’t be very noticeable!;)
If you do everything carefully, the book might look like this:
Or like this:
