Community Brag Posts

Puzzle Box (Unabox)

Submitted by mtairymd on Sun, 08/24/2014 - 15:03

This is a simplified version of the Unabox from Make Magazine.

Build Instructions:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Puzzle-Box-Unabox/

Video:
http://youtu.be/VTaoUHsGau8

If you like this, please see my other puzzle box.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Puzzle-Box-4/

Estimated Cost
$10
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Red oak stain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Modern outdoor chairs and sofa

Submitted by goose71 on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 23:09

Saw some of the other brags which includes a raised backrest so I incorporated that into my build. There's a 30 degree angle on the backrest (two 2X4's and one 2X6)

Estimated Cost
$500
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Thompson’s water seal, clear.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Media Console

Submitted by suzshepp on Fri, 11/09/2012 - 17:35

My fiance and I built this media console from Ana's plans to replace the UGLY black plastic/glass tv stand we had previously. It was pretty easy to do. The only thing I recommend is waiting to cut the doors after the box is put together. Our doors did not fit exactly and we had to cut them again to fit. I'm sure that our measurements were off somewhere along the way. We love the way this piece of furniture looks in our family room now, for about $150!!!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum heirloom white spray paint
Rustoleum stain in dark walnut with a coat of Rustoleum stain in kona because it wasnt as dark as I wanted.
Clear coat of paint on poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

lphair

Fri, 11/09/2012 - 19:39

Awesome! I've been eyeing this plan for a while but couldn't decide if I wanted to paint or stain it. This is great, thanks for sharing!

Scrapwood Lanterns

Submitted by naomi on Fri, 08/29/2014 - 07:02

These were made from scrapwood.

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
White Enamel Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Farmhouse bench / table project

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 12/15/2016 - 16:07

The table and bench project were awesome. I got a lot of inspiration from these, and have built 4 table so far. After posting the first one on Facebook, everyone wanted one. The one thing I would recommend is to really pay close attention to the lumber you're buying, make sure it straight and the edges are not chipped, to ensure all yourights seams match up, and your project ends up square.  A tip to alleviate all this,  is to buy everything wider than you need, and rip it straight through your table saw. What I mean is, if the table top calls for 2x10's, then buy 2x12's instead, and rip them down to 10 inches, so you're seams match up perfectly.  It may cost a tad bit more, but you will definitely be happier with the end result. 

Finish Used
Stain and white paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Garden Tool Storage

Submitted by meisterx on Sun, 08/30/2020 - 12:20

Super easy and useful project. I made mine 8 ft. long because my studs are on 24 in. centers and I had a lot of tools to hang. It was fun building it and even more fun getting all those tools and things off the floor.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$13.00
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Little yellow console table

I combined the workbench console and tryde console plans to make this perfect for our upstairs hall.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Spray painted yellow (it was really humid here and I wanted it to dry quickly) lacquered for a super shiny finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Scrap wood mirror with hooks

Submitted by naomi on Sun, 08/31/2014 - 08:14

This was made from scrap wood, a cheap $5.00 mirror and some hooks. This hangs near my front door and I hang scarves and bags on it. Always good to have a mirror to double check yourself before you leave the house. It was based on Ana White's Craftsman Frame.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Side Street Bunk Beds

Capped railing and head/foot board for a different look. Did not like the look of the carriage bolts so sunk those in and used buttons to cover. Modified slope and added hooks to ladder so we could remove to vacuum etc. Would of added one more step if I were to do it again. My guys are little so added railings to back side top and bottom and extended railings.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Ralph Lauren Napoleon Blue. Varathane Polyurathane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Dog crate end table

Submitted by ktondryk33 on Mon, 08/31/2020 - 17:28

Dog crate end table

Estimated Cost
65.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Large Wooden Dog Crate End Table

It was a straight forward project and the plans were excellent and easy to follow. We did purchase the Kreg Jig and that takes a little practice to get it right but it does make an extremely strong joint. We applied three coats of paint and one coat of stain on the top. This is for our German Shepherd and he loves it. It took us three or four days just because we worked on it a little bit each evening.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Flat White Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Check out / Display Counter

I built this Counter for a new business in Chatham, Va. Will add lighting in side !

Finish Used
Black Stain/Early American highlites/Gloss poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Grandy Sliding Door Console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 12/23/2016 - 17:05

Had to trim a little off the barn door track so they would fit, but overall, great project!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Modern Adirondack Chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 09/04/2020 - 07:59

Ana,

I needed to replace some old dark adirondack chairs to match a pine table. I was about to order them but with Coivid there was going to be a long delay, so I decided to build them.
Your plans were perfect, easy to follow, I built (4), production got easier with each one and learned some new skills.

