We have been asked to build a hidden bookcase door for a client and the added challange is that they would like it to be at least 12 deep. It is not a very big space but I thought maybe I could turn into a secret storage space. Im not sure about hanging a 6 wide bookcase on a pivot hinge. Thanks Gary. 5. I had looked at Todds tutorials but never found one associated with this exact problem (i.e., protractor pivot points). Adam Pash. I designed the case 3/4 in. What? cleat on top of the layout marks for one of the shelves. Im sure someone must have done a variant that fits this situation by now Any suggestions, or do I just trust my instincts and wing it? Gary. a real estate agent requested as the designer and builder I meet with potential buyers of the first house . Regards. Here's mine: Wonderful idea!!! Searched the web numerous times only to come back to your detailed design! "All the things that used to be invisible, they're suddenly in your face right now," says Miriam Cherry, co-editor of Invisible Labor: Hidden Work in the Contemporary World(opens in a new tab). Ive been looking for weeks on the internet.hopefully we make the right choices. What kind of glue do you use then to glue a finished back to the unfinished shelves? Gary. And threaded bolts and nuts? My question is I want to come up with and ornate multi member head trim that will hide the small gap between the cabinet and frame. Best Floating Bookshelves to Decorate Your Home The house was built in 1794 in Vermont. Im building a new house and need to have 1-8 wall (x 8 high) pivot 90 degrees so that I can pull a murphy bed down any suggestions? My husband and I are looking to install a door like this for entrance into our music studio. And the castor, Im assuming its a wheel or something you put on the bottom of the case? The opening was a little cross-legged, too, and I wanted the casing to fit flat against the casethe case had to be almost perfectly flush with the jamb. Why would you want to use hardware designed for a cabinet? Maintaining a 1/16th inch margin goes out the windowbut the bookcase DOES stay shut:) I used 1/4 Maple ply for the back, screwed and glued. Carpet Knife. Ill keep looking however. Another drawing, this one three-dimensional and detailing the hinge parts and clearance requirements, confirmed that mounting the pivot base on two layers of 3/4 plywood would get me close to 2 1/2 in. I agree about the illusion. 5. The glue will hold the bottom cover of the book in place, and the screws hold the pages together. Put the stack of books on top of the whole dea Gary, Where do you purchase the pivot hinges?, Joe, Book Shelves jr ; 25 jr. baseboard. I live in a small town and have not been able to find a cabinet shop that is comfortable with a project like you describe. The first pass cut a neat dado in the fence, and I aligned all the cuts with that dado. Installing a Conceal Invisible Bookshelf is a cinch. Shawn, Wow, I love how you used the spiral notebook to make it more "fun"ctional! I have a space of 18-24 between my fridge and a wall that will be either a bookcase for cookbooks or a broom closet. Maybe Im just too dense to see it. I am assuming the bookcase will need to stand proud of the wall on the living room side of the entrance. Ive done stage carpentry for 30 years and have remodeled several houses to the studs. What do you think of the hidden door being constructed as a pre hung unit. The installation pic shows 1/2 in. thick material. But youve pointed out an important lessonperfectly plumb and level doesnt always work well, especially with a pivot door or bookcase. [img]http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/PaulkHomes2of2.jpg[/img]. No, sorry. Also, it seems as though you use plywood fairly consistently, so unless youre including the purchase of tools, Im not sure why your estimated cost is so high? We are looking to build a double. No question about it. You've just inspired me. Gary. The Sketch Up drawing was the key to success as for determining the pivot point and the clearances required to swing the various depths of the bookcases I built. Therefore, we have the option to locate the bottom of the case (vertically) anywhere behind a false baseboard kick piece. I plan to do another very soon. The ingenious design allows you to pile on 20 pounds of paperbacks, all without giving away the hidden support hanger. Rich, Im not familiar with using SketchUp so I figure I might be able to adapt your measurements for my bookcase in relation to the pivoting hinge. Russell. Bookshelf Your situation is the BEST of all possible scenarios! We wanted to take advantage of every bit of wall space so a pivoting bookcase was a great solution. Way kool! That will take dismantling on an even deeper level. Rixson also offers an accessory plumb bob that mounts directly to the top pivota slick way of finding the bottom pivot location. I dont expect anything shocking to occur at 87, but I wonder if we might have a problem. Otherwise thats all I can add. :) I have not been able to figure out to how to obtain the location of the rotation point/center that provides the minimal interaction of the door with the jambs. 