Garage Hidden Compartments
- Thread starter woodgate
- Start date
Jay Sco
Well-known member
My garage is messy enough I can just toss something on the back of a shelf and nobody would ever find it.
hifi_hokie
Well-known member
I have a hard enough time not losing track of non-hidden things...
Falcon67
Well-known member
Nice trick. X2&3 above. If I set it down somewhere, it may already be hidden.
Polski-Chevy
Well-known member
This book is good for shiggles....
4xdog
Well-known member
You made it? The same thing is six bucks on Amazon. These have been around for decades.
http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Fake-Wall-Outlet-Safe/dp/B0037584Z8
Automatic Slim
Well-known member
I've got an STP "safe" can that I use for such.
My wife uses her tampon box, LOL.
AirJunky
Well-known member
Mine is window cleaner
Sunbimmer
Well-known member
You made it? The same thing is six bucks on Amazon. These have been around for decades.
http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Fake-Wall-Outlet-Safe/dp/B0037584Z8
I was thinking the same thing. Hopefully the OP posts a picture of the one he actually made.
About the most hidden place I have is behind my fastener storage.
CodyY
Well-known member
justanengineer
Well-known member
Mine is fairly clean but has enough stuff in it to keep things well hidden.
Realistically, there are a ton of hiding places for things in the garage. Theres a ton of room inside the mill not to mention underneath it, could probably fit a rifle or two inside there and a few handguns underneath. The bolt bins are another obvious one with a ton of room for smalls. Every toolbox has a lil space for money or smalls beneath the bottom drawer in that area where small tools like to hide. Theres room behind various items in the cabinets, not to mention plenty of space inside of lil used tools' molded cases. Then theres.....
Why do we need a "hidden" compartment in the garage again?
Lippyp
Well-known member
I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you.......................
Fortress68
Well-known member
The problem with hiding things in my garage, is that would mean they are important enough to hide. Anything that important doesn't belong in a garage environment, especially not mine. Between fumes, over-spray, oil, grease, fire, and any other number of solvents, I seem to ruin everything that comes near a project, except the project that is. Heck, I can't even pump gas without getting dirty. I don't particularly care for hiding things in the attic either, as it too invites pest and all sorts of other things. Plus, with as much stuff as I have in my garage, it would only serve to attract thieves to it... again not a good characteristic of a hidey hole. I do have a hundred year old safe in there right now, but it is only so I can refinish it for my wife.
Hilarious!!
mayday0017
Well-known member
I do like the ideas posted here... I agree I don't hide valuables in my garage but I might buy or make a friend one that looks like a typical item to sit on a shelf. He owns an automotive shop and keeps a couple key chains including the one to his car which has 1 key to the shop on it. I have had him meet up with me before and we got in but he didn't have the keys to his tool boxes on him so we had to try to work using whatever tools we could find. Be nice if he had spares to all his boxes hidden in the loft area of the shop with other sprays or oils.
woodrail
Well-known member
fotoflojoe
Well-known member
install a metal cigar tube in the top of a door:
http://blog.makezine.com/2011/03/11/make-projects-doortop-stash/
http://blog.makezine.com/2011/03/11/make-projects-doortop-stash/
shooting4life
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2012
- Messages
- 334
I built a cabinet around my safe so you cannot see the safe when the door is open
In the cabinet I built a false floor on the right. It is held in place with two screws in the front. This is the only picture I have, the floor board come up along the seam.
And here is how it looks from the driveway
In the cabinet I built a false floor on the right. It is held in place with two screws in the front. This is the only picture I have, the floor board come up along the seam.
And here is how it looks from the driveway
I had a company come on and do a thermal study of my home several years ago to see if blown in insulation or foam insulation would stop some drafts. During the home inspection they used a camera that took thermal images.
The inspector said, oh great place for a safe, we find them all the time. How do you get to it? I said are you sure? He said that or it is a burried electrial pannel box.
I went into the crawl space (past where we store the lugage becasue it is too tight to get to A place I have never been before or again) and between the studs there was a metal box. I pulled out a safe-deposit looking box (not hi security)that was the size of a medicine cabinet. Upon opening it (was not locked-no lock in the hasp there was nothing to speak of. An purfume bottle with foreign writing we think was french (Empty) a few packs of old baseball cards from early 80's rubberbanded together (nothing of value-I checked) and there was remnants of what looked like fabric threads.
I bet the inspectors camera would find those tubes if they are metal, I would go for plastic. Might be more invisible depending what was in the tube.
Good luck and happy hiding.
The inspector said, oh great place for a safe, we find them all the time. How do you get to it? I said are you sure? He said that or it is a burried electrial pannel box.
I went into the crawl space (past where we store the lugage becasue it is too tight to get to A place I have never been before or again) and between the studs there was a metal box. I pulled out a safe-deposit looking box (not hi security)that was the size of a medicine cabinet. Upon opening it (was not locked-no lock in the hasp there was nothing to speak of. An purfume bottle with foreign writing we think was french (Empty) a few packs of old baseball cards from early 80's rubberbanded together (nothing of value-I checked) and there was remnants of what looked like fabric threads.
I bet the inspectors camera would find those tubes if they are metal, I would go for plastic. Might be more invisible depending what was in the tube.