Gratefully,
DS Humarock, MA

Estimated Cost
$50 per chair
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax - Clear Gloss Spar Varnish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Seasonal And Holiday

Big wall lamp

Submitted by joja on Wed, 11/21/2012 - 13:22

Solar eclipse in our living room!

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic Console Table

Submitted by crazedyak on Sat, 09/06/2014 - 14:10

I followed the plan, and used plain pine wood.  The wood cost $106 at my local Home Depot.  The Kreg R3 Jr. Jig, Clamp and Screws I already had from a previous project. This is a weekend project.  Biggest obstacle here is to make sure the shelves stay level.  After it was built I sanded everything with 180 grit before going to the staining step.

 

Stain...  I made a pot of STRONG Tetly Black Tea and painted the entire table.  I decided to go with this Oxidizing Stain (http://www.sweetpickinsfurniture.com/2011/01/how-to-weather-new-wood.ht…) for the wood.  The Black Tea increases the tannins in the wood, which makes a stronger reaction in the woodgrain after you apply the oxidizing solution.  After the solution dried I sanded lightly with 180 grit again and now it's ready for Wipe-On Poly to be applied.

 

Just one small hint.. The Oxidizing Solution takes a few days to react, so plan accordingly.  I let mine set for 7 days before use.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$130
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Oxidizing Solution and Black Tea
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Printer's Console or Sneaky Litterbox Cabinet? Cat Litter Box Cabinet

Submitted by Joni on Sun, 11/25/2012 - 08:12

I had been wanting to build something to hide the litterbox for a long time. When I saw the Printer's Console plan, I knew this was the perfect plan for a cat litter box furniture. I loved that Jen Woodhouse's version was completely modified to her bar plan, so I thought I could modify for my litterbox idea. I modified the plans on size, as I was trying to use a bunch of mis-matched plywood. I also modified it to include a cat door, a cat passageway on interior panel, a vent on the back behind one of the drawers, and the stone top. I built a frame on the back to house the backing as an inset piece, as I didn't want it to be seen at all. I learned a very important lesson during this build. Not all 1x3s are created equal. Once I got my doors assembled, they were too big for the opening. I couldn't shave off the tiny amount needed, and couldn't make anything work short of starting over with 1x4s, sawing off a small amount, and cutting down the # of "drawers" (and handles). I wanted the inside to be fully finished (because cat pee on raw wood would not be good!). I had to finish certain "planes" prior to putting the thing together. I used kitchen and bath paint on the inside floor and sides for easy cleanup. The stone was carryover from construction on our house 12 years ago. The handles were an amazing deal @ $1.81/each .

 

 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Wood Conditioner, followed by a mix of American Walnut & Onyx Minwax water-based Stain. 3 Coats of Old Village Gel Varnish. On inside, I used a kitchen/bath paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

blueskiesinNM

Mon, 06/17/2013 - 12:23

Love your use of the buffet. Our family has discussed making a piece of furniture like this for our smaller dog. Nice to see someone has done it! Our big dog has scheduled feedings but our little dog would prefer to be a free feeder. Poor thing chokes down his food in our pantry listening to our big dog breathing under the door waiting for him to finish. When he is done we open the door and the Big, greedy dog bolts in looking for left overs. A family member has to wait patiently for the little dog to finish so he can escape the pantry. I really don't want a doggy door in my pretty swinging bi-fold doors to my pantry which is also access to our kitchen.That would be a pain to have to keep closed all day. But this buffet idea is super cute! Thanks for the inspiration.

wayneled

Fri, 01/09/2015 - 22:01

I know this is an old post, but I'll ask anyway

I love this piece and am in the planning stages for ours. Thank you for sharing!

I am Wondering how you went about the table top. Did you install a 3/4 ply on top but not flush, allowing room for mortar and tile? If so how much room did you allow for the tile/mortar? 1/2 inch? How did you keep the surface of the tile level and uniform? Lastly, did you seal the tile with anything when you finished?

Aesthetically, the tile top really sets this piece off and I really want to make my own.

Thanks

Seasonal And Holiday

Rustic tv stand

Submitted by joslwea on Mon, 09/08/2014 - 09:54

Rustic tv stand made from pallets and reclaimed ship lap and 2x4's

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax early american
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

joslwea

Tue, 09/23/2014 - 20:39

I actually made this without the plans. I saw the picture on pinterest that wasnt linked to your site and just made my own plans for it. If I recall, I made it 5ft in length. BTW, big fan of yours! Your plans are so detailed and your pieces give me so much inspiration as a fellow furniture builder. If you have time I'd love for you to check out my facebook page, jennamaedesigns, and tell me what you think. I'm new to the building bizz but I love it! Thanks again for commenting