14 years ago wider, so that they cover the 1/2-in. Invisible Bookend The designer of this one doesnt actually tell you how it works (you have to buy it to find out I guess). Thank you, I think youd have to use a different hinge, not a center pivot but an offset pivot and it might be visible, depending on how you designed the trim. A standard door-hanging template guide and router bit (1/2-in. 11 years ago Reply I have never done something like this so forgive me if I am a bit ignorant. I still make them all the time, thinking about something else usually instead of what Im working on. BTW, Fabulous pricing @ Qualified Hardware! Now all I need is $2000+ in wood and $15,000 in Fest tools. Fortunately, the new hole lined up perfectly. I think I might be out of my depth on this project. Use them to show off your favorite things for a contemporary display. There are plenty of cases in which this could be true, but at its core, it's all invisible labor, in Cherry and Poster's interpretation. eHow recommends spacing them four-and-a-half inches apart, like so: If your wall is made of drywall, it might be wise to use drywall anchors with your screws. Awesome instructable! I cant show the installed cabinet out of deference to the privacy of the client too bad, it is a little beauty but this gives an idea of how to approach the construction. short of the opening, providing just the right gap between the top of the case and the head jamb. there is a FREE version of Sketchup. Of course, no one would ever see the finished side near the hinge, unless they stood inside the closet. And when you swing it open, ninety-degrees to the walls, the depth of the case doesnt consume too much of the opening I.D. I think the bookcase is so iconiclike you when you see a wide yellow strip in the road you think its a speed bump when its just a painted strip that people dont think it could be a door, so they dont think to look for telltale signs. They can be a little intimidating, and a little expensive, but the learning curve is so rewardingand the final outcome is, too. I suspect you didnt fasten that 1/2 in. 9. and wait for the crazy looks on peoples faces when they notice it and can't figure it out. I dried a paddle bit first, then a twist drill. Tim, Newbie Members 12 posts I'm running into an issue whenever I try to move a bookshelf inside one of the vanilla houses via Creation Kit. THANK YOU! The top shelf is only 3/4 in. All Rights Reserved. ), not to mention having perfect calculations when countersinking your hinges, that between those things and the possibility of wood expansion it would easily cause problems. I spoke with Rixson but being a end user, they werent particularly helpful. Ive purchased Rixson hinges 370, and am ready to build. They failed and when I pushed it open, their big smiles rewarded me once again and then bought they house and hired me to do a $75,000 remodel. Also, for a swing-in door, you could use an offset pivot, which will swing the door/cabinet OUT of the door opening and provide a wider more unobstructed opening. Off hand, I say you need a good 1/4 in. Gary. It seems like you would drive the fasteners from the outside so you will not see them when the bookcase is closed. I am certain they saved me many headaches. Because I could install the toe kick after swinging the case, the exact dimension didnt matter, which made execution a lot easier. Thanks funkydude101! How much to build and ship one to Texas 77384? Notice that the bottom support base is 1/2 in. Knowing and seeing how the hidden door opens/closes using these pivot hinges I dont think roller/slot system you described would work out very well for you. There is a lot of quality local oak. By - May. This is very concise and jam packed with useful information, not just about pivot hinges and hidden doors but woodworking and design in general. If you move the top pivot, just install a dutchmen in the head jamb to cover up the open mortise. The unit was 30x78x12 and I choose to swing it into the panic room. All of the trim runs across the opening to the bookcases on either side so when the bookcase is pushed in the face