Good luck and happy hiding.
install a metal cigar tube in the top of a door:
http://blog.makezine.com/2011/03/11/make-projects-doortop-stash/
4xdog
Well-known member
Good job on that idea! Looks like one of the best so far.
I know the HF sells in "in the wall" safe. I had considered buying and using it to store a things in the garage. Until this thread came up, I wasn't sure how to cover it, then I thought why not ? Yes, the typical garage art, safe behind a picture on the wall. 
http://www.harborfreight.com/922-cubic-inch-digital-wall-safe-97081.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/922-cubic-inch-digital-wall-safe-97081.html
fotoflojoe
Well-known member
Heh...
To be clear, the cigar tube idea isn't mine. I was just posting a link to the article in Make Magazine.
It's a great publication, BTW.
Metal detectors are standard equipment for search teams.
If you are hiding something metal, like guns, in a wall put it where there is logically metal in a wall.
That is usually a plumbing wall going to an upstairs bathroom.
Your tube in the door is a good idea, but it needs to be plastic and have non-metallic stuff in it.
Garages or shops are good places because they have so much metal in them under normal conditions.
Be somewhat creative. A heating duct, even a real one, will hide a rifle well.
But if it is a pro with tools, you are gong to be going uphill.
They have classes just for this.
If you are hiding something metal, like guns, in a wall put it where there is logically metal in a wall.
That is usually a plumbing wall going to an upstairs bathroom.
Your tube in the door is a good idea, but it needs to be plastic and have non-metallic stuff in it.
Garages or shops are good places because they have so much metal in them under normal conditions.
Be somewhat creative. A heating duct, even a real one, will hide a rifle well.
But if it is a pro with tools, you are gong to be going uphill.
They have classes just for this.
dirtguy
Member
My father had a floor safe under a false panel under the workbench and then he put in a cheap wall safe and put some cheap watches and costume jewelry in it.
Both times he was broken into they went for the wall safe and never got the good stuff.
Both times he was broken into they went for the wall safe and never got the good stuff.
cyamaha2007
Well-known member
I stash $300 bucks for clist items that popup on lunch or when my boss says hey that lista cabinet doesnt match anymore give me a 100 bucks and its yours. I made a metal tube that i drop into a dead run of 1in emt conduit. Attached to the tube is a piece of wire. If i need cash i get my rolling ladder pop the cover plate off a ancient fan timer and pull the wire and after about 10 feet out comes my tube. In case the wire ever broke i put a dent in the conduit so the tube couldn't fall into the abbis below the slab
HOTFR8
Banned
I've seen many of those ideas. Power points, Brake cleaner and drink tins. I have hidden rooms in my shed. Nuttsgt that hidden cupboard is a great idea. fotolojoe the hidden tin in the door is also very clever.
yuk
Well-known member
run a piece of metal conduit from ceiling to floor with a locked electric junction box somewhere in the middle.
use the box for stashing.
stick a bunch of those yellow "high voltage" scare stickers on it.
use the box for stashing.
stick a bunch of those yellow "high voltage" scare stickers on it.
4xdog
Well-known member
I may have seen this somewhere and added to the idea. Find a used not too large gun safe. Put it in a not so obvious but easily findable place in the garage. Load it with heavy objects(old batteries, concrete blocks, etc.) Maybe put some cheap tools in it to add to the idea that it is really in use. Perhaps put a tool box in booby trapped with pepper spray, if you can figure a way to disarm it. Theory is that thieves will work to haul it off or work to cut it open, using too much of their time. Put real stash somewhere else not easily found.
Alternative: put your real tool supply in safe which will still be less valuable that your stash. Bolt safe to floor. Really weight it down so hauling it off will be doubtful. If there is a break in, don't tell cops about real stash.
KEH
Alternative: put your real tool supply in safe which will still be less valuable that your stash. Bolt safe to floor. Really weight it down so hauling it off will be doubtful. If there is a break in, don't tell cops about real stash.
KEH
Coloshaver
Well-known member
This looks cool, but I'd be afraid that that pristine oil can would attract a lot of attention among all the plastic bottles. Clean ones like that are collector's items.
This looks cool, but I'd be afraid that that pristine oil can would attract a lot of attention among all the plastic bottles. Clean ones like that are collector's items.
That's why you put it on the display shelf beside the other older collectables.
rick carpenter
Well-known member
Build a box soffit with your choice of clever access door.
zip95864
Well-known member
I've read one of the best places to hide money --- is to cap a PVC tube and bury in the backyard ---- more fireproof.
48Classic
Well-known member
I have an old 100amp electrical panel in the garage that is not active. It is in the open area but unless you know its not hot, I don't the someone breaking in is going to open an electrical panel...
zuk123
Well-known member
^^ unless they are a tweeker looking for copper....
zuk
zuk
Toomanytools?
Well-known member
I had a great hiding spot for something very important, can't remember where or what now!
PI Lvr83
Active member
I've got an STP "safe" can that I use for such.
My wife uses her tampon box, LOL.
I like the oil can but that could be a big problem now-a-days since oil cans are no longer produced. Someone might like it for nostalgic reasons and walk off with it!!
48Classic
Well-known member
So true, Maybe I need to put a contact closure in there with it hookup to a sound effect with electrical shorting out sound...