Community Brag Posts

Shed Chicken Coop and Run

Submitted by mikesofka on Tue, 05/12/2020 - 09:27

I had such a fun time on this shed coop/run build! My wife and I have 5 children and it was fun involving them in building everything about this coop and run. They have a wonderful sense of accomplishment in looking at what they helped build.

A few notes, while this what a fairly straightforward build, there are a lot of little intricacies to be aware of. Such as:

• Make sure your chicken coop is about a foot off the ground. It's best to do that so critters such as rats and snakes don't make their home under the shed and potentially eat their way through the floor.

• It is highly advisable to dig a trench about a foot to a foot and a half deep around the coop and the run and attach chicken cage fencing from the bottom of the coop/run into the trench, and then taper the cage fencing outward. This will prohibit critters such as raccoons from trying to dig under the coop.

• When you attach the poultry netting to the outside of the chicken run, staple one side really well, then move to the other side and pull the netting fairly hard to make the netting as tight as possible. (Also, be careful when putting the netting across the top of the run to not fall off the ladder as I did and dangle there until one of your kids comes to help you! Ha! :D )

Thank you, Ana, for posting these plans! We are so excited to get our little chickies out into their new home as soon as their feathers come in!

Estimated Cost
$800
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Modified workbench

Submitted by jayhicks84 on Sun, 05/24/2020 - 19:45

A modification of the traditional work bench. Great for storage. Bench area of 70 inches with 18 additional inches for the table saw.

Comments

Modern Outdoor Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 08/09/2016 - 16:29

Great plans!  I modified the bench by adding a slanted back (which enabled me to put the slats closer together), extending and curving the front of the arms and extended the seat to the outside of the legs.

 

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Underbed Lego Storage

Submitted by rosiejane on Tue, 05/13/2014 - 22:28

We were in desperate need of a lego storage solution for our son's small bedroom. I made this for his 7th birthday. I saw a photo of a similar one as a result of a google or pinterest search and decided to draw up some plans.
I recessed the top slightly so that pieces won't fall off. I just glued thin cleats to the inside of the box to hold the lid, (using spacers to get it at the height I wanted) Ideally the top would be reversible however I didn't quite get one of the dividers square so it only fits one way. I used Posca water-based markers to do the text. Make sure you wait until the text is really dry before you try to seal it (don't ask me how I know that...) Turns out that the markers don't react well with the brush on poly so I just left the text unsealed.
I was just going to have one handle on the front but then I made a stupid mistake and wrote the text so it would be upside down when pulled out (I know, dumb right!) So I added another handle on the other side. I used a water-based enamel for the whole box. Not sure if that was worth it of if I should have just used flat and given it a top coat of poly. I used a brush on the inside corners and found it really hard to get an even finish because I rolled the flat surfaces. Painting the pieces before assembly would probably fix this.
Added some castors so it can be pushed under the bed.

Estimated Cost
AUD$39 (plus lego baseplate and paint markers)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
dulux aquanamel - vivid white, posca water-based poster markers
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

jlharrison

Sun, 02/05/2017 - 08:48

This is so awesome. Do you think you could share a more detailed account of build. Dimensions? Supplies? I am a newbie at this! I would greatly appreciate! 

2x10 Step Stools

Submitted by msyoung22 on Tue, 08/16/2016 - 07:26

My kids needed a step stool and I had some scrap wood (2x10) left over from a previous project

Estimated Cost
20 dollars
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax (weathered oak stain)
Minwax polycrylic protective finish
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

kristyzed

Wed, 08/17/2016 - 20:40

These are great.  Can you share dimensions and if there are any angle cuts on the legs?

msyoung22

Thu, 08/18/2016 - 20:12

Thank you! The dimensions are the same as the Ana White "Simple 1x10 Single Step Stool" except I used 2x10's instead of 1x10's like the plans called for. I also used some scrap pallet wood to make a design on the top of the stool. 

- Stool height: 7 1/2" for legs, 1 1/2" for top, and 1/2" for scrap pallet wood; which gives a total height of 9"

- Stool width: 9 1/4" x 16"

- 5 degree angle cuts were made on the legs

Easy planter

Submitted by anm8ed on Sat, 06/06/2020 - 19:21

Love this little planter. Already have ideas for anew version. Need to work that out, but that’s another brag. Thanks for the easy planter plans.

Comments

Simple Rolling Bar Cart

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/05/2016 - 13:29

Made this over the weekend with my Daughter. Gray oil based stain. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$70 with wood, casters, fasteners, and stain.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Oil based gray. Brushed on then wiped with rags.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modified Laundry Basket Dresser

Submitted by dkarinen on Wed, 10/05/2016 - 17:54

We modified this just for more stability around little ones. I also torched the Oak top so the grain would be more prominent and routered the edge. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr ultra pure white paint and gunstock stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Outdoor Sofa & Coffee Table

Submitted by Ulrike on Fri, 07/31/2020 - 09:38

This project took a while. Stained everything before assembly which made it easier. Plans are easy to follow. Thank you for making them available. Our property is starting to look a lot like your website.

