Community Brag Posts

Harriet higher chair stained

Submitted by deschudon on Fri, 11/30/2012 - 08:13

This is the perfect chair height for my 5 year old son. Was easy to build for a novice, and after a lot of sanding, I stained + varnished and it turned out quite nice, to match with the desk I made which we can see in the picture background. It does take 3 of the 2x2x8 instead of 2, but at $2.5 each... Total cost of approx. $7 since I made the seat and back rest out of the scrap I had. I'm thinking of making swivel stools for my kitchen out of the regular height plan. I also cut the seat a little larger to have about 1/4" overhang all around except at the back.

Estimated Cost
$7
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax stain 1 coat + water base varnish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Changeable Play Stand

Submitted by vic b on Fri, 09/12/2014 - 19:49

I love this, so did our son.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
mostly out of bits and pieces found in the shed
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

My attempt at the Benchmark Media Console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/02/2017 - 11:05

Had oak from my family farm that made up the top and trimwork. Purchased oak board for the legs. Sides and middle/bottom shelf from maple plywood. Decided against the flip down doors. Wasn't happy with he fit of the main doors due to a little off-kilter craftsmanship on my part, so will probably leave it open and add crates / some shelves the same height as the top row giving like 6", 6", and 11" or so.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$225 due to cost of Oak board (had to buy entire board $120, but have 5ft uncut left) and Maple plywood ($60), and used TransTint Vintage Maple dye instead of stain.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
TransTint Vintage Maple dye mixed with water (about 1oz for a large mason jar) and Spray on Poly in Clear Satin. Wiped on dye liberally, wiped off excess as I went.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Large tapered wooden plant boxes

Easy to follow plans and make adjustments with materials I already had lying around. Love them! Thanks for the plans Ana!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Happy Granddaughters

Submitted by delmar on Sat, 12/01/2012 - 21:18

Made for granddaughter who loved the McKenna bed at American Girl. She loved the ability to customize because she has the Kanani doll. Will paint light blue (Kanani's favorite color) and have Hawaiian print bedding.

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Doors galore

Submitted by rhonit on Tue, 09/16/2014 - 07:03

Just a couple of pictures from our kitchen remodel. My husband and I have built 59 cabinet doors for our house, kitchen, laundry and two baths. The cost of wood only $604 , we chose to use finished ply for the panels and poplar for the stiles and rails. We could not have done this with out Ana, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

We are still in the process of our remodel, but I wanted to show what a little time, sweat and very little $$ (compared to the $10,000 + quote) can get you with determination and a few basic skills.

Estimated Cost
Wood for all 59 doors $604, kreg srews $60, primer and paint $120 and new hardware - jury is still out on that one.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Primer and paint, paint is Cabinet and Trim from Ace
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Kitchen Island

Built 4 foot kitchen island. Used mix of cedar (2x6 decking)for top and rest was Douglas fir wood from home depot. Legs were 2x6 nailed to 2x4 Doug fir wood. 1x4 pine was used for the shelves. Measured distance to hold wine bottles. Cost approximately $100.00 in wood. Miniwax ebony and jacobean was used for stain. About 50/50 mix. Epifanes wood gloss was used to varnish. It's a superior product to use, however can be pricey. Can use a poly if concerned about costs. 

Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Stained mix of miniwax ebony and jacobean followed up with two coats of Epifanes gloss finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Potting bench 2.0

Submitted by Claudiagay on Tue, 09/15/2020 - 14:38

Made it a bit wider, added a shelf and wheels.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
90.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint over stain for distressed look.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

X End Table

Submitted by Slrusch91 on Thu, 12/06/2012 - 05:01

Building is turning into such a blast for my husband and I. This is our second project and let me tell you, with a few extra tools and practice, it's getting easier! We will be finishing up the second one of these this weekend then starting on the X Coffee Table, to be followed by the X Console Table. We are due to buy our first home in January so we are waiting til we get our home to decide on a stain.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80 for 2
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Truss coffee table

