Community Brag Posts

King Headboard w/ Charger and Lighting

Submitted by Malka on Sat, 02/01/2020 - 15:21

I designed this headboard on the back of a napkin, after we couldn't find one at a box store that met our needs. I used Douglas fir 2x10 for the headboard/shelves and Pine T&G for the backing. My fiance etched a mountain range into an unframed mirror, which I then framed from the scrap fir wood, and stained to match. Also attached an LED Lightbar above the mirror, Dimmer switch LEDs on each bookshelf, and a recessed USB/Plug port. This wasn't the cheapest project with the electrical accessories added, but we now have a custom wooden headboard with bookshelves, lighting and chargers that will last us years and be far beyond anything we could have bought at a big box store for the same cost. 

Estimated Cost
250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane Honey
Minwax Semi-Gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Bar height table with stools

Submitted by jsutton78 on Wed, 08/03/2016 - 09:41

This is one of my favorite pieces because the white contrasts perfectly with the walnut hardwood.  The base of the table is all standard 2x4 and 4x4s, and the tabletop is 100% walnut.  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Poly Gloss, white paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Took all day but worth it!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/06/2016 - 03:21

Loved the simple look and convertible design. Easy to visualize, hardest part was making sure of square 

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Unfinished now, but will be sanded and polyurethane applied
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday

Modern 2x2 desk

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 11/01/2020 - 14:10

Love the simple modern look of this desk. The plans were so easy and this was a quick build. Modified the measurements as well as the top. I used a project panel for the desk top.

Estimated Cost
$55
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Tricorn Black paint for the base. Top stain is mix of Minwax Driftwood and Early American.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Benchwright end table

I took the plans for ana white's benchwright coffee table and created this end table.  This is an exact replica of the Pottery Barn benchwright end table.  The wood was distressed by hand and finished with dye, dark walnut gel stain and three coats of satin poly. 

 

- Brad 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Transtint dye, antique walnut gel stain, water based poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

marenras

Mon, 02/09/2015 - 14:33

Your finish work is phenomenal. Closest I've seen to pulling of the PB finish. What color transtint do you use? Any other finishing tips? I've build a couple of knock off PB pieces, but haven't nailed the finish yet.

In reply to by marenras

timberandsoul

Mon, 03/09/2015 - 22:10

Hi. Thank you for the compliments. First of all, using Alder vs douglas fir or pine plays a big difference in the finish look, but start with pine and see where you get using this process. I first mix de-waxed shellac with a few drops of medium brown transtint dye. It MUST be de-waxed shellac. Experiment with the amount of dye added. I spray one coat of that shellac and dye mixture on the wood. The shellac seals the wood allowing for even stain absorption and a non-blotchy finish. The dye obviously darkens the wood. Then I apply one to two coats of gel stain. I like general finishes antique walnut color. At the next step I sometimes add a glaze, and sometimes I don't, it just depends on what I am seeing. Lastly I seal the wood with a water based poly. Good luck!

In reply to by marenras

timberandsoul

Mon, 03/09/2015 - 22:10

Hi. Thank you for the compliments. First of all, using Alder vs douglas fir or pine plays a big difference in the finish look, but start with pine and see where you get using this process. I first mix de-waxed shellac with a few drops of medium brown transtint dye. It MUST be de-waxed shellac. Experiment with the amount of dye added. I spray one coat of that shellac and dye mixture on the wood. The shellac seals the wood allowing for even stain absorption and a non-blotchy finish. The dye obviously darkens the wood. Then I apply one to two coats of gel stain. I like general finishes antique walnut color. At the next step I sometimes add a glaze, and sometimes I don't, it just depends on what I am seeing. Lastly I seal the wood with a water based poly. Good luck!

colleenps

Tue, 03/31/2015 - 10:04

I love the finish you've done on these, and like someone else said it is the closest to PB I've seen yet! I am trying to fix a horrible stain job I did on a project and had a quick question. When you said you sprayed the shellac and dye, do you mean with a spray bottle? Also what kind of de-waxed shellac did you use? I've never used shellac and I see they have flakes and premixed stuff. Thanks!

timberandsoul

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 15:25

Hi There. Sorry for the late response. The spray the shellac with the dye using a HVLP sprayer. Google HVLP sprayers. They are very cheap and will help out tremendously. I don't recommend using shellac flakes, they can be challenging for a beginner. I use premixed shellac. I use de-waxed shellac because you can apply polyurethane over it. If you plan on applying shellac as a top coat instead of poly you don't have to worry about de-waxed.

juliekayg

Thu, 03/24/2016 - 11:41

This is absolutely beautiful and what I've been looking for to match my Benchwright coffee table!! Do you remember the dimensions you used?

dbender49

Fri, 01/21/2022 - 09:26

I really like your take on this PB table. It looks like you changed it significantly from the console table plans from which you derived it, and I have a couple questions. First, the legs do not look like 2x4s; what are the dimensions you used? Second, the bottom shelf is much thicker than the 1x12 from the plans; what lumber did you use? And how is this bottom shelf attached to the legs? Square-notched to fit around the corners of the legs?

