First thing I ever built
I took the plunge last year and started woodworking. This was my first build. I definately have learned alot since then. But I am pretty proud of this table.
50$
I took the plunge last year and started woodworking. This was my first build. I definately have learned alot since then. But I am pretty proud of this table.
I am SO excited to show off my first build, thanks to Ana White and her amazing book!! This console was on the cover and I fell in LOVE LOVE! After I finished it I tried to find out the paint color with no luck....can't stop a woman on a mission...I googled looking for an iPhone App to match colors. BINGO! Benjamin Moore has one. I took a pic of the table in the book, and...you tell me...it sure looks like a match!
Thank you Ana so much for your generous help showing girls like me...YES WE CAN!
Thu, 01/31/2013 - 15:34
Beautiful build, you did a wonderful job, congrats on your first project! Looks just like the book cover! Happy building! :)
Joanne
Thu, 01/31/2013 - 19:42
Beautiful first build and yes, it does look like the one in the book!
I skipped the X part, I had a few issues with alignment. I also used the oxidizing mix reccomended on the page. Mine turned out very grey, I'm not complaining. Could be because I only let the mixture sit for a few hours? I really dont know. It was a fun project though and I plan to try more for sure.
Note: The 1x12s didnt oxidize much at all. Neither did the wood filler I used (must make much better cuts next time).
A first for me in many years, over 40+. Not really since basic wood shop projects in Middle School. Anyway, my son (and daughter in-law, but she doesn't know) had asked for a backyard patio bench for Christmas this year (2020) so what could go wrong. Anyway, the plans are straight forward in this design. He saw the picture of a stained version on YouTube and said that would be perfect. The project took me three late afternoons/evenings as my day job took priority. After making all the cuts and beginning assembly I could really see this coming together nicely once the four legs were attached. Between wood fill and sanding I asked what finish they preferred and was told he would finish that part. So I sanded the exterior on it and glad for having him finish the coatings as I was just finished it that point on Christmas Eve Day. The red bow is also first for me.
The table is one that I have been waiting for my husband to retire from the Marines to make me. We moved so often while in the military that I knew there was no need to buy expensive furniture just to get damaged. When I found the plans for this I was thrilled.
The edges of the table have been sanded to resemble the worn weathered look.
Please forgive the pictures. I will retake soon.
For my birthday I asked for power tools. My boyfriend followed your video of beginners tools and got me a lot of them.
For my first project I decided to do the Lighted Chalkboard Sign. I accidentally nailed my working table and I was drilling the holes with the wrong direction on the impact drill but I managed. Rookie mistakes :)
Everyone loved it and I´m super exited to build new things.
Thanks for the inspiration and easy to follow instructions!
Thu, 12/04/2014 - 22:54
This is a super cute story! It sounds like you have an awesome boyfriend! I love your sign too!
Since everyone else is making them, I had to jump on the bandwagon. Typical console, but I left off the metal trim (for now at least) and used a wire brush on the top boards and the face of the legs to eat away at the wood and raise the grain. It gives it tremendous texture and really makes it look more like old reclaimed lumber.
Built a number of wine caddies with/without the stake. Stake useful for an outdoor environment, yet not useful for an indoor table top setting. Provided a simple alteration by inserting a t-nut into the bottom of the caddy & a hanger bolt screwed into top of stake. Simply screw in stake as needed.
I built this for my daughters for Christmas. I also built another for my friends daughter. Ours is made putting 3 pieces of wood together with pocket hole screws and our friends is just one solid piece. I definitely recommend doing it with just the solid piece. It makes it easier for coloring! It took me about a total of 5 hours to make the 2 tables and 4 chairs not including paint.
I looked at the doll bed plans forever trying to decide which one to make our daughter. I settled on the camp style bed that Jamie from "that's my letter" made from Ana's plans. There was one error in the cut list, you do not need 7-20" 1x2 pieces, unless I really messed up! You only need 5. It was fun and surprisingly easy to build. The sanding and painting took far longer than the actual building. It took me less than two hours to build, including dry time for the wood glue on the rails (hot glue would be faster) I found craft paint brush #16 (3/4 inch) worked the best and fastest for painting all the rails. Any bigger brush and you'd get runs at all the corners. I put on one coat primer, and three coats of paint, probably about 6-8 hours total time in sanding, painting and applying the finish wax. I made the bedding with some cute fabric from Joann's Fabric, also harder than the building! All said and done the extra hours were worth the finished product, it is beyond beautiful and I am so happy! I can't wait to see Elena's face on Christmas morning. (You can build it in 1-2 hours, I put weekend project b/c of the time to finish it) I worked on it for about an hour at a time over a two week period, as I couldn't let her see me working on it!
