Community Brag Posts

Square Farmhouse Table

Submitted by eddingsr on Sun, 01/08/2017 - 13:17

I built this table for a friend who wanted a rustic, plank-top kitchen table. She wanted a square table with 4x4 legs. Since I don't have clamps, I used pocket holes and wood glue for the table top. Also, I only have a 7&1/4" miter saw, which means the 4x4s were too thick to cut. So I made one cut in the legs, then flipped them and made another. It worked! :) I sanded down the sides of the table top with 80 grit. They needed to be evened up since some of the planks were a little longer than others. I back braced underneathe the top with (3) 1x3s. Then, I sanded all over with 120, vacuumed, then wiped it down with a damp towel. Fun build!! 

Estimated Cost
~$100 for lumber, screws, wood glue, sandpaper, and finishing products.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
For the finish I used Minwax wood conditioner, then a coat of Minwax stain in Provincial. I went back and put a second coat of stain on a few of the premium pine pieces, because they soaked up the first coat really well, and I wanted some darker pieces on top. I let those soak for about 15 minutes. Afterwards I did 2 coats of Polycrylic all over, then a third coat for the top only. I dry sanded between coats with 600 grit sandpaper.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Twisty Table

Submitted by stacynabby on Sun, 12/20/2015 - 11:48

Saw this clever side table on Pinterest. It's made out of 1 1x8x8. I was able to figure out how to build a jig for the table saw to suit the project and then it was easy peasy lemon squeezy from there.

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Light Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Seal

Fri, 10/28/2016 - 08:40

I would love to build this unique table, but can't seem to find some actual plans with dimensions and jigs

 

Seal

Fri, 10/28/2016 - 08:45

Would you please email me the plans for this table. Thanks so much

Outdoor hangout using 2x4 and fence boards

Submitted by sylvialh on Sun, 06/16/2019 - 18:13

Bought enough lumber for one sofa but ended up using old fence boards for the  decking so had enough lumber to make the sectional and a shortened coffee table. 

Great way to save some cash even if u have to buy the fence posts. 

Added a reinforcing piece to the one armed sofa between the legs using a kreg jig to stabilize the legs a bit more. 

Waiting on my foam from Amazon to finish off this project!

Used inspiration from the beer/wine cooler patio table and made the middle of the table removable to add a buck underneath later. 

Note the 5 year old patio set, also an ana white project from back in the day!

Super quick build!

I did find that the measurements for customizing it for your cushion size seemed about 1.5 inches too big for all the depth pieces so I sized down but I haven't received my foam yet so maybe I'm wrong but Smth to think about. I didn't want my cushions to slide around so I took that into consideration when building. 

Estimated Cost
60$ CAD for the high density foam for each sofa (3x24x72) plus throw cushions for the back.

11 2x4x10 - cost varies depending on cedar or PT
Fence boards were reused

Outdoor Fabric to cover the foam
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None yet
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Outdoor Chair - High Back Adirondack

Modified with a high back and modern adirondack arms.

The base of the chair is built exactly to the plan except that the arms are done in a modern adirondack style.

The back was made independently to fit inside the base and then attached to the plan base.

Very comfortable but very heavy chair even without the modified back.

Not stained yet obviously.

Cushions are hard to find I think I would make it slightly smaller next time and maybe even find the cushions first and alter the plan to fit.

Estimated Cost
$45 Can
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None yet
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Lean-To Shed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/24/2023 - 13:17

I’m a first year teacher of construction class at Waterloo High School in Illinois. We recently used your Small Cedar shed instructions with some modifications for a class project. It’s a bear getting cedar right now, so we used T1-11 for the outside and 2x4 for the frame.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Planter Porch Steps

Submitted by kstarbird on Thu, 12/26/2019 - 15:06

Plan modified to be built on stringers due to hight. 

Finish Used
Pending

Comments

Seasonal And Holiday

Corner Media Console

Submitted by craw4dz on Thu, 02/27/2020 - 10:39

We had just moved into our new house and were using an end table for our TV stand I just didn't like it.  I found this and modified it so it's shorter and fits in our room better.  I also opted to not put doors on it and use it to display items instead.  This was a relatively easy build and I'm learning new things with every build I make.  It took about 2 days to complete not including filling holes/paint/stain.  I love it, it looks so great in our room and I am planning on building end tables to match as well as replacing our buffet with movies in it to match also.  Thanks for the easy-to-follow plans!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$45
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Whatever white paint I had on hand (haha) and Varathane Kona with a satin poly for the top.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

DIY Laundry Basket Organizer

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/19/2024 - 10:58

This was a modification to an Ana White design and another brag.
Designed on sketchup. It holds 4 laundry baskets sideways. Because I wanted it to be counter height I have a 6 inch shelf.
3/4 reconditioned plywood for the base assembled using Kreg pocket screws.
The top is a low cost pine 11.5 wide.
I jointed them using a 14 inch hand plane. First time for that. Cut the top to 22 inches wide.
Prestain conditioner. Minwax dark walnut stain and 6 coats of minwax poly wipe on.
Attached using Kreg screws.

Randy Eby

Built from Plan(s)

Simple bench from pallets

I had some left over wood from pallets and I really liked the look of the simple outdoor bench. One pallet was made out of some type of red colored wood and I decided the slats for the seat would look good in the red colored wood. The rest of the bench was from a lighter colored pallet. I used nails and glue to attach the seat slats so that my daughter could help. She loves to help, but does not like my drill even if she has hearing protection. See more at http://www.makeitlovely.com

Estimated Cost
Free
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Early American wood stain (1 coat)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Cottage bedroom bookcase

Submitted by yhaas on Thu, 10/29/2015 - 20:42

I used 1 x 10s to make the bookcase a little shallower, and left the back open. Thanks for the great plan.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Varathane diamond finish water-based polyurethane, satin.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modified Shed - Door on short side

Submitted by aalim on Tue, 09/10/2013 - 07:00

I had very little clearance on the long side of the shed, so I opted to put the door on the short side. Thanks for the plan, it was a great starting point for my project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Outdoor Sofa

Submitted by stell on Wed, 01/22/2014 - 19:23

Was my first project from Ana White's designs. I enjoyed making it, and plan on following up with the outdoor loveseat this spring.