frame and toe kick remain stationary. I can also send plan view details. I came across your comment on this article as I was researching hidden bookcase doors. looked at loads of vids on you tube and your site is by far the best Ive seen so far although Im still scratching my head a bit. Given a choice between a bulky bookcase and a floating stack of novels, picking the levitating library is a no-brainer.Conceal Invisible Book Shelves cleverly disguise the hanger, making your books seem to float on your wall. First, Cherry and Poster also stress that real, longterm solutions (for any form of invisible labor, not just that which occurs in the home) need larger-scale interventions. The Story Pole did all that. I love where both of you went with the idea almost as much as I love the instructable! This video tutorial will walk you through the process of building an "invisible" bookshelf. I have no idea what you mean or why youd need a pivot wall. What? Im sorry but every now and then a comment will land in the spam folder, and theres so many tons and tons of spam that we rarely go through itjust imagine how youd smell after doing that! They might not realize it, but the core of both of their problems is the same. Mahogany veneer, maybe? (This article originally appeared onGaryMKatz.com). I cant stress how important it is to check the laser plumb dots by also measuring to the jambregardless of what type of door youre hanging, whether its new construction or a remodel. Another good reason not to use a piano hinge. Im designing a very similar bookcase, but the bottom detail is different: The floor is flush on both sides of the doorway and the bottom shelf will be at top of the baseboard. Use the tape measure tool. Here are the results! Beveling I plan to use a wider piece of trim board for the stop but not sure what the gap would be. . Setting the router depth was simply a matter of adjusting the depth stop above the turret to exactly the thickness of the hardware. My calculations show it would need to be 23in deep to conceal the back of the mini fridge. Rather than running my router bit dangerously close to the guide rail, I adjust the router so that it cuts almost 1/4 in. I will be using a Rixon 370 for the hardware. It is 24 wide. Gary, Share it with us! After loosening the top jamb pivot screw and raising the pivot out of the top bookcase bracket, I swing the door or bookcase perpendicular to the opening, tilt it slightly toward the strike jamb, then raise it off the bottom pivot. This was VERY helpful for figuring out my own project, thanks. Finished my door around 6 months ago. heavy-duty ball bearing hinges, and they work alright, though the hinges tend to sag a little when the case is really loaded down with books. Thanks for the article, followed it closely for a build I did recently. However, I think the idea that the front side of it will be touching the bookcase(have no reveal) will be very tough to pull off and I think you would be asking for trouble. Please email if you are local to me and are interested in making and installing a hidden bookcase door for me! Hanging mini shelf. Gary. Sketchup now allows us to skip the mockup, but you still need a good drawing. That was a a good approach. Its a pretty demanding job. [img]http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Headdetail-2.jpg[/img] Also regarding the weight the hinges are able to handle, a full mini fridge would weigh slightly over 100 pounds. Start With a Drawing There are few projects I work on today without doing a scale drawing first. But all the ones I see here are out swing mine are both in swing what are the differences in the construction if any? That way, the bottom shelf projects over the toe kick making it impossible to see the clearance gap between the top of the toe kick and the bottom of the bookcase. I took about two days to build and install. Analysis from Oxfam(opens in a new tab), a global poverty alleviation organization, estimated that if unpaid care work performed by women around the world over the age of 15 had a price tag, it would amount to at least $10.8 trillion annually. 5/17/10 12:20 PM. I started by ripping stock for the center spreaders. The centers vary on each piece of hardware, so make individual templates, one for the top guide and one for the bottom bearing (on left). Thats a Rixson hinge. Thats why I used an entablature that is fastened to the wall and the case swings out from beneath it. Invisible Book Shelf : 9 Steps (with Pictures) - Instructables I like the slick stuff shim too. Gary, Hey Gary. I could go on, but you probably get the picture. I have built many homes and to this day, that home and that library still bring the greatest memories. So those dimensions can vary depending upon the trim youre using and the design. 7. sorry to switch books, but I wanted to finish the Instructable while the glue was drying. use a large wood screw to attach the whole mess to Gary, Any of you handy folk in the Los Angeles area? There are other good sites, too. Gary, Cross stringing the opening is a prerequisite. Reply Orders ship same day when placed by 2PM CT Mon-Fri excluding holidays. Gary. Disguised as bookshelves, Murphy Doors put a cheeky spin on the traditional jib door. Screw them into your wall so that they're level with each other. for such a comprehensive tutorial! I cant wait to use your guide to build my bookcase! Later pics show trim out with 1/2 in. Article Number 902.821.80 Product details Much appreciated. That way you can see the WHOLE PICTURE before you start mounting the hardware. The ingenious design allows you to pile on 20 pounds of paperbacks, I didnt feel so smart anymore, and it got worse. floating book shelf 4pcs : Item Weight : 2.3 Pounds : Furniture Finish : Metal : Installation Type : Wall Mount : Item Weight : 2.3 pounds : ASIN : B08M8YVZ5D : Country of Origin : How The Invisible Floating Bookshelves Work (REVIEW) Scott Morrison . Lazy Susan hardware is NOT easy to install or remove, and in order to do it, I always have to almost disassemble the cabinet. A light tug on the cabinet and it slides free. If not, youre welcome to come & build it for us! We've covered the invisible floating bookshelf once or twice before, but if you liked the idea but weren't keen on ruining a book in the process, weblog May December Home's got you covered. So if you put a 12 deep case in a 36 in. Invisible And the end result is far better, and much more reliable. And dont miss that detail with the architrave bead molding on the entablature: You have to rabbet the front edge of the head jamb about 1/2 wide and about 1/4 deep, so that the architrave bead molding laps over the headjamb, which helps hide the gap between the top of the bookcase and the headjamb/architrave bead. Wife likes to ask me about it at the end of each project. We want a hidden book case door in our library for the closet. Thanks. Kind of like slight of hand magic. I noticed in this article there was a case inside a case approach and was intrigued by the design and was thinking this could be a way to meet the clients desire for a deeper bookcase. 14 years ago Thanks My bookshelf door is 90 inches tall and 56 3/4inches wide..no sag thus far Im having my cabinet maker build an out-swing bookcase door (from my SketchUp drawings) next to two fixed bookcases. Again, thank you Gary. 25 DIY Bookshelf Ideas - Parade Its been quite a while, but I wanted to say thank you again for all of the information here. Or do I just need to build a mock up and play with it? Could you assist me here or refer me to a Hardware that may be able to ship out to South Africa? If I had a suitable floorplan for it, _WANT_. How to Make Floating Bookshelves - Insider The floor is easily recognizable. This system is designed perfectly for the task and requires no template and no special clamping setup. But with a bookcase its not so simple. Thank you so much for your wonderful site. Do you think this is an adequate solution to the problem? I havent found the cases on Rixson hinges sag much, especially if theyre built correctly. Im not really sure I follow what youre describing! Heres a trick I learned at Festool School: the dust collection system will collect almost all the saw dust if you dont dado right through the first piece. This common usage gets its roots from the work of Berkeley sociologist Arlie Hochschild(opens in a new tab), says Cherry. The back of this flimsy colorful half glass door is a bathroom, upon entering right against wall on the right side is a long 8 high radiator sticking out about 10-12cm, I was hoping to build a bookcase extended on both outside (by the light switch) so either side will have smaller skinnier bookcase. Good job! Oooh. The right side consists of a 18 and 24 piece tied together, which will open as the whole door. :) Gary, I just wanted to say thank you for the great article and detailed instructions on how to build a hidden door. Thanks for the tip about free sketchup and suggestions! Without a doubt, Ive never built a perfect pivot bookcase, but Im getting a lot closer! Gary. Instruments of Microscopy Thank you for the GREAT demonstration and how to!! I bought all rigging for this set up from webriggingsupply.com for under $40. I have a suggestion and would value your opinion. The hardware and material is probably around $800.00 to $1,000.00. If you move the bottom pivot, all you have to do is re-mortise the bottom of the bookcase. Wonderful. to Build an "invisible" bookshelf THANK YOU! The real improvement in this design is swinging the bookcase above the baseboard, so it wont drag on a throw rug and can be trimmed out without any visible gaps. Books featuring visuals such as photography or artwork can look stunning on your coffee table or choose one or two books to showcase on the top of your table and stack further titles on a shelf below the table. We did our kitchen a year ago, and we love it, but could use more food storage space. WebConceal Invisible Book Shelves cleverly disguise the hanger, making your books seem to float on your wall. Arent you glad? A laser works great for transferring the plumb line. As you can see there is no Sheetrock and the walls are solid cement. Ames, Iowa. The top guide (below, right) mounts flush with the top of the case-the bushing must be mortised into the case. Gary. My personal experience, Garys ballpark is pretty right on. Any suggestion on the hardware location? This is definitely the most attractive arrangement of shelves, and I've got just the space to copy it! Outside of the staggering economic estimates, there are emotional tolls: A study from researchers at Oklahoma and Arizona State Universities found that 90 percent of participants (who were married or partnered mothers) reported taking exclusive responsibility for household tasks. You can shift the location of the bottom pivot in or out a little and that should fix a good part of the problem. In fact, there's nothing special to their guide apart from the fact that they don't affix the required L-bracket to the inside of the bottom book. Pat, I plan to give the Collins Ply-Prep bit a try, as I recently finished two large cabinets that had umpteen miles of edge banding and now have another three sets to go. This article saved me hours of aggravations and boosted my confidence immensely. It's important that you are confident in your purchase. Il let you know how that worked when I am done with it as some of your readers had been concerned about price points. The construction of the box is 3/4 sides, captured 1/2 back. Not one. That 1/2 in. So Id figure three days to be sure you made good money. I suspect it doesnt work anywhere near as smoothly as my Rixson pivot hinge with allows the completely full bookcase to glide on bearings as if it were suspended on a cushion of air. The Rixson hardware allows you to install the door and remove the door easily, which is often necessary, especially during installation. x 5-in. After fastening the solid mahogany banding on with glue and 23ga pins. :) Since the case is already assembled, Id try shimming up the strike sidehigher than it should be by about 1/4-3/8 or even 1/2 in??? Sure, one day I might even tape and mud the joint between the jamb and the wallbut no one but me and my dog should ever see that anyway. The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox. Even if youre just installing a mirror on a wall with a Soss invisible door, you have to install the hinge FLUSH to the face of the door or the mirror will bind. I live in upstate NY, any recommendations for a skilled carpenter to design and build this? Gary, Of course, I mean something that no one else would notice, though some of you might. The good thing is, that by the time you get the pivots mortised again, and the case hung up there again, youll be a real pro at installing pivot hinges!!! With a stack of 6 books in the middle of the wall, it's too 'Disneyland'. Would this be possible with the offset hinge you described in a previous answer? I made the first cut on my table saw, but the blade height wouldnt cut to daylight, so I cleaned up the bevel with a power plane. Thats what stops the case from sagging/twisting, etc. In the photo you can see the cable as it comes out and runs down the side of the door. The point is to eliminate foolish mistakes caused by our own limitations at visualizing. What resource might I provide the maker? Any way thank you for the wonderful ideas. Im sorry if I forgot to resond to your note. Regarding hinges : I found a hinge made by SOSS which I hav used on a bookcase door I have constructed which while technically advanced to install is both completely conceiled and strong. I can move it closer to the center of the 9 side, loose some entrance room. I also cut the finished sides 1/2 in. Gary. The office would open inwards and the closet would open outwards. Pen. Im finishing up the design now, I dont have access to sketchup or anything like that (just a hobbyist) so just designing it on graph paper and creating some mock-ups out of plywood to figure out the reveals and pivot location. 