Sun, 12/07/2014 - 17:09
I wanted to add that I ripped a 1x2 to get the 1x1 pieces and it was so easy! Don't be scared to try it.
Thu, 12/11/2014 - 16:58
I used diamond-double-faced-quilt-fabric and it really held the foam down tight, it looks like a real mattress! The white was too bright next to the paint so I used a light pink cotton sateen for the top layer, you can still see and feel the diamond detail. (I followed the plans on "that's my letter" for the mattress construction)
This sliding barn door was built with pre-primed shiplap 1x6s and 2x6 boards. It took a little over a day to build, sand and finish. It's definitely a sizeable piece, measuring 83x54".
My brother-and-law has been building a TON of projects from Ana's site. After comparing prices of farmhouse tables online, my husband and I decided to try building our own. I measured our dining room, modified the plans (to make the table slightly shorter and slightly wider), then we picked up some basic tools and lumber, setup a little shop in our garage, and went to work. It took us a whole week (of after-work and after-the-kids-are-down nights) plus maybe a weekend to complete this project.
We started staining the legs of the table with a minwax stain in Dark Walnut, but it left it looking very contrasty/zebra-like. An employee at the hardware store recommended Rust-o-Leum, so we finished up the top with it. Added a clear satin varnish on top (Deft), then moved it inside. We love it!!! (We stained it after distressing it, then added 5-6 coats of varnish).
Things we'd do differently:
1. Invest early in a Pocket Hole Jig (like the Kreg Jig) to piece your wood together. We actually bought one for our second wood project (which I was able to screw together pretty much the entire thing myself...whereas, both my hub and I had to work together to get this table put together...it was a pain!), and wished we had purchased this earlier.
2. Check your wood and get it as straight (not bowed) as possible. Then don't let the sprinklers or rain get on it. :) Don't worry about knots, holes, or other things that could give your table character.
3. You can stain the wood using paper towels. (I did this on the second project...worked great, and easy clean up).
4. Make sure you square up your wood every step of the way. We THOUGHT we did this...but with trying to screw pieces together, and making them fit... now we've got an extra piece of wood underneath one of our legs. :P
Fri, 02/08/2013 - 09:36
This is a gorgeous build! The table top finish is just outstanding. You all did a marvelous job (even without the kreg jig)!
I wanted a project to build with my husband, and his desk was falling apart. Mine was old and tiny so we made two of these side by side. I did all my own work with some instruction from him, and it was pretty easy! It was also really fast: I think the total time spent was under 8 hours!
Rustic X Entertainment Stand. 55” long x 36” tall. 3 shelves. Natural top with dark walnut bottom. Custom made game crates and LED back lights to finish the look.
My sons awesome fort. It took some time to complete, as I was doing it on my own. The balancing and juggling act when attaching a few pieces would of made some priceless videos. I used plans from " Clubhouse Bed" as a general guide.
Fri, 02/08/2013 - 17:39
You did this all by yourself??? This is just fantastic...lucky little boy!!
In reply to Fantastic!! by Linda7
Sat, 02/09/2013 - 07:55
I did.. Thank you so much
Mon, 02/11/2013 - 06:28
I'm seriously impressed you did this by yourself. Not that you aren't able, but the fact that there are so many big pieces which would have been really awkward and cumbersome with just one person. Beautiful job! Love the screen name, too, definitely fits!
Mon, 02/11/2013 - 06:28
I'm seriously impressed you did this by yourself. Not that you aren't able, but the fact that there are so many big pieces which would have been really awkward and cumbersome with just one person. Beautiful job! Love the screen name, too, definitely fits!
Tue, 02/12/2013 - 08:05
thank you so much.. thank goodness I had a toddler trampoline to help hold at times as well as a ladder that allows me to pick its height and hold the floor up for me to at least get the bottom on
I built the Rustic X Console to store my growing collection of cookbooks. The plans were pretty easy to follow. I really struggled with warped boards!
You can check out my blog entry for more photos and details.
Used this plan as a "practice" platform for a larger version in the future. Very simple yet nice design. I would prefer to hide some pocket holes on the sides to avoid the extra work of plugging them next time. Also, Lauan plywood panels are cost effective way of finishing the back.