Community Brag Posts

This was my first wood working project, and it came out great!  

Please note - the buy list leaves out the 2x10s needed for the sides.

I loved the post from Lady Goats on the PB inspired daily system and the modifications from debandtom25!
I knew this was an answer to clean up our counter, before items even make it to the counter this is right at the door when you walk in our house!

I didn't use a picture frame but used plywood with molding of my choice for the "frame." I selected paint at Home Depot and just purchased the sample paint in three different colors. The wording was done on a computer and used as a stencil (cut the letters into contact paper, stuck contact paper on and painted).

I did this all with fence panels. The dimensions were determined by my 2x4's. I trimmed the pickets to size and overlapped them to give it a real siding look. Then I power washed it and let the kids have fun, we have not finished decorating but we will and I am sure it will change over time since their decoration of choice is chalk. I say a weekend because you need to inventory what lengths of wood you have to plan it out and the smaller cuts for the siding can be time consuming. This didn't cost me a thing I had screws left over from building a deck. I built each wall then screwed them together and attached siding making sure to only screw into the facing wall so I could disassemble if needed.

I turned some old oak shelves that I got from an estate sale into a 3' wide Scandinavian slat bench.

Whew! I am a total novice. I have never used a saw in my life, but with a little bit of instruction from my husband i was able to do it almost completely on my own. Even as a beginner i could have finished it in a full day, but i was trying to work on it during my daughters naps so it took almost a week!

I used the basic Raised cedar garden bed plans with a few alterations. I made them different sizes, stacked one on top of the other for some dimension in my garden and secured them together from in inside.

I recently spotted a little gem in the garage - a little space in between the garage doors. It was perfect for building a modular system of small French cleat box shelves. I made them all using scrap wood. I even had extra scrap wood to make a battery charging station in another narrow gap on the wall. You can read all the details about my latest storage adventure on my blog:

http://www.justmeasuringup.com/blog/using-commonly-lost-garage-spaces-for-storage

I'm on high alert for more areas like this that get overlooked easily, and am just waiting for more inspiration to strike!

A fleet of 3 wooden boat planters built in the traditional style of a clinker creel boat (Orkney Longliner).

This was my first major project I built from this site. I would say that I am a beginner builder with only a little experience building small things. This was my first big project and I built it piece by piece over the course of a few months. This was my 4 year old's birthday gift. I bought my first Kreg Jig Jr. (I already want the master system!) and got a lot of confidence by doing this project. It was pretty straight forward, although the painting and sanding took way longer than I thought! I pretty much stuck to the plans and did not change much. The only thing I did was add hand hole cut outs on the stairs and I chose not to cut out a side window because that side was against a wall anyways. I am SO excited about this project and will be posting MANY MORE builds from here.

My first build. Built two of these for less than $50 and four hours. Finished the top with dark brown Polyshades and the bottom with off white satin paint. Borrowed my dad's mitre saw and and drill. Can't wait to do more.

Built entirely of reclaimed pallet wood & shipping crate

I liked the design of the barnyard dinner table and needed a table on the patio for family get togethers. I modified the table plans to seat 10 and made it bar height. I also finished the top vs planks. Came out great.

I build just one piece for my wife and she love it and ask me for build another one so I just build it and add a triangle table more for surprise her,The ""X'' design I take of this website and the legs and dimension and style is my own design 3 corner 45 with the router and and Front drawer is decorative (fake)

Made these two in about 3 hours. Instead of wood glue I used construction adhesive. Now to sand and stain then add cushions.

These are made from the 4x4 posts, 2x4 rails, and slats from an old wooden fence that weren't good enough to re-use when we repaired the fence.

It's close to the Simple outdoor bench, but I simplified the plan even more to take advantage of the pile of free lumber. Or maybe it's the Simple Outdoor Dining Table ... but a lot shorter.

CAUTION: Be careful to remove ALL nails, screws and bolts from the lumber you are reusing. If you can't get the metal out, mark that area and figure out a cut that won't hit it.

TIPS FOR RECLAIMED LUMBER:
* Trim the ends of the lumber square before you measure.
* Don't try to salvage split or rotted wood. Trim it off and see what you can do with the good bits.
* Plan your cuts so you have the least waste.

TOOLS:
10" Miter saw
Wood glue
Nail gun, with 2 1/2 and 1 1/4 inch 16gauge nails for gun (You could use deck screws if you have them)
Surform Pocket plane (wood rasp from Stanley tools)

CUT LIST:
For one bench, 21x36

NOTE: To cut a 4x4 cleanly with the 10" miter saw, put a thin shim behind each side of the 4x4

4 4x4 post scraps, 18 inches long (legs)
2 2x4 18 inches long (sides)
2 2x4 36 inches long (front and back rail)
10 fence slat pieces, 21 inches long (cut to fit the top after it is assembled)

ASSEMBLY:
See the picture of the underside of the bench:
1 - Square up the legs with the end pieces, glue and nail.
2 - Square the sides with the legs, so the legs are inside the 2x4 apron, glue and nail.
3 - Align the 2 end slats with the edges of the bench and nail through them into the 2x4 apron
4 - Space the rest of the slats on the top, leaving 1/8 inch or so etween the boards for drainage. Nail them to the 2x4 apron.

FINISH: Use the wood rasp to round the cut ends of the slats and 2x4s. Rasp with the grain to avoid raising splinters. Lightly rasp the tops of the slats to smooth any really rough spots.

A table or maybe a buffet is planned, with the same construction method, but a bit taller. Tables are 26-29 inches, most buffets are 36". It depends on what will make best use of the remaining bits.

I left off the casters, but added a one inch foam pad covered with outdoor material to make an ottoman. I made sure the top was removable so we could also use it as storage. I've got a little material left over to make a matching throw pillow.

My husbannd has built a handful of things using Ana's plans, but this was my first time doing everything on my own (aside from asking where to find the wood filler in our messy garage).  It was super easy to cut and put together and turned out perfectly for my girls nights stand/book shelf.