419-37-2324 ex: 306. Glue. You can buy Rixson hardware from any professional door or door hardware supplier. Ive never found it necessary to have a 12 deep bookcase, and everything time I used to build them that way, when I was younger, Id end up putting crap on the shelves in front of the booksbecause the shelves were so deep! Thank you, Thanks Rich, Rich, Jetec Triangle Floating Bookshelf Iron Floating Shelves Invisible Wall Mounted Bookshelf Multip How did you access to top of the upper floor joists? WebStep 1: What You'll Need. It will extend to top of the ceiling. Books just fit perfectly. Use a more expensive wood, and you could easily hit $1k. :) Probably does need a book or two no matter what its purpose, to maintain the "theme" inspired by the "book" shelf. [img]http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BookcasewithFFrame-1.jpg[/img]. I have to hide the 2 layers of plywood but it seems impossible to do this with the architrave. We may earn a commission from links on this page. The door I built, thanks to the great article above, is a shoe rack in my master closet. Hi Gary, She points to a distinctly 21st-century adage as a prime example: "Do it for the exposure." Video web site Videojug details how to install "invisible" bookshelves that make. Dont try this in a small closet. The latch is at top right. It will diminish the opening size by the depth of the case plus some. Its vital to have a complete understanding of the whole picture, otherwise you have to move hardwareafter everything is installed (one guess how I know this). Once that cleat came up near the guide rail, I removed it and pressed it into the dado, where it locked the two boards together. One bookcase was built and set into the frame on site as Gary shows here but on the 2nd unit the install was miles away and I wasnt doing it. overhang. I am a novice carpenter and have built a sturdy bookshelf for a secret door into m room. Gary. Floating Bookshelves - Set of 2. I am no expert, and dont play on TV, but I think such design would allow the bottom of the bookcase to stay close to the floor and mate very closely with the slightly high point on the threshold while the accommodating any sagging and eliminating any marks on the floor. And if it swings over hardwood, you might see a gap, too, at the bottom. What sort of hinge did you use on your bookcase? Been there. :) Share on Facebook (opens in a new window), Share on Flipboard (opens in a new window). Password UI for Online Bookshelf Private Online That gap is caused by the inner plywood endgrain swelling from the glue, which puts a little belly in the edge and forces the banding away from top and bottom of the plywood. Well, Im back. I use a dowel hidden behind a book, but i like the idea of pulling on a book, too. Pioneer, OH 43554 Gary. Amazon.com: Invisible Floating Bookshelf For the current generation of students, lesson plans need to adapt to our warming world, teachers and advocates say. Conceal Invisible Bookshelf: Make books appear to Hummmmmm, that would be tough to install, I think. A 3/4-in. Best Regards. Youll be able to get pdfs of of installation instructions, etc. UHMW shim $30 Like the original, it's just as good and a lot cheaper than the commercial version. We are retired and settled and bought a small few centuries old farm house in outskirt of Florence. For that you win a 3 month pro membership! A look around your own household, or those of friends or family members, likely paints a similar portrait. Ray or anyone else Video web site Videojug details how to install Nice job. Gary. It appears to me that there is about 3/8 minimum head jamb clearance required in order to get the door on/off the bottom pin. I would welcome your comments, since I am contemplating following your lead to build a similar bookcase. DIY Invisible Floating Bookshelf - Lifehacker But maybe youve come up with a solution to that, too? 3. material leaves no 1/2 in. Book Hangars This one requires a grip to be placed in each book, but I think it is the coolest looking of the bunch, as it really does look like the books are floating independently of each other. Gary, Gary, I will send better photos (you can see the wheels here) but I used the incorrect term by saying joists. Book Good sized "L" Bracket Carpet Knife Pen Small wood screws (of the flat headed variety) Large wood screws Tape Measure or Ruler Glue A Stack of Books for Weight A friend at work gave me a stack of Stephen King books that were collecting dust in his garage.