Thursday 5 January 2012

The Hollow Book: Part 1

One of my New Years resolutions asked that I try something new each month. So let's start with a DIY sort of project that I've been wanting to do for a long time: Make a hollow book.

I found these set of instructions online a long time ago but never had the time, effort, and motivation to actually get around to doing it. So I'm going to show you my progress (and potential failure) of my attempt to make one.


Here's the guide if any of you want to try it yourself.

So the textbook I'm using is an outdated, discarded volume of a Psychology textbook that I found lying around in the department. I made sure that it was a hardcover and that it was fairly thick (several hundred pages) because what's the point of a hollow book if you can't store anything in it?

So here's a picture of said textbook. My new phone is on top to give a sense of how big the book is:

And because I have tons of Psychology textbooks no one will look twice at this one.

After applying the first layer of glue I'm already noticing a few things that I'd do differently if I were to make a second hollow book.

Firstly, the pages are starting to warp and some aren't really sticking. At the moment I'm using a roughly 50/50 glue and water mixture. For anyone else doing this I'd recommend using 70/30 glue and water. This will probably help the pages maintain their integrity and stay together.

I also took a bit longer before applying pressure. I'd also recommend that you add the weight as soon as possible. Really compress the book as soon as you can before the glue starts to set.

Compressing the pages down with some of my other heavy Psychology textbooks.

I'll begin cutting as soon as the pages dry and make another post on this when I've made significant progress. If you guys find any other interesting projects like this give it a mention and I'll consider doing it in the future.

73 comments:

  1. This is actually great man, I love your resolution to try new things like this. Good luck with the rest of this buddy.

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  2. I've actually done this with a thick book I bought in a dollar store. It was a fun DIY project. I need to do it again actually.

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  3. You book defiler you..haha...actually that is a neat idea. As long as you have some other books to stick it with, just one book would be kind o obvious.

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  4. I like this as a post. I'm now curious on how well you'll go through with it. Do you think after you finish you might give it a second go, just to have a 'perfect' hollow book?

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  5. You can't really see the guide because it demands to fit to the screen, but that can be fixed by just right clicking it. Anyway, best of luck with the project. I do kind of want a hollow book, but right now I'm still in the lack of motivation phase.

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  6. really great post amazing blog =) follow

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  7. That is a great idea! I've gotta make on! (don't have anything to hide in it but what the heck!)

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  8. Good luck on the book! Be sure to show us the finished product.

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  9. I don't knwo what surprised me more. How awesome this post is, or that the book was $92! Good stuff

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  10. I'm planning on doing this as well. Keep us posted so I can learn from your experience!

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  11. Nice! I'm making one tomorrow.

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  12. Now I can hide my contraband.

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  13. What will you be storing in it?

    Also, I'm starting Day 1 today. Did my initial test on Wednesday, and took a day off like they recommended. 29 consecutive pushups, right off the bat, whoo! (Though the upcoming program looks pretty rough.)

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  14. LOL Have fun! I admit, a hollow book does sound intriguing.

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  15. oooh. Now I'm very curious as to what you plan on storing in said book!

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  16. i've done this on my own before but that guide shows a legit way. mine was pretty ghetto lol

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  17. I don't have anything important enough to hide :\

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  18. Cool idea, I assume that a vice or some other way of ensuring a really good glue would keep the pages from warping. You could also try a spray adhesive. That should be light enough to not add to the volume too much.

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  19. Sounds like a cool thing to do but I don't like the idea of hollowing out a book.

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  20. A friend of mine was asking me if I could make one of these for his mobile phone and charger, I might join you in making one.

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  21. I want one of these books!

    If i smoked weed, i'd totally keep it in here.

    :D

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  22. what will you do with once you're done? Hide something? :)

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  23. This looks fantastic! Where was this when I was in high school? I sure coulda used it then. Now, I have no use for it.
    On the other hand, I AM starting to think of opening a "Secret Agent" business. This will go great with my trench coat and exploding prophylactics.

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  24. You could apply the pressure by just sitting on it. Much simpler.

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  25. That's really cool. I will follow you as it progesses.

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  26. Can't wait to see the result. Keep it up!

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  27. These are cool. I saw someone selling them at a festival years ago. They did pretty well with them.

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  28. Oh, that sounds like a cool project! I always found something intriguing about the idea of a hollow book.

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  29. That's awesome. Probably a great way to hide random stuff.
    lol psych books, at least sell them.

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  30. I tried the hollow book thing before. Mine turned out like junk

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  31. Awesome! I've always wanted to do this, but could never think of anything I wanted to hide. My favorite is the gun hidden in a cut-out bible trope.

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  32. Interesting. I have a few books that I could probably do this with. Let us know more of your tips and tricks.

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  33. thats awesome, i gotta try this out

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  34. Sounds pretty cool. Hope it works out well.

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  35. I hope it works out. Looks nice!

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  36. How cool! I was wondering if hollow book was a code for some techy thing I've never heard of, but it's good to know it's just a hollow book!

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  37. Huh, that's a cool idea! Also, you're on my links page now ;)

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  38. i have some of these... guess what i keep in them x)

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  39. ive made one of these books, keep my silver coins in it.

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  40. This is such a good idea, I remember seeing this on Stumbleupon once. I really should try it with some of old geography books once university is over with. Good luck with your paper too, I have 2 due in once I get back :/ xxx

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  41. d.i.y's are fun! i'm looking forward to your future projects!

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  42. Always have wanted to try this.

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  43. I assume this is the first stage in setting up your elaborate smuggling ring :P

    Cool idea, looking forward to seeing the finished article.

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  44. I want to do this project but i dont want to harm books :( even though there are ebooks, i still love books and want to keep them as they are my prized possessions.

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  45. sounds great! I'm really enjoying this blog, keep these posts coming!

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  46. Hm, if you're into cakes, there's a few sweet Mug Cake recipes floating around ( http://www.sweetspot.ca/SweetHome/bonnie_mo/38956/5_minute_chocolate_mug_cake/ ) that might be fun. 10 minutes and you have a cake for you and your ladyfriend, if the recipe name is to be believed!

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  47. How exciting!! What will you put in it?!?!!? Yay! Take care
    x

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  48. I'm awful with crafts, so I've never tried this before, but it is a very good idea indeed. And can't think of anyone who would voluntarily open something which screams 'text book'...

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  49. Nice dude your making me wanna do something new too! will be following daily for updates :D

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  50. I can't wait to see the finished product!

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  51. This is awesome! I wonder if I could do it with a soft cover. Lord knows I have plenty of text books lying around.

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  52. This looks like a good idea! I could easily do it with one of my outdated Music Theory books. :D

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  53. Seen that pic a long time ago. But never tried it. Might have to actually give it a try now. Thanks. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

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  54. I will have to buy a book and try this,, will only work on a book that i find useless

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  55. Always wanted to make one of these since seeing them in movies, I wonder how they make them in prison though from stuff like shawshank redemption or prison break.

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  56. I've always wanted to try making a hollow book but I don't own any good enough book to use in the first place. The cover should be hard or it'll be pointless, but all of my old textbooks are aren't hard covered.

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  57. This makes me think of Shawshank Redemption. Very cool.

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  58. looking forward to seeing it completed. you have piqued my interest.

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  59. I'm interested to see how it turns out

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  60. I've seen those instructions before and been wanting to try it myself, since it seems handy.

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  61. study study study! you will go a long way with psychology.

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  62. So awesome, love your project and can't wait to see the finished product.

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  63. how'd this turn out? i've always been curious

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  64. I would do this too with one of my old textbooks that was not worth selling back, except I have had old text books stolen. People seem to think that because it is a school boook you can sell it for big bucks, but they are wrong. So, I would have to use like a Bible, or something else that nobody would even look twice at.

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