Estimated Cost
180
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

jwood4

Mon, 08/02/2021 - 08:35

Looks amazing! What method did you use (pocket holes, dowels, deck screws, etc) to join the visible portions like the arms?

Six Cube Bookshelf

Submitted by skane724 on Sat, 10/13/2012 - 12:40

I have been searching for something to replace my son's plastic Fisher Price bookshelf/toy box for some time now. He had so many books on the shelf it was sagging. I came across this plan and thought it was perfect. I love that the shelves are tall enough for his bigger books to stand up. I picked up three red totes at Target to hold his smaller toys on the bottom. This plan was easy to follow and I had no problem when putting together the frame of the bookshelf. I did however have some problems when it came time to put in the dividers for the shelves. They are not evenly spaced, but I don't think you can even tell. The best part is my son loves it and that is the most important. It is easy for him to go over and pick out a book whenever he wants.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$35
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Painter's Touch White (2-3 Coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Folding Garage Workbench

Submitted by SaraLodise on Sun, 08/10/2014 - 06:11

I wanted a good flat and level workspace to continue projects. This workbench folds up to the wall in my garage so I can still park when not working on anything. I made it pretty stout with 2x4s and 2x6s since it would need to support fairly large pieces of furniture without deflecting. It is very heavy as a result though (good core workout folding it up and down :) )

I used two folding shelf brackets on the legs to keep them from accidentally being kicked out from under the table while it's out. (http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2001690/2615/Folding-Shelf-Bracket-8-P…)

I used four heavy strap hinges to connect the table to the 2x6 (which was lag screwed into studs). Two gate latches were used to secure the edge of the table to studs when the table is folded up.

I cut the legs approximately, and then when the table was hung I cut and shimmed them to get the table level on the uneven surface of the garage floor.

Estimated Cost
Total = $81.10 (Lumber = $33.40, Hardware = 47.70)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
none
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

HD

Fri, 08/15/2014 - 16:32

I really like this fold up bench design. It may be heavy, but I bet it's incredibly sturdy. I also have a really compact garage. I have pegboard on my walls, so a bench that folds UP doesn't work for me when I want to get a tool.

My own bench is more light duty. It's a sheet of 2x4' plywood attached to a frame made from dimensional lumber. It folds down so I have access to the tools at all times. It's based on a design on the Family Handyman website, although you can find the same design all over the web.

bschultz26

Thu, 02/05/2015 - 18:50

Great idea! I need to build this. Can I please get a picture of it folded up, so I can see the hinges on the legs and the latches holding it while folded?

webklob

Fri, 11/06/2020 - 13:55

Can you show another picture of the hinges you used on the legs that can fold out when lowered?

Thanks! Kate

Modified Willy Bookcases

Submitted by AhmaNaz on Thu, 09/17/2020 - 09:57

2 bookcases for my family, storage and organization. Left raw for them to customize. Current vision is purple and pink or maybe an ombre stain like we saw on Good Bones. Hopefully I can add update of final decision.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Raw
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Mimi's Faux Mantle

Submitted by adriannew on Fri, 12/07/2012 - 22:06

Our home (like many) does not have a fireplace or mantle. So, I decided to build one. Thank goodness for Lowes. They pre-cut all wood for me. I was afraid to use a drill (I'm a rookie), so I nailed all pieces of wood with 1 1/2 inch nails. Wood glue was fabulous prior to using the hammer. I omitted decorative molding too. I think I used too much antique paint, but I can always re-paint it next year. I don't think I'll have the mantle up all year long, but it's great for a Christmas decoration. I hope this gives hope to anyone out there considering this project. If I can do it, YOU can totally do it! Thank you SO much for helping a novice builder like me add something to our home.

Estimated Cost
$80.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
antique paint and clear finishing spray
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Rustic X Side Tables - Added Shelf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 09/24/2020 - 13:07

This was a fun project! We had already made the coffee table and someone wanted side tables. We assisted the plans for the side table to make these 16w x 25h x 25d and added a center shelf. After getting our cut list the build was easy and quick. It took about 6-9 hours to cut, build, sand, stain, apply finish, and finish sand.

Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark Walnut Stain with rubbed matte finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Playhouse Loft Bed With Stairs And Slide, Playhouse Loft Bed, Loft Bed

