Secret Sliding Mirror In-Wall Safe DIY

Jerzsubbie

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After helping a friend and fellow member install a tactical walls sliding mirror, my wheels began turning, thinking about how I can replicate the tactical walls idea but utilize an in-wall safe which would be much more secure than the magnetic catch they use. Having a newborn, the safety aspect was front of mind.

I opted to use a Stack On in-wall safe (LINK) with digital keypad and backup key. I’ll spare you some of the details but through their failure to ship me a single cosmetically undamaged safe, I identified some mechanical weaknesses with these safes, upgraded them and am now happy with them. I particularly like the solid 3/16” steel plate door which is recessed in the frame making a quick pry attack more difficult. Of course someone with time and determination is going to get it, is it just a $300 steel box after all.

Where I decided to install the safe unfortunately has 24” studs and this safe requires 16”, so I had to frame out the opening. I also ended up having to re-run some electrical and add 2 junction boxes which made this a much longer project.
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FYI no that closet organizer hack job was not me, that was the previous homeowner.

After getting the framing and electrical done, I installed the safe and threw on my sliding mirror mock up which I made from pine to save a few bucks in case I messed up. Thankfully it fit and functioned perfectly.
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I sourced the mirror glass, had to get/make a couple new tools to make the job more feasible for my small garage workshop, bought my poplar stock, did some testing of stains, then got to building my first one. I’ll be building a couple more for friends now that I have the design and assembly process down.

It came out very good! I used all poplar wood, full extension ball bearing drawer slides, hickory gel stain, and 3 coats of polyurethane.

The safe fits an 870, AR, a pistol, and some mags with ease. 2 long guns is the max but there is plenty of space for more mags, pistols, lights, or other small valuables.

Sorry the pics aren’t the greatest and I couldn’t find an angle that didn’t show more of the room than the wife would like, so you’ll have to deal with my “iPhone MS paint” haha.
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Very nice construction job. Consider putting a pair or two of electronic ear protection inside.
Thanks. I do plan on adding additional mag storage under the top shelf but hadn’t considered ear pro since my go to is suppressed, granted it’s super sonic 300BLK.

One good thing is that since it’s all steel you can use magnetic attachment points wherever you want. It also includes 3 adjustable shelves, I’m only using 1. I do plan on adding a magnetic motion activated LED bar as well.
 
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You put two junction boxes under the drywall?
 
You put two junction boxes under the drywall?
Haha no, I know better than that. I had to put one at the bottom left of the mirror and one in the closet, on the wall that run perpendicular to the right side of the mirror. This meant running 2 new wires in the wall and thankfully I was able to do so without cutting any additional holes, it just took some time.
 
Very nice. I would like to have a couple of those. One for each floor. Can you get human body in that safe?
Depends on how many pieces there are
 
Very nice. I would like to have a couple of those. One for each floor. Can you get human body in that safe?
Pretty tough to fit a body in standard 2x4 walls but if you get creative who knows.
 
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