Building a three drawer desk with a simple rectangle carcass. Would like to incorporate a removable secret compartment in the back that would match the center back face. Ideally, the secret box would click out and click back in. Any good ideas how to make this work? There’s a few designs in the FWW archives, but looking for more. Rough sketch below. Thanks!
Replies
I made a printer table for neighbor with a drawer, lots of room behind the drawer. I made a box that fit behind the drawer and was stuck to backside of the apron with magnets. Worked fine.
Would something like this work? the big limitation is the amount of space behind the drawer that it would take up, and if the drawer was large or heavy, may not work.
https://www.rockler.com/single-door-magnetic-touch-latch-select-color?country=US&promo=shopping&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=pla_with_promotion&utm_campaign=PL&utm_campaign=18291977002&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=18291977002||&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhMq-BhCFARIsAGvo0Kf8e4iDBMin4IRRI98hKE4oPSF_lDmGwhC74P-zAr4PqFCFMtXalz8aAsVREALw_wcB
Take a look at "push latches" or "ball detent latches"
How about a "Child Proof" hidden magnetic latch. There are other styles available besides the one in the link below.
https://www.amazon.com/Safety-Magnetic-Cabinet-Screws-Needed/dp/B07CNF6K9H/ref=asc_df_B07CNF6K9H?mcid=7bf6a4384de23e5da7d1442c5240e6cb&hvocijid=6298327309055017272-B07CNF6K9H-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6298327309055017272&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010729&hvtargid=pla-2281435179738&psc=1
IMO a secret drawer on the outside of a piece is gonna get found. Having to leave reveals and allow for movement means it will be gappy enough to stand out. I suppose you could design the rest of the back panels with shadow lines to match? Moving the hidden box to the inside or turning the outside box into one of those odd and cute "drawers in the wrong place" might be better.
Having given an opinion you did not ask for, I'll answer your actual question... To do what you are suggesting I would bend some light springs for either side of the opening and put a pencil hole in the divider behing the main drawer in the front of the desk. This way the secret drawer will be in there nice and solid and not wiggly when touched from the outside. You'll have to pull the main drawer to poke through to open the secret drawer. I've attached a sketch. Good luck!
Edit: maybe recess the springs to make it even tighter?
All good suggestions and thank you. Agree the secret compartment face should not stand out. Here's what I came up with: Loosening the wooden drawer runners by unscrewing the front screw and then pushing them back together to pop the compartment out from being held by magnets. From the outside, the secret and non-secret back faces would be indistinguishable. Rough sketch attached. Comments welcome..
Two comments.. First the access is cumbersome and requires a tool. Don't put anything in there that you'll have to get to with any speed. If it's cash and you're $5 short for the takeout guy he'll be waiting a while. Second, over time the runners will wear on the screws and alignment for both uses will suffer.
The cool thing about a secret compartment is the secret, access should be easy for those in the know.
Just thought of another idea. Instead of a secret drawer, could you just use a secret door? It would increase your usable space and give more options for hardware that will work. My wife has a desk with secret doors on the backside that you would never know are there. The desk has similar reveals around all the panels, so the door reveals are not a giveaway.