Community Brag Posts

2x4 modern adirondack chair (I managed to do)

Submitted by Albertino on Fri, 10/16/2020 - 11:17

I am Brazilian and I admire your work a lot. I used wood from the Amazon (certified) and was surprised by the result. Strong, resistant, comfortable and my grandchildren will have an inheritance. I had to adapt to the metric system and made the back a little higher (85cm). Thank you!

Estimated Cost
U$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

iTable

Submitted by Ice Man on Tue, 01/01/2013 - 19:51

My first ever project. Gave it to my parents as Christmas gift. I had a lot of fun building it. Next time I will go easier on wood glue, because some areas that glue got squeezed out did not get stained.
Next project - corner cupboard.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-oleum early american stain, and 4 coats of Minwax® Polycrylic® Protective Finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

DIY Farmhouse Table

Based on Ana White's Instructions and Cut List, here was our purchase list:
(figures are rounded)
 
Heat Treated Wood:
$12 (4) 2x4@ 8 feet
$9 (2) 2x8 @ 12 feet
$6 (1) 2x8 @ 8 feet
$8 (1) 2x10 @ 8 feet
$55 | (1) 4x4 @ 10 feet **
**This was difficult to find.  We couldn't get it at Lowe's or Home Depot,
but found a small local wood yard.
 
Other Materials:
$9 | Rust-oleum Kona Wood Stain
$18 | Minwax Polycrylic
$10 | (2) Pocket Hole Plugs
$4 | 3" Foam Trim Roller
$8 | (2) 2.5" Pocket Hole Screws
$6 | 3" Wood Screws
 
Total Cost - $145
Estimated Cost
$145
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
MinWax Polycrylic 3 coats - Semi Gloss, but will be finishing it again in Satin (Maybe).
Rust-oleum Kona stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Farmhouse faux reclaimed lumber headboard

Submitted by wacman on Sun, 01/29/2017 - 12:31

A simple headboard with new pine, distressed to resemble worn barn wood or other reclaimed lumber.  I used a wire brush drill bit to eat away at the soft wood of the outside frame, raising the grain and adding a tremendous amount of texture.  The inside planks are full-width boards that I scored with a circular saw to create false joints.  Each section was stained with a different hue to emulate individual reclaimed planks.  I coated with a layer of semi-gloss polycrylic and then a coat of clear cream wax.

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax stains (espresso, classic grey, mahogany & ebony), Minwax semi-gloss polycrylic, American Decor Clear Cream Wax
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Wood Sleigh

Submitted by DMax2010 on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 08:50

I thought this wood sleigh was so cute, I made it for my mom for Christmas! It turned out cute, it was a good jigsaw exercise! I made it smaller, would probably make it bigger next time, but it's a good size for a table top. She loved it!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
nothing-from scraps
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum spray paint, minwax soft touch poly. I painted pieces prior to assembly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Open Concept TV Stand

Submitted by zjlawlor on Wed, 10/22/2014 - 16:22

Saw a bunch of TV stands in this style on Etsy but they are just WAY too expensive. Found out I could simply order the hairpin legs from Etsy and build one myself. Much cheaper! I chose cedar. It allowed me to go the extra width I wanted (6 foot) and keep the project lightweight. It is a soft wood and prone to scratches and dents, but most of our other furniture is reclaimed and upcycled so I'm not worried about wear and tear. 

Estimated Cost
115$
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Kona color stain with poly protective coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Poker table

Submitted by Trishalado on Wed, 02/01/2017 - 07:27

Using the Benchmark Octagon table plans found here for the inspiration for our poker table we completely customized the top and modified the base to suit our needs! The dining top cover is yet to be finished but we are definitely thrilled with the result thus far especially seeing as though it was our first ever build! 

Estimated Cost
$500+
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Inspired by your Barn Door Console - Barn Door Kitchen Cabinets

Submitted by bsawyer58 on Fri, 10/23/2020 - 17:48

We've struggled with deciding on a design for new cabinets in our farmhouse. Seeing your Barn Door Console plans inspired me. The doors can slide from end to end, be added or removed as desired. The drawers and the dishwasher are inset so the doors slide past or cover them. Than you for sharing your work. It's one of my favorite sites.

Comments

Market for my boys

Submitted by Quartney on Fri, 01/04/2013 - 13:30

My oldest son really wanted a toy cash register, and he loves pretending he has a Bait & Tackle shop. I built the market base where the front side is for "Will's Stop 'n' Shop" and it can be turned around and used for "Wyatt's Bait and Tackle". The countertop holds the cash register and shopping basket perfectly. They are great Shopkeepers!

