I know what you mean. I just found this website on last Thursday and went to get my materials on Saturday. Let me tell you, I went to Home Depot by myself for the first time and was completely intimidated. I thought I sounded silly even asking for help because I wasn't familiar with the stuff I was asking for. I finally got up enough courage to ask for help, so I showed one of the employees my plans and he showed me where everything was, they are typically very helpful. Even after all that work, I couldn't get any of the plywood because their saw wasn't working. But when I went back on Sunday, I felt much better about buying the materials and asking for help and my project is coming along fine. It's really not that difficult one you get the hang of it. Ana does a wonderful job of laying everything out for you, just follow her plans. I do admit I had to study her plans after my first visit to Home Depot to get a better understanding of what I was asking for.
So, be encouraged and just do it. It's not as hard as it seems.....you'll see.
I went through the plans, and this is a reasonable progression, and the skills you will learn. Call it woodworking 101's class projects. Ana's stuff is simple, but it requires absolutely squared cuts and 90-degree angles.
The $10 Ledges (I'm making these today, because I'm figuring out how to use the Kreg jig and I need shelves)
board selection
making straight cross-cuts
aligning parts
clamping
drilling
screwing
finish nails
countersinking screws and nails
wood filler
sanding
finishing
The crates, either the reclaimed lumber ones on wheels or the tiny ones she did recently
all of the above
plus
making square cornered boxes!
If you break out these plans, there are a lot of boxes in them. A bench is a box with one funky side. A table is a box with legs, a drawer is a box in a box. The cubbies are boxes with dividers in them. The media center is a box with dividers, drawers and doors. An 18th century mahogany Chippendale breakfront is a box stacked on a box, with drawers, dividers, doors and some fancy stuff stuck on it.
One of the benches, or cubbies, or the locker
All of the above, just in a slightly different form, with more practice on precise cuts
one of the ladder-based shelf units
Working with slanted cuts and pieces that are not set on the vertical
Thank you both so much for your welcome, encouragement and advice. I have asked for a kreg jig for Christmas so expect to see some photos from me in the near future!
I know how you feel. It can be especially daunting trying to convert everything to metric. I started with the picture frames using a little handsaw and mitre that I bought from Aldi. Once they were painted bright colours and hung in the kids rooms you don't even notice that they are a little off. This was especially good because I could buy the wood from the internal section of Bunnings, without having to brave the serious lumber area.
Then I used old wood from around the yard to build a simple console table. I cut it all with a hand saw and braved the electric drill. The pieces of wood were all different widths and thicknesses, and I stained it with antique stain. It is far away from square but I say that it is rustic and meant to look like that.
Confidence building, I then moved on to a big kids picnic table. Brightly painted and sitting outside surrounded by the most beautiful Spring we've had in 15 years, well everyone comments on it. While not quite perfect, I can see that I'm getting the hang of it and am almost ready to attempt a bed for my son's room - I'm just waiting to finish all of my uni assignments so that I can focus and work on it into the night, rather than try to rush it.
Just dive in, it gives you such a great feeling of accomplishment - and for me, knowing I made it myself makes up for any imperfections.
The Bunnings timber yard can be a bit overwhelming! I went down and priced some wood over the past couple of days. For big cuts, for me anyway, I've found that getting Bunnings to cut the piece is handy. The gent at my local Bunnings is GrandFather++ age and will cut to inches on the big sheets. The first cut is included per piece and it's a $1 per cut thereafter. Mister Ply and Wood which I think are nationwide have a really good service for that too.
I remember years ago on BH&G they said and I'm pharaphrasing the reason for the different measurements, ie 1" being 19mm is that in US the measurement is taken before the wood is kiln-dried, whereas in Australia and I'm guessing other countries it's measured afterwood.
I went through the plans, and this is a reasonable progression, and the skills you will learn. Call it woodworking 101's class projects. Ana's stuff is simple, but it requires absolutely squared cuts and 90-degree angles.
The $10 Ledges (I'm making these today, because I'm figuring out how to use the Kreg jig and I need shelves)
board selection
making straight cross-cuts
aligning parts
clamping
drilling
screwing
finish nails
countersinking screws and nails
wood filler
sanding
finishing
The crates, either the reclaimed lumber ones on wheels or the tiny ones she did recently
all of the above
plus
making square cornered boxes!
If you break out these plans, there are a lot of boxes in them. A bench is a box with one funky side. A table is a box with legs, a drawer is a box in a box. The cubbies are boxes with dividers in them. The media center is a box with dividers, drawers and doors. An 18th century mahogany Chippendale breakfront is a box stacked on a box, with drawers, dividers, doors and some fancy stuff stuck on it.
One of the benches, or cubbies, or the locker
All of the above, just in a slightly different form, with more practice on precise cuts
one of the ladder-based shelf units
Working with slanted cuts and pieces that are not set on the vertical
After that, something with a drawer or drawers
Requires more precise cutting,
mounting runner hardware, etc.
Then something with "doors" or a lid that lifts.