DIY Farmhouse Bed

We built this Farmhouse Bed in 1 weekend for less than $200!

Estimated Cost
Less than $200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Dark Walnut Stain applied with a brush and immediately wiped off using a lent-free cloth. Sealed with Minwax Satin Spar Urethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Baby Cradle

Made this from typical dimensions of other cradle plans online and designed it off the cuff. Years ago, my dad made a cradle for me. I thought this would be a fun project to make for friends and family for their new little bundles of joy. The bottom is braced with the idea that older children will probably be playing in it. It was tested up to 65 lbs. All for approximately $60 with the mattress. Hopefully the recipients like it as much as we enjoyed building it. 

Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane Light Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Tool Caddy

Submitted by docbromo on Thu, 01/20/2022 - 15:21

I repurpose furniture as a hobby and I got tired of having my tools hanging on a wall on the other side of the garage so I bult this rolling tool caddy. It is made out of 3/4" plywood, a couple of 2x4's and some heavy-duty casters. I built one about 3 years ago and realized that there were some things I wanted to do differently so I sold it and bult this one. My wife gave me a subscription to SketchUp and I had fun drawing it up and tweaking it. I left an over hang of 3" on both sides so I could store my clamps. I also attached an electrical cord reel on the right side and reversed the ends so the male end can plug into the wall and I can roll the unit across the room allowing me to be able to charge my batteries. The back side has a 44 drawer storage organizer and also a few shelves for additional tools like a router and a multi-tool. I'm not nearly the craftsman many of you are and I'm sure you could do a much better job. I didn't build it to look pretty but to be functional and it works for me.

Comments

Jayp413

Fri, 01/21/2022 - 09:16

I really like this idea. I have my tools hung up neat all around the garage, but I keep walking back and forth for tools and batteries. It would be great to roll this over to a project and have everything you need right there. Nice work. I will modify one for my needs.

BigMacQue

Fri, 01/21/2022 - 10:06

there are some very thoughtful features on this, notably the wings at the top and the bottom for clamps and extra tools and the different shelf heights. Well done! I'm going to build one just like it and a power strip for battery storage.

Outdoor Screen

Submitted by Debi G on Fri, 07/19/2013 - 06:30

Technically, we are not allowed to store trailers or boats outside of our garage. Since our back yard faces a popular path for runners, pedestrians and cyclists, I came up with this solution and we have not been reported.

The size isn't ideal (peekaboo canoe), but I went with boards I already had. I didn't sketch this out ahead of time, just pieced it together using a 6" board as my vertical guide and a 3" board as my horizontal guide.

Instead of digging post holes, I built it onto feet so that it's free-standing and portable. We can move it any time we need to get the trailer out from behind it.

Next summer, I may put planter boxes on top and build a second panel as well.

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
outdoor stain with sealer
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Reading Nook turned Tent!

I made this for my boy who's turning four tomorrow! (Sep 1st) He loves building forts and I don't mind rearranging the furniture, but set up and clean up is so time consuming, we'd both rather spend more time playing. This is an indoor tent, but I took it outside for pictures. Aside from the obvious difference of adding doors and a back, the changes I made from the original plans are: using an 8 foot 1x3 so the tent is 4 feet deep instead of 3. Instead of stapling the fabric on the 1x3s at the bottom, I wrapped the fabric around and used velcro so I could remove it for washing. I sewed a tube of fabric and attached it at the top to make removal easier. Time Investment is so long because of the sewing involved for the tent. If you have an Ikea near you, they've got this stuff called glaze paint (more of a stain, I think) in all different colors - it doesn't need a top coat (unless you want it shiny), it's solvent free and, are you ready? $6 for 12.something ounces, MORE than enough for this project. To make it even easier if you're using fabric instead of curtains like me and you've got the room, cut a 8ft 1x3 in half so you've got two 4ft pieces. Most quilting cotton at fabric stores is 44-45 inches wide selvedge to selvedge (the ends that don't fray) and if you follow the plan according to where to drill for the top bolt, you'll need 4-4.25 yards of fabric, depending on whether you are going to use velcro or staple. I would use 4.25 if using velcro, the fabric can go right over the top bar and over the other side if you don't want to sew a tube like I did. If you don't want to sew at all, use iron-on hem tape on the cut edges and iron on velcro. Make sure of placement of the velcro before ironing on. More pictures on my blog =)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50 - wood, bolts, stain, material for tent (everything)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Green Ikea glaze paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Kitchen Cabinet