Estimated Cost
$45
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Painted with various cans of spray paint and sample paint that I had in the garage. Vinyl lettering for the "signs".
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic X Shelves

Submitted by Texjan on Sat, 10/25/2014 - 14:49

This project took a bit longer than I expected but the outcome was well worth it!  I would use the Kreg Jig plugs for the upper shelf because you can see the pocket holes.  I finished the inside shelves with American Walnut stain with a white wash.  The paint is American Paint Company in Uncle Sam, with dry brush of Shining Seas and Dark Wax.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint and Stain
Paint- American Paint Company Chalk and Mineral Paint in "Uncle Sam" with dry brushing of "Shining Seas" and finished with Dark Wax. The Shelves were stained with Minwax American Walnut stain with a white wash over that.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

End of the bed storage bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/04/2017 - 15:14

I changed up the dimensions to make a storage bench for the end of our bed. I wanted something different and couldn't be happier with the way it turned out. I stained it with weathered grey, then a coat of golden oak and then another of weathered grey. And painted the box with linen white chalk paint. I love the black knobs with the grey and white!

I only used 2x2s for the legs. I made the seat frame from 1x2s because of the warping I. The 2x2s. It made my life so much easier!

Estimated Cost
I used mostly scraps so it only cost me about $50 because of the knobs
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Linen white Chalk paint, Rust-Oleum weathered grey stain and golden oak stain. Black knobs from home depot
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Chicken Coop

Submitted by Wraight on Fri, 10/30/2020 - 10:49

I teach construction at Plymouth High School. This was our first project of the year. The students did the majority of the work with my guidance. I had started the year with the intent to build sheds, but that requires groups of 4. The chicken coop allowed us to work with groups of 2. We only have 50 minutes each period to work, so it took us about 5 weeks to complete spread over 4 classes. Some of the wood was scrap that we had on hand. We cut a lot of it down to size from 2x10s. The roof was scrap metal roofing that we found in a recycling container. There were no trim pieces so we had to be creative and make our own ridge cap. I decided we would add the finials to give it more visual appeal. We took some liberties with decorating because I like to add extra flair - and I have access to a laser and CNC router. We used the plans that Ana developed for Lady Goats. https://www.ana-white.com/woodworking-projects/small-chicken-coop-plant…

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Exterior grade paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Farmhouse Console

Submitted by Lis West on Sun, 01/06/2013 - 16:05

I added length by adding another "cubby" and increased the height a few inches. There were no instructions for the door, so I made a square like a picture frame the size of the door opening from 1x4's and routed the inner portion of the square with my dremel so I could lay in wainscoting to the inner door. I made the top differently and made it more farmhouse style by attaching four 1x4's together and adding breadboards at the ends. The shelves are movable instead of being attached to give more flexibility in storage. I used 1/4 inch MDF board for the back because it was cheaper than plywood, looked better when painted and was easier to cut in any holes if needed for media equipment without the splinters of plywood.

The top is made of top grade pine (no knots) and stained in Early American with glossy polyurethane. The bottom is cheaper pine boards (with knots) and painted Caffeine Nation from Valspar (my kid picks out all paint color because I will spend hours choosing paint and he takes 30 seconds and his color selections are always perfect for us).

If I had to do it all over, I would have attached five 1x4's for the top instead of four because there just isn't much "lip" to the top. I would definitely change the doors from inset to overlay. Inset doors are more of a farmhouse style but are not forgiving if you are just slightly off. Also, the doors do not shut all the way...they stay open just ever-so-slightly, I think it is due to the hinges, I am not sure. It is not a big deal but it bugs me. I have never had this problem with overlay doors.

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
top: Early American by Minwax, Glossy polyurethane, bought at Lowe's
base: Caffeine Nation by Valspar, bought at Lowe's
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Bander

Sun, 01/06/2013 - 17:28

You might want to try putting magnetic catches on the inside of your doors. I find these helps pull the inset doors shut and keep them closed.

I love how the wainscotting looks in your door inserts.

Debra455

Sat, 10/19/2013 - 00:16

This looks beautiful. A great job

A router will be my next purchase.

Bunk Beds

Submitted by Medickep on Wed, 10/29/2014 - 13:54

This was a fun and pretty easy project.  My oldest son has been asking for some bunkbeds for awhile now, so I was glad when I ran into these plans.  

The project was realitively cheap, but if I could do it again, I would have used nicer material to avoid some of the finishing work.  I built this in one day, but spent sevral weeks on the finishing work, which included two coats of primer and LOTS of wood filler.  I took all the edges through my router, so everything would have a nice rounded edge.  I also decided to put a cap on the headboard, footboard and rail to finish off the project a little.  I liked the look of thes being added.  