Submitted by mwoods on Thu, 09/18/2014 - 20:37

The first larger project I've done on my own. I distressed it some before staining it but no other changes were made to the plan. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$23 for wood
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Red Mahogany
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Love this table!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/07/2017 - 09:58

I have been wanting a longer entryway table and this one was the perfect length and style I was after! Thank you for providing these plans! You rock!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Used stain in color honey
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Garden Bench

Submitted by jayeled on Thu, 09/17/2020 - 11:13

This project was made using cedar. Most of the joints are dowels or mortise and tenon. It was my first time using this complex joinery and gave me a great sense of accomplishment. It was also complex recreating the plans in Sketchup

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Rustic Buffet Table

I made this from scratch. I didn't follow a plan. I didn't pay for any of the materials either. I know a guy who has a saw mill and was able to score the top. I got the legs down my self from a tree in the woods. I didn't stain any of the wood either. I just put polycrylic on it. Overall I think it took about 4 hours to complete. More if you count the time waiting on the clear coat to dry. I notched out the legs to fit the skirts. The skirt is make up of wood that I planned to 1" thick and kreg jigged together. I then kreg jigged the skirt to the table top. I hope you like it.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

sgilly

Tue, 12/11/2012 - 09:51

It's more like therapy for me, too. I'm glad you find it helpful. From a very grateful widow of a Vietnam vet, I thank you for your service.

Rustic X-Console Build

Wife and I needed a console for our TV components really bad. Saw this x-console and said we had to have one! Super quick and easy to build and looks amazing.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$65
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark walnut minwax stain + minwax polycrylic sealer/finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

nickeydee

Sun, 09/21/2014 - 01:01

Hi there! 

Your table came out great! I love the stain you used. I am also building this table. Everything is going great, except the x's. Can you offer any advice?

tmsmith

Thu, 09/25/2014 - 03:34

I built this same table and love it.  We did not put the x's in we left them out.  On the 2nd shelf we just added a 2x4 to make it even.

Ank629

Fri, 05/22/2015 - 22:24

This table looks amazing! Would you mind sharing the dimensions and materials you used? It looks a bit smaller than the original and its exactly what I need for my living room. This will be my first project so I'm not really sure what I need since the dimensions will be different. I hope to hear back from you!

Rustic X console table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/08/2017 - 19:17

Built this for my wife. Had to modify the dimensions. She wanted it to be 36" tall and 80" long.

Estimated Cost
~$70
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

My Perfect End Tables

Submitted by Mrs.Ajj on Fri, 12/14/2012 - 18:06

I used Cedar balusters instead of furring strips.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Ultimate stain in Kona and paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Rustic Two-Sided King Headboard

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/10/2017 - 08:35

Overall, this was a simple build, easy for anyone familiar with woodworking. I built this for my sister-in-law and her boyfriend. It started as the standard king size headboard plan, however she really liked the look of my basement ceiling and requested if I could add something similar to the design. The rustic horizontal planks and herringbone pattern were added to the front and back allowing her to flip the head board to suit her interior design style without needed to buy a new headboard. The added texture of the rough cut tongue and groove pine was just what she was looking for. The original build only took a few hours. The herringbone pattern took the longest. Let me know what you think of my twist on this already beautiful project!

Required Skill Level: Beginner

Tags:

Estimated Cost
$125.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used several different finishes for this project. Minwax Dark Walnut, Minwax Classic Grey, and a mixture (50-50) of the classic grey and dark walnut together.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Shoe bench mod from spa bench

Submitted by wbengle77 on Wed, 09/23/2020 - 06:42

Easy project no crazy cuts or tools needed. I did change a few things on the build. I changed the top from a 1x12 to a 2x12 to match the rest of my builds. And honestly it just looks and feels better! The trim is 1×3’s but I changed the middle shelf trim to a 1×2. Add the shelf 7.5 inches up from the bottom.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
60-80 depending on finish
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I used an antiquing wax, milk paint for the top and sides. Then I used butcher block oil and wax to finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project