Sofa Table - part V: A Hidden Drawer

not what I would have done

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I would have salvaged the most of the small height as possible. I would have used a 1/8" plywood bottom glued into an 1/8" rebate on the bottom edge of the drawer. This drawer will never see any significant wear so the above arrangement will not wear out with time. Or, just glue thin lumber into the rebate and let it split as the old English drawer bottoms did.

Neat!

And made access out both ends

Re: Sofa Table - part V:  A Hidden Drawer

Brian Holcombe

Nice work Derek.

I'm curious as to those dominos, why not just use a strip of wood on either side?

Everything looks quite nice, I'm sure your wife will have few hesitations with allowing this replacement to go through.

I'm a bit like that as well, I have a few things around the house I'd like to send into the fireplace but my wife will not have it. Over time I will replace them as I get jobs of a similar vein and can afford the time to build two in tandem. That said, I agree with her on the original console table, I think it's a wonderful design.

Re: And made access out both ends

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

Dick, my original design had drawers from each end. Then the overhang was increased, and this meant that there would not be enough extension for each drawer. To be useful, the drawer must fully clear the top.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: not what I would have done

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

Ah Bill, but I design and built to last 1000 years. Or 100 miles. Whichever comes first.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: Sofa Table - part V:  A Hidden Drawer

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

Hi Brian, we'll see if my wife still feels that way after the top goes on

I may swap out the dominoes for strips of wood. However this set up works perfectly for what the purpose intended: compact, easy to make and strong.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: And made access out both ends

roger lance

Perhaps, he is suggesting one long drawer with a divider in the middle.....so you then have the ability to open it from either side......and clear the overhanging top as you have done.

This gives you two drawer compartments.

Slips a modern invention

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I see American and English antiques with drawers rebated into the bottom of drawer sides from an era well before slipped drawers and they have lasted. For a drawer that will see light duty service I would have squeezed every mm of drawer height from the design, but clearly our motivations are different.

For example:

Roger's correct

Dick Coers

because it looks like you will have to completely remove the drawer to access all the contents. BUT, you would loose the hidden feature of course.

Re: And made access out both ends

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

Perhaps, he is suggesting one long drawer with a divider in the middle.....so you then have the ability to open it from either side......and clear the overhanging top as you have done.

This gives you two drawer compartments.

This came up at an earlier time. The drawer fronts are overlay, that is, they rest against the rails at each end. The reason for this is that it creates the appearance of a solid apron.

This design only permits one to open a drawer, and not push the drawer through the carcase. It is possible to have two drawers, each opening outward, but not one drawer which opens from either end.

Or am I missing something?

Regards from Perth

Derek

Hidden compartment.

Barry Irby

I would have made two drawers, one from either end of "ordinary" length leaving a space in the center between them. That space would have become a slide out tray with its own lid as a secret compartment. The lid is to contain the contents when the table is up ended to search for the compartment.

clever design I think

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

.....that is, the "false" apron end. It just looks like an ill-fitted mortise and tenon . But that gives away the secret for anyone that knows Derek would know that there was something curious about his M&T joint that didn't fit right.

I do like the legs. Waiting to see what sort of profile the top edge has to go with their curvaceous allure.

not possible

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Barry, the ends of the table have a large overhang. To expose the contents of the drawer requires that it be pulled out.... a lot, past the overhang. That in turn requires the drawer sides to be more than half the length of the table, precluding a drawer from each end.

If the motivation had simply been to have an ordinary table with drawers they would have been conventionally placed on the side of the table, either one or two, where there was less overhang.

Re: Slips a modern invention

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

For a drawer that will see light duty service I would have squeezed every mm of drawer height from the design, but clearly our motivations are different.

Bill, Although the hidden drawer is really just a bit of fun - the aesthetic of the table is not compromised by its addition - there is a planned use for this drawer.

The hidden drawer will be home to all the spare keys: house, cars, office, etc. Finally, all in one place.

Regards from Perth

Derek

well not now

Joseph Piotrowski

that you just told the internet

outstanding looking piece of furniture. i been in love of the hidden compartment concept for a long time. I always plan on adding one when ever i can. i collect plans of ones that have it for inspiration. pintrest is great for this.

Hidden drawer

Gary Smyth

I'm enamored with secret anything in furniture. The problem is that once exposed in the presence of even family members the cat is out of the bag. Kids, especially, seem to get delight in showing their friends, and significant others also have little discretion with their friends by demonstrating how clever you are building stuff. With an item as common as keys where access is more often, the "secret" drawer loses its intention May I suggest that you keep the drawer, but use it for something you want to hide and keep that information to yourself for future generation discovery.

I'm worried...

Tony-Memphis

I built a tall lingerie chest (or dresser as we call them). The top has a frieze that was tall enough to house a secret box. The box is attached to the underside of the top via magnets. The uppermost drawer has to be removed to get to the box. Why am I worried? I forget that it is there! I'm afraid that someday, I won't remember. Oh well, if that happens, somebody will find a few keepsakes and grandpa's retirement watch.

Tony

Re: well not now

AZ in Colorado Springs

I included a secret compartment in a table I gave to my daughter and son in law as a wedding gift. I put an extra wedding card and some cash in there. They discovered it almost exactly three years later.