The original project does not include slats in the pricing and knowing that firrying boards were not strong enough for this task I really wondered what I was going to do.  Buying a ton of 1x2's can add up fast, so I decided to make them out of cheap 2x4's.  I bought a few 10' 2x4's that allowed me to get six slats out of each of them after I ripped them on my table saw.  They ended up being very sturdy 1 3/4" x 1 1/2".  

******If I was going to do this project again, I would mark the location of every screw, as I hit some of the screws holding the 2x6's of the headboard and footboard with the lag bolts I used to hold the main rails.  I would have also painted all of the pieces individually, put it together and than touched it up, as there were many hard to reach areas with the paint.  This would have improved the finish*******

 

 

 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
120 in wood. 30 in hardware. 90 in paint.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I primed this with an oil based primer, twice and than painted it with rollers.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Dumpster dresser..

Submitted by unclebones on Mon, 02/06/2017 - 14:51

Honestly think it needs a new name, because when all said and done works and looks great.
Going to be making another one at some point, and make some alterations to it to fit a need, and suggestions.
It took me longer then it probably would for some, but then again I am disabled and can only work for short bursts.
Hard to see in the photos, but i used brass knobs on the drawers. I also used briwax on the parts that slide, (the rail, and bottom of drawer edges..  works nicely..  

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Dont remember, but it was very resonable with using mostly 2x4, and then pine wood for the drawers
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Stain/seal
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Barn Door Bookcase

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 11/02/2020 - 06:29

This project cost us about $430, but we modified Ana's plans, a Lot! We made it deeper, narrower, and taller to fit out space. The best part of this project was creating a hidden litter box area in the bottom shelf. We cut a hole through the bottom center board, and put the litter on the side with the door so it was hidden yet easy to clean!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
430
Finish Used
tinsmith gray
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

Rustic Headboard

Submitted by bjd on Sun, 11/02/2014 - 19:59

We finally bought a wonderful King size bed but couldn't afford a headboard.  After seeing this one on Ana's site I knew I could do it.  Purchasing a compound miter saw helped.  For some reason the thought of using a circular saw sets my teeth on edge.  I've found that using the much sturdier miter saw on a workbench has been a piece of cake for me!  I adjusted the plans for the width of our mattress/box springs and didn't go quite as high.  But I'm VERY pleased with the results!  And I swear we slept MUCH BETTER last night with the headboard installed...LOL. 

Estimated Cost
$75-90
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
minwax - early american three coats; polyurethane - 2 coats;
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Coffee and end table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/09/2017 - 19:18

Handmade pine tables with dark walnut stain

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Walnut stain
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

I love building these

Submitted by whulse78 on Fri, 11/06/2020 - 06:58

Love building these I made 15 last week already sold 10

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Ana White Admin

Sat, 11/07/2020 - 11:41

It's awesome how cheap and easy these are with such big impact! Glad you are earning extra income too! Thanks for sharing:)

Camp Loft Bed With Stairs

Submitted by fletchro on Wed, 01/09/2013 - 15:51

Note: I think the plans were slightly incorrect. Add 2 more 2x4s @8' long (construction studs will do, you don't need 96" length) to be certain you have enough wood. I bought 15, planning to add the lower rear support rail, but then I found I didn't have enough decking. So I scabbed it for decking. Then I didn't have enough for the stairs, so I found some 2x4s in the garage that gave me 5 out of the 6 stairs. The next day I made the last stair. So buy 2 or three more 2x4s than the plan says. The worst that can happen is you have an extra 2x4 sitting around for a while. As for all the other cut items, just don't mess up your cuts and there is enough material.

This was pretty easy to build. It took a lot of work for just me, working by myself. I think the thing is VERY sturdy. We had about 200 lbs of adult and kids up there and it didn't seem to be complaining at all.

I used no glue. I think I was too focused on getting the project completed that I forgot to apply glue at the several steps where she mentions to apply glue.

I did not use Kreg(R) brand screws. But I used the nearest equivalent available at my local home store. It turns out there is another specialty woodworking shop in town which sells the Kreg brand screws, and it turns out they are pretty much the same price. So next time, I will make a special trip to that store because the Kreg screws seat much more solidly in the pockets than the regular pan head screws.

Estimated Cost
~$90
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I didn't finish this project yet. I have a pretty busy life, so just getting the thing built and installed in one day was kind of a feat. We will probably paint it with some good quality indoor paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Park Bench

Submitted by Storm on Tue, 11/04/2014 - 20:20

I made this bench just as instructed except I made the back legs taller (after the fact) for more back support.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Approx $70
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
WoodRx Semi-Transparent
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner