How To Build and Install a Hidden Door

Products used in the build:

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[stephenharris]

I so much appreciated this video. No shitty music, just real info on how stuff gets done. Very good job and thankyou!

[Bill_D.]

I like that tool organizer on the wall at the beginning.

[displaycase]

Thank you! I ordered those hinges. I ordered the Invisahinge and no real clear info about install, what a pain! Thanks again! your video is exactly what I needed.

[jw]

If you make that swing in, (instead of swing out) you can place the trim over the opening approx 1/2" to 3/4" inch all the way around and you will not see the gap up top or any light if left on. This will allow the door to shut against the trim stopping flush with the opening.

[cindycleland]

I'm so glad you forgot your router. I'm not a woodworker but I have an already made cabinet that'll fit in the hole that is the entrance to my basement. The top will be a slide away countertop. Now I know of an easy way to make a rectangle hole in my wood. Great job

[arievanderzouwen]

You say nothing about where to set the hinge. How much smaller does the door need to be than the frame to clear?

[Timstinypcker]

You can add weather stripping behind the seems maybe to help keep light from showing through

[MyOveralls]

Thank you! I appreciate how you explained everything.

[bruce]

Very slick… trying to think of where to put one.

[sketchboy]

This was so helpful-- I initially thought making the pattern template was overkill, but making my own, found the technique super useful. Precision was key! Thanks for sharing this.

[metalkingtohorses]

great video, you are a perfectionist looks great

[justinweibert]

Could you tell me how you calculated your side clearances? Like how did you calculate the gap between left jamb of opening and left outside of shelf? Right side of jamb and right outside of shelf?

[ronaldgrantham]

Great job on the build and video. Thanks for sharing it. I have some questions about the hinge system. I already purchased these same door hinges, but wonder if there is some sort of formula/"trick" for determining the best placement for the hinge pivot point with this type setup? I saw other videos using these hinges and have also noted personally that the included templates for drilling holes are not precise by any stretch of the imagination! The hinges also don't come with any instructions/information detailing the placement of hinges on your work piece(s). You address this point at about 10:29 in your video, but don't say just how, or where, you determined exact hinge placement. I know that the depth of the shelves. span of the opening, type of hinge, and direction of door swing all have important roles in determining the exact placement of the pivot point but I don't know just how to go about figuring that out. Do you have any insight for that?

I'm in the beginning stages of attempting to build a book case with three sections that will take up an entire wall of my small office. The center section will be a door that MUST swing outward (as yours does) and will provide entry into closet/supplies space. I will have a few more issues to figure out too since my door will be at floor level, not elevated as your project was. I'm thinking that I will have to place a "threshold" piece on the floor on which to mount the bottom hinge. The floor is carpeted and I'm debating leaving it and trying to place that threshold piece on top of the carpet with a couple of anchor screws through and into the concrete sub-floor for support(?). I'm considering doing it this way since the bookcase in its entirety is being built against the room wall and outside the current closet doorway which means that the new "door" will not depend on the existing door casing for structural support at all. (*I hope that makes sense. Not sure how to describe the situation any clearer).


Thanks again for the video of the fantastic project.

[billadama]

Impressive work! You make it looks so easy.

[momojoable]

Thank you for your hard work. What you call those metal parts and your video shown opening out. What if need opening in??? Please reply and thanks

[garys]

Just saw your video and your door looks fantastic.
I was wondering how much smaller was your door in relation to your opening? It seems like the trim will cover up a lot of space.
Thank you for taking the time to make this video. It really helps to take the guess work out of the project.

[joeforns]

Aren't you supposed to run your router from left to right so the cutting edge of the bit is hitting the wood first instead of the backside of it, probably where a lot of the shaking is coming from

[GREGMARROQUINable]

if i was needing something like this made for my house would you make one??

[safaenafs]

Oh my God, thank you much. You're the best 😊

[rebeccacardy]

This is amazing! Thanks for the one question: do you think that it would be possible to make something like this but as a dresser? I'm thinking of making a wall of drawers but have them swing open to my closet. Is it a pipe dream or do you think it's possible?