Secret Stash

Are you sick and tired of people stealing your most treasured belongings? I know if you're a TI(targeted individual) you sure are. As there may not be a solution to solve this problem entirely, I can share an idea that will surely help with theft. In this instructable, I am making a secret stash box from a 2 by 4 that resembles just that.., a 2 by 4. This box consists of an outer shell and a sliding drawer that is push activated by a magnetic double latch. The drawer and box are made to be as seamless as possible by matching the wood grain on all the seams and where the drawer slides out from.

Tools:

• table saw
• miter saw
• mouse sander
• screw driver
• angle grinder
• clamps

Materials:

• wood glue
• magnetic double latch with hardware
• 2 foot 2 by 4
• pen

-First, we want to make two cross cuts on our 2 by 4 board 1/4 inch thick with a miter saw.

Cut two 8 inch boards with the miter as well.

With a table saw, rip one of the 8 in. boards 1/4 inch thick. Do this to both sides of the board. Save the middle section later for the drawer.

- With the other 8 inch board, rip both edges 1/4 inch thick and shave both of the curved sides off. Make 2 more 1/4 inch cuts. These are the drawer sides and the outer shell sides.

Install the magnetic double latch to the bottom board with screws.

Glue and clamp the sides, top, and bottom of the box together. Position everything to as closely resemble the original board as possible and let sit a couple hours.

Remove clamps, then glue and clamp the end of the box.

Now we are going to use that middle section we saved from step 3. Hold this board to the opening of the box and make a mark. Cut with the table saw. This is going to be the bottom of the drawer.

Check to see if it fits. Grab the drawer sides we cut in step 4 and make a mark to where they will fit inside the outer shell. Cut with table saw and glue and clamp boths sides to the bottom of the drawer. Glue back end onto the drawer and clamp.

Make another test fit of the drawer and make a mark on the drawer with the latch pushed all the way in. Make another mark 1/4 shorter than the previous mark and cut with a miter saw. The drawer will be slightly recessed.

Grab one of the cross cuts we made in step one and mark some marks so it will fit in the opening of the box as the front of the drawer. Be sure to line the grain up as best as you can, cut with the table saw, glue, and clamp the piece to the front of the drawer.

On my board i have a big hole from a nail that i need to fill. I am using this hole as another way to deter thiefs by adding a broken bolt to the board. This should be the last board chosen from a pile of scraps. With an angle grinder I make 2 cuts of the bolt both about 1/4 inch and thread them into the open holes on each side of the box.

Attach the metal pieces to the back edge of the drawer for the magnetic latch.

Insert drawer into box and check to make sure all edges are flush. If not use a sander to lightly sand all edges. I used an angle grinder to make a couple burn marks on the box just for camouflage purposes.