Easy to build workbench. I added an extra 2 1/2 inches (width) to the top plywood cut. This gave me a 1 1/4" lip to the front and back sides. I wanted to be able to clamp on all sides of the bench. Also added casters since I wanted to use this as an outdoor table for entertaining if needed and to simply have mobility with the bench. So far I love it!
I finished my first project. Although there are some cosmetic errors, I think overall it’s amazing. We had a lot of wood left behind by the builder of our log home. So, I was able to use a lot of that. I made some adjustments to the height of the boxes to help the back!
Michelle M - Jefferson, NC
We had some leftover granite from an outdoor kitchen build and wanted to maximize the use of it. We loved the look of a rustic table from Pottery Barn and set out to find something that was asking the same aesthetic. I came across the Jilly and Mia workbench console and thought it would work great with some minor modifications. I shortened the overall length and height, went with some heavy duty casters to support the weight of the granite, and reinforced the cross beams that would support the 3/4" plywood sheet and granite. I went with cedar for this build since it was outdoors and I'll finish it with a clear sealant.
Made two of these this spring. One for strawberry plants, and one for herbs and flowers. Made according to plans.
Well this was first project my hubby and I tackled together. He actually let me use the power tools. The plans were great! Loved having a shopping list! I made the cushion s myself. I have to say, I wish I had made the couch and chairs the size of cushions available at Lowes . AFt e r you buy foam batting fabric and chording I found set at lowes for a lot less but I am so happy how it all turned out . Thks for providing plNz!
I wanted to make this porch swing ever since seeing it in the plan catalog (Large Modern Porch Swing). Just a matter of setting aside a weekend to get it done and then to find A frame to support it. I made the A-frame from a combination of this post:
http://www.buildeazy.com/newserve/swing_seat_support_dec07_1.html
and this one:
http://www.hgtv.com/home-improvement/custom-a-frame-childrens-swing-set…
I made the back a bit higher on our swing... and not quite as wide.
Reading several other blogs on this- I chose to attach the chains to the top back of the swing to keep it from tipping backwards...
Now just get to enjoy it!!
Thants for the inspiration We love it.
Added a backing of thin plywood to prevent the cans marking up the walls. I knew how many types of canned goods I wanted this to fit and adjusted the width to meet our needs. Love how this is going to save space in the pantry and with just a glance I can see what we have on hand.
Thanks Ana for another great plan!
Modified the design to allow me to roll lawnmower directly in the end. Fun project.
We needed a space saving alternative to individual twin beds...these were very simple to make. Our boys love them! We kept the same deminsions as the original plans and ended up having a little extra room on each bed for storage as well as toy storage under the second bed. Worked out very nicely and left space for the next project...a study station :)
This was my first EVER wood working project.
With that being said, it took me more than just an afternoon.
I used cedar, and all the materials on the cut list had to be sanded , since I didn't like the roughness of the cedar.
I also made the box 4x8. I didn't take into account that that would require a minimum of 48 inches for the top planks. So, some of my top planks are shorter.
I also wished I had a little more instruction from which side to screw the screws in. May sound a little needy for some of you, but I never did anything with wood before. The instructions simply read attach top planks to arm rests (or something int that manner) and I wish it would have told me from which side to screw in (or give me a picture). Looking at some of the brag posts helped a lot.
Because its larger size, I decided to make the seats 3 top planks wide (and also the back rest) and made another middle cover piece to bridge the additional gap when both seats are folded down.
Also, the cedar was VERY expensive, and all the screws, hinges, and handles almost cost me as much as the wood.
The sand to fill the box ran us another $80 (for good plays and), but that was because we made it so big.
All in all, a rather pricey sandbox, but worth it because of the large custom sizes, and the cute little seats.
Pictures show the sandbox without sand, and with some of the handles still missing. I also still need to fill the holes.
Will add a picture of finished box filled with sand when it is available.
Started with the 3 plank plans from Anna's project, then dremeled the logo.
Love this! My husband used this project to help boys learn to use power tools and work with wood. They made one and he did the others. THANK YOU!
Wed, 10/06/2021 - 10:15
Great way to get the kids involved, it looks very nice, organized and functional! Thank you for sharing~
We too you’re 2x4 shelving unit with some small tweaking of measurements and added a barn door!