Precise cutting
Marking and drilling for hinges
Making face frames
After that … you should be really confident.
Tsu ~
I want to thank you for posting this list of progression. I recently made my first ever project, which was the truss shelves. It was my first experience with a saw. I also learned how to use a kreg jig. And sand properly and stain. According to your list, this would be about number four on the list. Wow, does that make me happy. Because it was not terribly easy, and I thought I was picking an easy one! Even though it turned out well, and I'm really happy with it, I've been a bit intimidated to try a next project. I think I will learn from what you wrote and try something a little more basic next time. Thanks for this, I will get up the nerve to try another project soon.
kaytrishjr
Mon, 11/01/2010 - 03:20
I know what you mean. I just found this website on last Thursday and went to get my materials on Saturday. Let me tell you, I went to Home Depot by myself for the first time and was completely intimidated. I thought I sounded silly even asking for help because I wasn't familiar with the stuff I was asking for. I finally got up enough courage to ask for help, so I showed one of the employees my plans and he showed me where everything was, they are typically very helpful. Even after all that work, I couldn't get any of the plywood because their saw wasn't working. But when I went back on Sunday, I felt much better about buying the materials and asking for help and my project is coming along fine. It's really not that difficult one you get the hang of it. Ana does a wonderful job of laying everything out for you, just follow her plans. I do admit I had to study her plans after my first visit to Home Depot to get a better understanding of what I was asking for.
So, be encouraged and just do it. It's not as hard as it seems.....you'll see.
Tsu Dho Nimh
Mon, 11/01/2010 - 03:26
NightOwl –
I went through the plans, and this is a reasonable progression, and the skills you will learn. Call it woodworking 101's class projects. Ana's stuff is simple, but it requires absolutely squared cuts and 90-degree angles.
plus
If you break out these plans, there are a lot of boxes in them. A bench is a box with one funky side. A table is a box with legs, a drawer is a box in a box. The cubbies are boxes with dividers in them. The media center is a box with dividers, drawers and doors. An 18th century mahogany Chippendale breakfront is a box stacked on a box, with drawers, dividers, doors and some fancy stuff stuck on it.
After that … you should be really confident.
nightowl_72
Sat, 11/13/2010 - 11:17
Thank you both so much for your welcome, encouragement and advice. I have asked for a kreg jig for Christmas so expect to see some photos from me in the near future!
Vanessa
Sat, 11/13/2010 - 15:04
Hi nightowl_72,
I know how you feel. It can be especially daunting trying to convert everything to metric. I started with the picture frames using a little handsaw and mitre that I bought from Aldi. Once they were painted bright colours and hung in the kids rooms you don't even notice that they are a little off. This was especially good because I could buy the wood from the internal section of Bunnings, without having to brave the serious lumber area.
Then I used old wood from around the yard to build a simple console table. I cut it all with a hand saw and braved the electric drill. The pieces of wood were all different widths and thicknesses, and I stained it with antique stain. It is far away from square but I say that it is rustic and meant to look like that.
Confidence building, I then moved on to a big kids picnic table. Brightly painted and sitting outside surrounded by the most beautiful Spring we've had in 15 years, well everyone comments on it. While not quite perfect, I can see that I'm getting the hang of it and am almost ready to attempt a bed for my son's room - I'm just waiting to finish all of my uni assignments so that I can focus and work on it into the night, rather than try to rush it.
Just dive in, it gives you such a great feeling of accomplishment - and for me, knowing I made it myself makes up for any imperfections.
Good luck,
Vanessa (NSW)
kylieh
Sat, 11/13/2010 - 16:55
The Bunnings timber yard can be a bit overwhelming! I went down and priced some wood over the past couple of days. For big cuts, for me anyway, I've found that getting Bunnings to cut the piece is handy. The gent at my local Bunnings is GrandFather++ age and will cut to inches on the big sheets. The first cut is included per piece and it's a $1 per cut thereafter. Mister Ply and Wood which I think are nationwide have a really good service for that too.
I remember years ago on BH&G they said and I'm pharaphrasing the reason for the different measurements, ie 1" being 19mm is that in US the measurement is taken before the wood is kiln-dried, whereas in Australia and I'm guessing other countries it's measured afterwood.
Tsu Dho Nimh
Sat, 11/13/2010 - 20:42
Vanessa said:
Have you seen this post?
http://ana-white.com/community.....imensional
hammertime
Wed, 11/17/2010 - 12:09
Tsu Dho Nimh said:
Tsu ~
I want to thank you for posting this list of progression. I recently made my first ever project, which was the truss shelves. It was my first experience with a saw. I also learned how to use a kreg jig. And sand properly and stain. According to your list, this would be about number four on the list. Wow, does that make me happy. Because it was not terribly easy, and I thought I was picking an easy one! Even though it turned out well, and I'm really happy with it, I've been a bit intimidated to try a next project. I think I will learn from what you wrote and try something a little more basic next time. Thanks for this, I will get up the nerve to try another project soon.
~HT