Submitted by rjustice21 on Thu, 09/26/2013 - 09:18

My wife and I needed space in our kitchen to store various items. This cabinet works perfectly for that purpose.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark Red paint. I am not sure of the name.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

mybartmart

Fri, 09/27/2013 - 21:17

That paint colour is beautiful. As is the pantry, very well done. I wish you could find out the name and brand of the colour. It is stunning.

mybartmart

Fri, 09/27/2013 - 21:17

That paint colour is beautiful. As is the pantry, very well done. I wish you could find out the name and brand of the colour. It is stunning.

Chelsea Bunk Bed System

Submitted by steasck on Wed, 01/01/2014 - 14:36

My dad and I built these beds for my 7-year-old daughter for Christmas. We followed the plans almost completely, with a few tweaks of our own. We didn't feel that the decorative feet would be very stable, so we just continued the length of the bookshelf and desk all the way to the floor. We put a piece of 1/4 in. MDF on top of the slats to help support the memory foam mattress. We also stapled canvas to the underside of the top bunk to hide the slats. I didn't want a headboard or foot board on the lower bunk (toe-stubber!), so instead of building the matching Chelsea bottom bunk, we just made a simple platform bed. We added magnet boards to each side of the desk. I liked the idea of magnets better than bulletin boards. Since this plan didn't include a ladder, we built the ladder from the Loft Bed plan. The bed had some significant wobble to it, so we attached it to the wall. Took ALL of the wobble out and it is very solid and secure now. I'm very pleased with how these beds turned out and my daughter loves them as well!

Estimated Cost
$375
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
We used spray primer and spray paint. It was easy to do it this way, but very messy and it took us about 18 cans to get the entire thing covered.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic X Hall Tree

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/27/2020 - 14:22

I built this scaled down version of Ana's Hall Tree to fit into a 3 foot wide space in my daughter's living room.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$55
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Whitewash
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Awesome Garage Shelves

Submitted by scrapngurl on Sun, 04/19/2020 - 14:24

Thank God for these garage shelf plans! :D We have a one car garage that was disorganized and full of stuff. We tried to organize with some metal shelves, but they were very disappointing. They could not hold a lot of items because they were unstable and their measurements did not maximize the space we have. This was my first build and my husband thought I was crazy to attempt it. Neither of us knew what we were doing. However, the plans are simple, clear, and straight-forward and we had no difficulties. I can fit so much on these shelves because they are so sturdy. Love them!

Modern slatted bench

Submitted by Whimwhams on Mon, 06/27/2016 - 11:51

I made this for my sister the day before her house warming party. It was a pretty easy build. I used wood glue and 2" nails. Using a nail gun, this came together pretty quickly. I do wish that I had wide enough clamps to hold everything in place while it dried, because there were a few gaps due to some imperfect boards. I used 104" stud length boards, so I only need to purchase 7 instead of 9. this was enough to make the cuts for the top and both leg pieces from each board. the price was the same and we had limited space in our van for boards, so this was a better option for us. I used a sprayer hooked up to an air compressor to apply the stain and was able to get in between the slats fine with this method, brushing over it as I sprayed. Luckily I chose the same color as her deck not knowing, so it matches great. Now I need to make one for myself! :)

Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Pine and Aromatic Cedar Blanket Chest

Submitted by tylerhey on Tue, 12/13/2016 - 12:21

Raised panel pine blanket chest lined with 5/8" aromatic cedar.

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Tinted Shellac and butcher's wax
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

rnkimg

Wed, 11/13/2019 - 07:15

I have searched and searched and cannot locate the plans either. I am making 3, for my daughters for Christmas and this one is amazing. please share plans.

thank you!!

Simple 2x4 Bench

Submitted by jennibee on Sun, 09/14/2014 - 17:03

I made this in an afternoon. Loved this project. It is made with 2x4's using a Kregs Jig and mitre saw (plus additional tools like a drill and square).  This was my frist time using the Kregs Jig and I am sold!!

The free plans were taken from another website. They are very detailed and there is even a video (I recommend it as he gives a great tip for making sure the back stays equal/level to each other before putting the back on). Even though you can build this by yourself, I did have help for the heavier sides once they were assembled.  I plan to build the additional side table soon and finish them both with sanding and staining when the weather seems less iffy for rain.