My son was about to turn 3 and I really wanted to redesign his bedroom as a birthday surprise. We went with a Toy Story themed room, he just loves Toy Story. I started off by painting the walls blue with yellow stars like Andy's room in the movie. I added some custom painted art work and then it was off to find a cool playhouse bed. My husband and I were shopping around and we could never really find what we were looking for in the store. So we decided to build one ourselves using plans from this website. I used the playhouse loft bed and the playhouse loft bed stair plans, for the bed and the stairs. I used the castle loft bed plan as inspiration for the slide. The project took us about 5 weeks from start to finish. We both have full time jobs and we did most of the work on the weekends. I looked at each plan very carefully and made notes. I had to modify the stair plans slightly to fit the space where we wanted to put the bed. The stairs look narrow, but they work just fine. My husband and I can both use them to get up in the bed. The stairs feature hinged stair tread with built in storage. We built them like that at first, but then later decided to make them stationary stair treads, with plywood. I didn't like the way the hinges looked and the top stair was so deep that I was worried my son would fall in there and get stuck. The storage idea was neat, but his safety was more important to me. The bed turned out really nice and VERY sturdy. Both my husband and I are able to get up there with my son (not at the same time). Another modification that I made was instead of slats to hold on the mattress, I used a piece of plywood. I wanted the roof in the playhouse to look finished, and I didn't want to see his bedding hanging down from the slats. I painted the top of the plywood white, where the mattress goes to blend in with the slats, and the other side was painted blue to match the walls inside the playhouse. I did modify the playhouse front facade to have 2 windows and one door. I like the symmetrical look. The total project cost about $400. I used birch plywood and select pine boards, and about 6 quarts of paint. I noticed AFTER we had finished the bed using the birch plywood, that Home Depot had cabinet grade plywood on a random end cap, that was just as nice for $12 less a sheet. If I could do it all over again, I would definitely use that!. I wanted the paint to have a nice smooth finish, without having to do a lot of sanding or patching. We had Home Depot cut the plywood to the dimensions we needed. I had my husband cut the rest of the wood dimensions listed in the plans, and then I painted all of them before we put the pieces together. I used a small roller and self priming paint. The paint finish looks great. After assembling the bed I can not imagine what I would have gone through trying to paint it after the fact. The slide was a bit tricky, I looked at the plan for the castle loft bed and attempted to use those dimensions, and for the most part they worked. But when we went to assemble the slide, we did end up recutting some of the wood to different dimensions. I used a piece of the melamine coated closet shelf material for the slide. It is already finished in white and its nice and slick, like a slide should be! I hate MDF, but for this it seemed the best fit. We cut the top edge at an angle to meet up with the slide platform. PLEASE BE CAREFUL with this material. After it was angle cut the edge was razor sharp and I sliced my fingers up. Once it was installed it butted up perfectly to the slide platform, and the edge was hidden and not a danger. But use caution during the install. Clamps are your friend! We used Kreg clamps for everything. They kept the wood in place while we were screwing the parts together. The coolest thing that my husband came up with was clamping two identical pieces for plywood together, and drawing the template for the slide support walls. Then he used his circular saw to cut them out. We ended up with two mirror image pieces. They looked awesome. I left them clamped together when I sanded the edges as well. We really didn't have any building experience other, than building tables and chairs for children, We got the deluxe Kreg jig kit and a miter saw on Craigslist for $50 each and they were both practically brand new. This was the first time we had ever used a Kreg jig and we are both addicted. That thing is the bomb. We locked my son out of his room for a week while we assembled everything. We had the big reveal at his birthday party and all of the guests were excited to see it after seeing my facebook teaser posts of our progress. There were 8 kids up there at one time and the bed did not budge. They all enjoyed the slide. I did the planning and paint and my husband did an awesome job making all of the cuts and sanding everything. We are both very proud of the final product. My son love his new big boy bed. DISCLAIMER: This bed is not recommended for a child under 6 years old. My son is mature for his age and we monitor him carefully.

Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
BEHR PAINT IN BRIGHT WHITE AND RIVIERA PARADISE SATIN FINISH
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

krissy2696

Wed, 07/06/2016 - 10:05

Hi, my husband is building this bed for my 6 yr old daughter, but in purple blue and white. We adding the slide too. May I ask what size bedroom you guys have for your son, and did the bed fit well? Did you have to make any adjustments for it to fit in the bedroom?  Thanks in advance! Your bed looks great! I hope ours turns out as good.

Christine N in PA

Basement Shelving....

Time to get organized in 2017....and what better way than with some custom shelving. This was not too bad of a project to complete. It only took about 6-8 hours to cut, frame, and assemble everything together (thanks to an interruption or two). 'Twas nice to have a project for once that I didn't have to care about finishing the project with wood filler, sanding, painting. I am sure my wife thanks me more as I would have been another week getting things just right​​​​​! 

A few changes that I made from the original plans:

- used 2x8 for the shelving runs as I only was dealing with a 10ft run and was a few bucks cheaper to buy 8 boards vs 16 boards. Plus less cuts!!! 

-installed adjustable furniture feet in the supports to deal with sloping basement floor. Unexpected side effect was it was easier to slide the unit around in the basement as I assembled it. 

Outside of those changes I remained faithful to the original design. I didn't bother filling the screw holes as we will be hiding the shelving unit with a curtain once  we turn the room into a TV/Office area. 

Also as it wasn't 100% clear from the original plans, but the height measurements for the shelf supports are to center... not sure why it didn't register with me right away... but just in case anyone else didn't realize that as well. 

Estimated Cost
$150 for wood, screws, wood glue, and adjustable furniture feet
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Small Hall Tree

This project was something my wife wanted, but I didn't want to spend alot of money. I managed to build this project for less then $25.00 minus the paint. We are not sure what color it's going to be and I think I might add a shelf to it at a later date. We had to cut this down by 19 inches to fit it into our hall way. Hopefully I will get the rest of it finished in the next month or so depending on the weather.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$24.30
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
No clue yet.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner