How do you hollow out a book?

Hollowing out a Book

A hollow book can be a handy way to hide something. Most people (Well, except secret service agents) wouldn't think to search your book collection for private objects.

Materials required

1. A thick book with a sturdy cover

2. Glue

3. Water

4. Razor blade/Scalpel

5. Brush

6. Drill

7. Pencil

8. Plastic wrap

9. Ruler

10. A heavy object

The Method

1. Select a thick, hard-cover book.

2. Select the first few pages that you don't want to hollow out, wrap them with plastic sheet to protect them from glue. These pages will allow you to conceal the hole in the inner pages.

3. Make a runny solution of glue. It will be more effective because aquaeous glue is easily absorbed by paper.

4. Hold all the pages except the plastic-wrapped ones together.

5. Using a brush, paste the glue on these pages. Keep applying till the all the pages absorb glue.

6. Place your book under some heavy object and wait for half an hour. Make sure that the pages you don't want to hollow out are completely covered by the plastic wrap.

7. After 30 minutes, remove the book and open the first page you want to hollow out.

8. Draw a line 1.5 cm away from the edge of the book on all sides.

9. It'll be useful if you drill holes at the point of intersection of lines. This will make cutting easier as your blade wouldn't have to make a 90 degree turn. (Drill the hole carefully to the required depth of your compartment.)

10. Using a sharp razor blade, cut the pages along the drawn margin. Use a ruler to guide your blade accurately. Cut only a few page at a time, it'll improve the quality of the inner edges.

11. Keep repeating the above step until you reach the required depth of the compartment.

12. Once you've reached the required depth, paste glue on the inner and outer edges of the hollowed space.

13. Wait for the glue to dry completely.

14. Once you're sure that the book has dried perfectly, you can save you're treasured items in it.

Tips and Warnings

1. Select a non-descript book, the type that doesn't attract any attention. If you select a book with an attractive-looking cover, someone may inadvertently find your "hidey-hole".

2. Place your hollowed-out book in a library or a shelf with a lot of other (and preferably similar) books.

3. Using a scalpel instead of a razor blade is easier. It can cut the edges more accurately and with finesse.

4. Do not use a collectible, new or expensive book for your project.

5. Although quite effective, hollow books are not a foolproof method of concealment.

6. A book with a soft cover is harder to work with as you may accidently cut through the rear side.