Ideas for opening mechanism for hidden room under table?

[Denominator]

We got this huge and very heavy living room table from my in-laws.

It is build from 2 inch thick pine. The table are closed on all sides, and has a unused room inside.
I would like to make a door on the longest side of the table, put on some hinges on the bottom, and make a hidden room inside.

The picture makes the table look like it has some scuff marks on it, but thats my bad camera, not the table.

I would like to do this in a fun and cool way. Therefore I'm looking for some kind of mechanism that let me push a hidden button and then the hidden door opens.

I plan to keep my toys inside it:

I'm looking for some kind of actuator with some kind of controll system that let's me open AND close the door with the touch of a button:

Any ideas?

 

[gc11090]

Actuators like you have pictured wired into a hall effect switch(A switch that is "flipped" using a magnet) would make for something totally different and cool

 

[Lippyp]

How about a mini roller shutter, they use em on some older desks, could then paint it up to match your garage!

 

[daveroy]

The biggest problem with actuators and switches and remotes etc... is you will have to have power/air/something inside the table. I would try to stay strictly mechanical and make sure there is another way to get in (another panel that can be removed with a screw driver or something (maybe a panel in the bottom) in case the mechanism decides to fail.

 

[CraigFL]

That depends how automatic you want it to be. These would keep it closed and a push would unlock so you could open on hinges or spring loaded assisted hinges.

http://www.southco.com/browse/concealed-push-to-close-latches-7329.html

 

[tool whore]

Since this is GJ and not instructables.com, I am going to suggest the magnetic cabinet latches that you can buy to keep babies out of cabinets. I have seen them but never used them.

My mom said drano wouldnt kill us. Apparently she was correct, although my brother does twitch alot.

They sell them at mal-wart.

 

[Denominator]

Many good ideas, I'm working on a system, but I needed some parts, they will be in the mail tomorrow. Will post pictures and maybe a short video when it's done

 

[TAftw]

The picture of the actuators you posted are trim tabs for a boat. They don't move very much .

 

[kbs2244]

Most junk treadmills have actuators that are used to adjust the tilt.

 

[GarageEnvy]

Linear actuators are great if you want to deal with the power as noted above. I did something similar in the past but it was just for lift assist. I used some hood/hatchback gas lift struts. Figuring out the positioning and length of strut is a little difficult but it's simple and doesn't require power.

 

[Groovy]

The trim tab idea as pictured you would need 12 volt and the pump with fluid the generally do not extend very many degrees even though you would think they would be strong to push the bow down and they are but not that strong and make mess if the pump leaks. I would think some counter balanced weight and pulley system that needs no power like the old sckool windows had. Back to boats they have a mechanism on boats that raises and lowers Flat panel TV’s into cabinets that would work or on many of the go fast boats they have an engine hatch cover opener that they use in conjunction with the blower to start them and not blow up, those hatch covers some have full sun beds can weigh a couple hundred pounds

 

[stellar91]

12 volt linear actuators work very well and have come down in priced alot in the last 10 years. In making custom car/truck interiors and motorization for high end audio systems and "stash spots" we always used them from Select Products, check out pages 13-15
http://www.selectproducts.com/catalog/SelectDigital2010/AAMPselect2010.html