Estimated Cost
Wood & hardware $80, the finish $16. The cushions were $126
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Olympic Solid Exterior Stain in Antique Silver.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Ultimate workbench

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.

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

Comments

rjcarr1911

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.

Rustic X end table to cover up dog kennel

Submitted by Tashism on Fri, 06/21/2013 - 07:12

We are getting a puppy in a couple weeks and we want to crate train her. We have a small house so the only place we have to put the crate is in the living room. Needless to say, we needed a way to make the crate look good in our living room. That's when I found the plans for the rustic x-end table. The dimensions were almost the same as the dog crate. I only had to change the dimensions by a couple inches and wallah! Now the crate doesn't look out of place and I have a place to put my laptop and phone! I ended up ripping the 2x6's just a saw blade width down to get rid of the rounded edges and that made the top come together smoother. I also planed down the top a bit as well. In some spots, you can hardly tell they were 2x6's laminated together! I used two different stains on it. The first coat was a tudor stain but I wanted to warm it up a bit so I put a coat of antique walnut on it as well. I am very very happy with how this turned out. Now my husband would like me to build a coffee table to match!

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

onenutsprague

Thu, 02/25/2016 - 08:59

This entire site is click bait. yet to see one actual plan. its like all stolen data from pinterist. which is equally as bad

Farmhouse Toy Box

Submitted by frmoody on Thu, 08/18/2022 - 15:01

My second build from Ana's toy box plan. I had my son use his CNC machine to carve boy's name into the front. Depth of the letters is about 0.25". Looks really good.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

4x4 Truss Beam Table & Bench

Submitted by Shane03 on Wed, 08/17/2016 - 12:26

When my wife and I moved we sold our old table and was in need of a new one. We've shopped around and didn't like anything we were seeing. She insisted that I build one but I never had any time due to my job. In the past it would've been easy because that's what I did was woodworking. So she researched and came across ana's plan and she loved it. Keeping the wife happy I made time. I made my material list & cutlist but was concerned with using construction grade lumber for the tabletop due to over time it likes to cup and warp in the right conditions. Instead I went with 8/4 Poplar which will make a solid tabletop and last forever. I was only able to work weekends on the project so it was finished in a month which I added the total hours & it equaled 1 week.  She loves her new table and is now shopping for 5 canvas chairs to go with it. With her posting on social media I now have requests to build more. Where will I find the time?

Estimated Cost
$375.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I started with Minwax Espresso wood stain on the base of the table & Bench. I then applied 2 coats of Old Fashioned Milk Paint Snow White. Next I used 320 grit sandpaper to knocked any loose paint chips off & distress areas I wanted to antique. Finally I applied 3 coats of Minwax Polycrylic Matte, sanding with a 320 grit sanding block in between coats. The top I started with wood conditioner because poplar doesn't take stain well it is very blotchy. Next I used Minwax Espresso wood stain. Finally I applied 4 coats of General Finishes High Performance Flat while sanding in between coats using 320 grit sanding block.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Sandbox with built-in seats in our playhouse

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 09/10/2020 - 10:55

The base of our playhouse felt like the perfect spot to use the sandbox plan with built-in seats. The bench seats actually fold flat to create a lid for the sandbox when it’s not in use. I followed Ana’s plans exactly and used the list of materials she provided. The only modification I made was eliminating the back supports. It was not necessary for me to add the back supports since we have the playhouse posts to support the back of the bench.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Seasonal And Holiday

Corner bench with drawers

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 12:15

I built the above corner bench based off of the frameless drawer bench plans (they are on the shelf help site) which are very similar to the essential entryway bench plans, but the drawers are included. The long bench is 60", the shorter side 42".
For the carcass i did use the shelf help pre cut plywood.
When I started the project beginning of 2021, there was no tutorial for the corner part yet, so I was very glad to see I did the right way when the corner 'add on' came out, also found on the shelf help site).
The shaker fronts were shown in the barn door console plans, so I adopted that.
I get loads of compliments and obviously even more when people hear I built it myself.
The hardest part about this project were the drawer slides and getting them to line up and work as expected. The I broke the soft close on one of the big drawers during final assembly and still didn't bring myself to exchange the slide to a working one... 😊
But overall I'm really proud of it!

Comments

Privacy Planter and Under Deck Storage

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 08/11/2023 - 11:27

In the middle of a much needed makeover on our back deck! We did not have skirting around the deck and decided that we would like to close it in for extra storage(ladders,compost bin...) and we came up with this little something as a bonus. We are always hosting backyard get togethers and seating is a challenge. Setting up and putting away chairs,ugh. This has been the perfect solution. This was completely an "as we went" plan but the biggest need to know is, heavy duty hinges! (As I said,the deck is getting a makeover so go easy on the appearance:)

Jodi and Matt B.

Built from Plan(s)

Industrial Shelf Unit - Basement Storage

Submitted by zakdat on Mon, 02/20/2017 - 07:39

With six people in our household, we were in desperate need of easily accessed storage for our off season clothes/gear.  This ended up being a perfect solution.  We customized shelf heights to fit the bins that we use for storage as well as made an area for our cat box (at the bottom right).  It's such a relief to finally have everything tucked away but easy to get at when we need it. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300 Canadian
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Puritan Pine
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

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