If you are looking for a good beginner project that doesn't take forever or have complicated steps, this is your project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Around $50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Flip Top Piano Bench

Submitted by amycourts on Mon, 12/17/2012 - 17:54

This was my first DIY build. Having been inspired by my good friend, the brilliant Jen Woodhouse of The House of Wood, I decided surely I could do this too. So I picked something that looked like a challenge, but that we also needed. We have an old piano we bought from Craigslist that has heretofore been benchless. So I used the Flip Top Storage Bench plans, headed to Home Depot, collected the wood (and let them cut it - but made a few of my own cuts, too), and got to work.

I had a little trouble at first, simply because, after assembling the sides and aprons, the unit did NOT square up. I took a few pieces apart and realized it wasn't user error (what?), but warped wood. That's right: one of my 1x3s was warped and bendy. So I rebuilt that side with some of my leftovers, and made sure to square up after each step, and lo and behold it came together!

It's not perfect - one of my legs is a bit off, so it wobbles when no one's sitting on it, but there's no issue when it bears weight - but for my first build, I'm quite pleased! And now that I know I can do this...well, this is just the beginning!

Total time it took me was probably around 15 hours, which includes practicing using my circular saw and kreg jig (both of which were straight out of the box when I started), along with my rebuilding the side.

I used Minwax pre-stain wood conditioner after sanding, followed by two coats of Rustoleum spray stain in Kona. I sanded with 400 grit sand paper after each coat of stain, and finished with one coat of semi-gloss polyurethane. I considered a few more coats of stain, but so fell in love with the weathered look that evolved from the staining and sanding that I just left it!

I also spray painted the hinges - that was a bit of an accident (I didn't know how NOT to cover them in stain...), but turned out to my liking!

My estimated cost is about $100, which covers the wood (including the extra 1x3s and an extra 1x2 I needed for a screw-up), nails, screws, three cans of spray stain, polyurethane, wood conditioner, paint brushes, two packs of sandpaper, and my hand sander. All but the wood will be used in my next few projects too, so that cost covers QUITE a bit!

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Two coats "Kona" spray stain, Minwex wood conditioner, one coat polyurethane, for a weathered look.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Angela J.

Wed, 01/30/2013 - 00:25

I am going to be building this bench this weekend. What is a kreg jig? I am so confused. I am going to HD tomorrow to buy supplies.

Great looking bench! I will certainly look out for warped wood :)

In reply to by Angela J.

amycourts

Wed, 01/30/2013 - 08:19

Hey Angela,

The Kreg Jig is a tool that creates pocket hole joints on all your boards - whether you're joining vertical to horizontal pieces, or two horizontal or two vertical, etc.... - and made this build, as my first, INFINITELY easier. You don't *need* the Kreg Jig to build this bench, but Ana recommended it, my good friend Jen Woodhouse, who contributes a lot of plans and builds to this website recommended it, and I highly, highly recommend it. It's about $100, and worth every penny.

Here's the video I used as a tutorial on how to do it. And seriously - it made this job SO much faster than it would have been without the Jig! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrIFHMEPkXs

Cedar Chest

We have considered buying a cedar-lined chest to store blankets, towels, etc. for many years.  However, we couldn’t find one that came close to matching the Knotty Pine bedroom set that we had in our master suite. 

Hence, our design criteria was quite simple; match the bedroom set and have a chest sturdy enough to support our Beagles as they peer at the squirrels outside the window.

We used plans / ideas from several different chest designs which were readily available on the internet.  Most of those plans were using hard woods such as oak.  Those plans called for a hard wood framing with ¼” oak plywood for the panels.  Since we needed to use Knotty Pine to match the bedroom set, we used 1” Knotty Pine for framing and Knotty Pine ¾ ply w/ Kreg Screws and copious glue to strengthen the construct.  We finished it off with locally available 3/8” cedar T.G. planks.  It is very heavy and very strong!  This project was done entirely w/ Kreg Screws and no router rabbeting for the panels.

We learned the following while doing this project:

·      When using soft woods, always put the power sander on the wood before you start the sander.  Otherwise, you can get scratching / sander burns that don’t present themselves until staining begins.

·      While very strong, ¾” plywood is very heavy!

·      When using plywood, it is recommended that you stain both the visible and non-visible sides of each piece where glue is not to be applied.  Otherwise the chance for delaminating increases dramatically.

60 hours work and $350 to build.   

Estimated Cost
$350.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax stain and hand-rubbed varnish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Shoe organizer

Submitted by Liz H. on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 21:26

I took the 25 cubbies plan and changed the dimensions to fit shoes. I made a simpler version for my husband too. This project went together quickly and was so fun to build.

Estimated Cost
$10
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
White paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project