I finally completed the last piece to my customized simple two-toned outdoor collection...an outdoor kitchen sink!!! It still needs a couple of touch ups... but more on that later. This is by far my favorite and easiest project to date. We plan on using this as a grill caddie/garden station. This will eventually go onto a 24x12 deck up against our kitchen window (The indoor and outdoor sink will be against each others backs). I decided to go with the Sturdy Workbench plans for the base mainly because of the weight. We wanted something that's going to be difficult to move since it will be hooked up to outdoor plumbing. I used treated 2x4's for the base, cedar 1x4's for the top. I bought the bar sink for about $70. I also used a Kreg Jig to screw in the cedar slats from underneath so the screws won't be visible from the top. FYI - Wait a couple of weeks before you paint soaking wet treated wood. The green chemical from the 2x4 is starting to leak through my white paint. I'll have to go and prime/paint it again when it finally dries. Other than that, it came out 10 times better than I could ever imagine.
This was a big undertaking for indoor furniture and I learned so much! I slightly adjusted the size to what I had available with some scrap wood from my old stairs so saved a little on costs with lumber!
I had a perfect corner in our playroom that was reserved mostly for clutter and always wanted to do something fun with it. The base is made with 2x8"s topped with Handscraped Hickory laminate flooring. Bored holes into the floor and installed 1" diameter color-changing LED decklights. Added theatre-style tracklights, disco ball and other dance floor lighting for extra effect. Of course the stage wouldn't be complete without wireless microphones for karaoke and mic stands hooked up to a small amp and speakers in the ceiling. I made the shelving on the right side with 1/2" black pipe and used leftover 2x12" shelves from an old garage shelving install from 7 years ago! The kids were ecstatic on Christmas morning for the reveal!
Sun, 07/27/2014 - 15:52
This is great! I was just wondering what your dimensions were? I've been looking for something like this to do for my niece but have been struggling to find a plan and figure it out myself LOL.
Tue, 08/05/2014 - 05:58
Hello, the back wall is 8' and side wall is 6.5'. The stage comes out about 2.5' on each side then the front is around 7'.
Hope that helps, good luck!
Sun, 04/10/2016 - 14:44
Actually, I was wondering ,what lights did you use? I'm working on a very similar project and was curious to the lights your used please.
Sun, 12/08/2019 - 17:11
Can I ask about the lights you used or would recommend? Getting started tomorrow. A stage from Santa. Please help! 😬
Sat, 12/18/2021 - 14:09
Hello! Also wondering which lights you used. Thank you!
I took the junior hight bed and made it 75 inches tall (floor to top of bed). I also reduced the side measurements by 3 1/2 inches so that it fit an IKEA twin mattress and added some 1x2 boards on the front for looks and support of the safety rail. I used a slatted base of 1x4 boards. These adjustments were to make the bed fit our room and mattress. I didn't do the platform stairs as we had no space for it. I added height so that I can walk under the bed and so that I could put a nursery under. Our space is a tiny 8x9 foot bedroom. I plan on making this a bunk bed as the baby grows. The big sister is in love with her new bed. Thanks for the plans ANA!! Oh, and the color I chose for the bed is Theresa's Green by farrow and ball. Color can be matched in both Lowes and home depot. Total cost for me was $82 for everything.
We have been looking for a deal on an outdoor sectional for a whole year. Nothing. The cheapest we could find was $899 for one that was much smaller than this one and with thinner cushions. So we upped and drove to the lumber yard and purchased the lumber on the list and got to building. The total cost of lumber was $200, the Spax screws we already had on hand. We used pocket holes for the joints. The wife made the cushions herself. She had most of the fabric on hand, we just had to buy 3 yards for the back cushions, which are made of standard size pillows. They have been sprayed with fabric protectant for outdoor use (I think she used the Scotch brand). The seat cushions are 5 inches thick (they are wrapped in silk film to protect them from getting soaked when it rains or when someone who just got out of the pool sits on them), around $100 for both. It took her a couple of days to sew the box cushion covers.
I absolutely love this build. I did end up using pocket holes for the carts to make them slightly stronger. I also had to do custom work on the top of my table saw cart due to rack and pinion fence. I routed the the plywood tops with a slight round over and waxed them smooth. I plan to add a dust collection hood around the miter saw and then install an inset stop block for the miter fence.
Fri, 07/24/2020 - 16:08
Very nicely done! It never even crossed my mind that the cart would need modifications to fit that table saw. That's the exact same table saw I've had my eye on, and I plan on purchasing any day now; so that is definitely good to know! My project is still a work in progress. I currently only have one cart built.
Do you have enough room to adjust your miter saw to make 45 degree cuts from the position pictured? Or do you have to move it forward in order to clear the work bench frame? I only ask because that's what I have to do with mine at the moment. I have to have it all the way forward on the shelf. I am considering making the miter saw shelf a little bit wider to remedy that minor issue.
I followed the plan exactly including the suggestion of the fence paint (2 coats). This was a very easy build. It took much longer to paint than it did to build. These boxes are the perfect accent on our new patio/firepit.
