Community Brag Posts

Benchright Coffee Table

After searching for months for a coffee table I found one and put my DH to work. This is his first time making any type of furniture and I think he did an awesome job. We used Red Oak for the table and it weighs a ton :)

Estimated Cost
$780
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Stained with 'Mission Oak' colour and finished with a semi gloss varnish from Varathane.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

veggie storage

Submitted by tjhead on Thu, 03/24/2016 - 10:08

I loved this plan.  It was my first build from Ana White plans and a true jumping off point for my imagination.  I used pine boards, matte red underneath and semi-gloss white top coat.  Steel wool was my tool for the distressing.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Matte red undercoat and semi-gloss white
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

DIY Farmhouse TV Console

This was the second piece of furniture that my husband and I ever made. We had built a coffee table that had a lift up top so that we could eat dinner on the couch and store all of our board games. Once we tackled that, I thought we could conquer the world (even though the table was pretty basic). So when my now-husband was about to move into his first apartment without a roommate and I saw it as an opportunity to decorate my own place (even though I wasn’t living there). Luckily,he agreed it was time to get rid of his tiny Ikea TV stand that was probably 2ft off the ground and not a great height for a TV, and agreed to build this awesome TV console with me. To this day, it’s still my favorite piece of furniture in our house.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
500
Finish Used
dark walnut

Comments

Tryde Media Console

Submitted by LBoz10 on Wed, 03/14/2012 - 08:49

This was our first build, so it was definitely a learning process! We followed the plans pretty closely, with a few minor modifications to suit our needs. The finish was inspired by CreativePineapple's stain/white paint combo - we loved it so much that we had to do our own version!

The center console section was built out of 3/4" MDF - we knew we were going to paint, as opposed to stain, and it was quite a bit cheaper. We primed and painted this section as we went, as we knew that getting our hands/brushes into the cubbies after assembly would be difficult. This added to the time to finish, but it did make for an easier (and probably more even) paint job.

The side panels and back (not shown - we still need to do cutouts for cords before we attach) are 1/4" plywood. The legs are untreated SPF 4x4s, and were definitely where we ran into the most problems. Finidng untreated 4x4's was difficult enough, and when we finally found one that didn't have a ton of chunks and dings in it, we had problems with wood cracking when we got it home. We waited until the wood had acclimatized to our home and stopped cracking, wood-filled the cracks where we could and tried to position the legs so the cracks were facing the console, and hidden. Luckily, this approach was successful, and you can't tell that cracking was an issue. In retrospect, I probably should have just gone with cedar, particularly since we weren't staining it and it wouldn't have mattered that it was different from our other pine boards.

The only placed where we really differed from the plans was adding additional trim to the front section, as opposed to edge binding. The trim was simple 1x2s, similar to the bottom trim.

We primed and painted the entire white bottom section before attaching the top, which was made of stud-grade spruce 2x4's. We used a wood conditioner on the spruce before staining, as it is such a soft wood. The stain was left on for 15-20 minutes before wiping, as we knew we wanted a darker, richer colour. Two coats were required to get the shade we wanted (3 on one board which wasn't soaking up the stain as well). We then finished with 3 coats of Varathane Diamond Wood Finish, to get an especially glossy finish.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150-200, incl. paint and supplies
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint - Rustoleum Painter's Touch in "Gloss White";
Stain - Minwax Wood Finish in "English Chestnut" (2 coats) plus 3 coats of Varathane Diamond Wood Finish in "Gloss"
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

nancy

Wed, 03/14/2012 - 19:29

You better not stop with this project - absolutely beautiful!! The finish looks amazing...I am wondering if you used a rag or a sponge brush to stain the top? I am very new to staining furniture, so any tips would be appreciated. :)

LBoz10

Sat, 03/17/2012 - 09:22

Thanks! We used a foam brush, as we had a bunch hanging around, and just wiped ta the end with a rag. We also left our wood conditioner overnight, contrary to the package directions, which we heard allows it to sink in and dry more evenly. Other than that...we'd never stained before in our lives, so don't be afraid to just give it a go!

Guest (not verified)

Fri, 03/16/2012 - 16:01

i can't seem to find the detailed plans for the console. do you happen to have them? thanks!

Farmhouse Media Table

Submitted by c-e-fogus on Mon, 01/06/2014 - 13:26

We were blessed with a LARGE TV for Christmas. Totally unexpected. So I needed to build a table for it to sit on. I previously made a narrow farmhouse table and liked the look of it. So I decided to make a smaller version with two shelves underneath. To reduce clutter, I built a couple of "towers" for the x-box, dvd, and wii to sit on (2 half boxes with 1x4 sides with 1x4's nailed across the top.) Dimensions of table are 48 inches long x 22 inches wide x 32 inches tall. (TV is a 60 inch and I think it fits great!) I used pocket holes and 1.25 inch pocket hole screws to attach everything-except I nailed the shelves down to the supports using 1 1/4 inch finishing nails and used 1.25 wood screws to attach legs to apron and supports to legs. I ripped the 1x4's down to 3 inches on the leg front and 2.75 on the sides to make them uniform. Also the aprons I ripped down to 3 inches wide. The shelf supports are about 1.5 inches wide and the shelves themselves are about 18.5 inches wide.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Golden Oak stain followed by Minwax Fast drying polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Newbie- so I forgot to add the height of the shelf to my calculations...

Submitted by Red wicked on Sun, 03/27/2016 - 10:16

I forgot to add the height of the shelf when I measured for the placement of the two by two shelf supports, but it still turned out well. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$90 beacause the hinges were soooooooo expensive at Rockler
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Kitchen island

Submitted by Chriss45 on Sat, 11/16/2019 - 20:32

I designed and built this kitchen island for my daughter and her husband along with the cabinets. the island top is made of walnut.

Estimated Cost
800 dollars
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Benjamin Moore paint
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

ladybug'13

Sun, 11/17/2019 - 06:23

Wow! This is so beautiful! What a special gift you've given them. You did a great job and I especially love the color and top of the island. 

Wood Storage Box

Submitted by Joni on Sun, 03/18/2012 - 10:42

My wood scraps were definitely getting out of control, and I needed something to store the wood vertically. I had some spare wood (free from Craigslist), so I put together a wood storage bin. All in all, the project cost me the price of some Kreg screws.

Estimated Cost
Free!
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

hoffer5353

Wed, 06/06/2012 - 13:21

I have been struggling to organize my space because my lumber is on one of my work spaces. I have the perfect space for that, thanks for the great post!

Herringbone Wall Coat Rack

Submitted by Huthbert on Wed, 01/08/2014 - 10:20

In an effort to cure our current lack of organization downstairs I decided to build a wall coat rack in hopes that it will help keep our coats, diaper bags, uniforms, purses, baby carriers, bags, and who knows what else off the counter, couch and floor.

Going into this project the only thing I knew I wanted to use in some way was some ripped 2x4's we used as floor spacers during our floor installation. Really happy with the end result :-)

For more pictures and a brief tutorial check out the blog post :http://thehuth.blogspot.com/2014/01/diy-herringbone-wall-coat-rack-usin…

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
1 coat of dark walnut (wiped down with mineral spirits)
1 coat of Rustoleum wheat stain
1 coat of polycrylic
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Pallet wood coffee table

Submitted by Joep_erez on Tue, 03/29/2016 - 12:01

This project could take alot less time if I had a wood planer.  I use a belt sander to sand all pallet wood and this is what takes the longest. Well applying the polyurethane takes a while to finally get it to the way I like it. Bc I'm my worst critic. 

Estimated Cost
Cost on 30.00 or less depending if you have all material already. All you need to purchase is screws
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Stain of choice and polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Malka

Wed, 03/30/2016 - 00:19

This is probably the coolest brag I've seen on here! Do you think this is something a beginner could pull off with a coping saw? I'm assuming you cut the state out, stain the rest of the board, and then glue/screw it all back together? Seriously this is amazing, kudos to you!

 

Joep_erez

Wed, 09/07/2016 - 00:43

Actuall all i did was put duck takp to try to keep stain from leaking under. When i got close to stain I just patted it slowly and that was final result. But thanks for comment. 

 

Christmas tree

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 11/24/2019 - 21:01

Thank you very much for the Christmas tree plans, was a nice and fun project, I added a star, can be removed if people wants to use the tree year long.

Thank you again
Sergio

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I burnt the wood with a torch to begin with, then I mix water base paint with water , (more water then paint) brush it and wipe it off, then I use a clear finish. I did stained everything before I put them together. Took me 20 minutes to cut the wood for 2 trees, the time consuming was waiting for the stain to dry. Awesome project and fun.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Square Outdoor Picnic Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/30/2023 - 14:49

6 seater Recycled Fijian Kauri with extra leg supports, one side higher & closer for kids.

Marty

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Bed with Storage for the Master Bedroom

I built the same bed as for my son for the master bedroom. A queen size bed with storage with paneled footboard and headboard. I love that style and I made board and batten too.
I am very happy and the bed is very sturdy. I didnt make drawers because it's too difficult for me. I am not ready to build drawers! Maybe next time!

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
white paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Stefanye Thurmond (not verified)

Fri, 05/04/2012 - 08:12

I share your fear of drawers! It still looks great with cubbies :)

Anelicia (not verified)

Sun, 11/25/2012 - 21:27

I love this bed but I am wondering since there is no edge if you have any issue with your mattress sliding side to side?

alamanda973

Thu, 12/13/2012 - 17:18

My mattress does not slide because it is heavy and it is a little wider that the bed thus there is no edge which exceeds. I hope to have answered the question.

Sausha's laundry pedestal

Submitted by dconway8 on Thu, 01/09/2014 - 19:53

I needed to raise the height to help my wife who has back problems. The plans were simply and easy to follow, I added some length to fit our space and some molding in te front and bottom to "pretty" it up according to my wife. Really proud, thanks for the plans Ana!

Estimated Cost
80
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
White paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Vinyl Record Storage Cabinet

My record obsession was growing rapidly so I needed a solution to store my collection and I wanted some room for growth. I wanted a setup where you could flip through the records like at the record shops. It's often difficult to read the artists and album names when you can only see the spines of the album covers. I decided to make a cabinet with 9 drawers which holds approximately 540 records (60 records per drawer). More details and photos on my blog: http://www.woodworkingfourdummies.com/blog/vinyl-record-storage Cheers, Ian

Estimated Cost
Aprox $400 Canadian
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Cabot Grey Stain, Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse Hall Tree

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 11/29/2019 - 20:43

I made this hall tree for my daughter for Christmas . I am a beginner with woodworking and this is the first piece of big furniture I have made.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$140, but i used an expensive chalk paint on it
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Valspar Chalk paint and minwax cherry wood finish. I put 2 coats of the stain on the seat and sides . the chalk paint did not cover well and took 3 coats .
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Outdoor L Shaped Sectional and Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 08/04/2023 - 11:36

My wife used you patio sectional and table plans to make herself a summer oasis. She built it specifically to fit a corner of our patio that we were never using. Now it is used almost daily for reading, visiting or just sitting outside watching the birds.

Tony for Julie

Seasonal And Holiday

Oak Simple Changing Table

I took the advice from another user who commented that the depth of the changing table was not suitable for a standard changing pad (16" x 32"). Turns out he was correct, so I modified the design to have a depth of 16 1/4" (as opposed to 15.5" in the original plan). Really not sure how someone could have made this and a standard pad worked as is. If I did it over again, I probably would have made it just a touch deeper for a perfect fit because the pad slightly flares out and is not 100% square. My wife also wanted a larger space beside the changing pad, so I increased the width of the table by 5" and it worked nicely as you can see in the picture with the lamp and other items.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Red Mahogany and 3 coats of semi-gloss polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Guest (not verified)

Fri, 03/23/2012 - 14:44

The plans for this table (created by another) show 3/4" for the top of the table and shelves as well as the topper. It seems like a little bit of overkill to me. Did you attach the sides of the topper straight to the table or did you have a 3/4" piece for the table and the topper?

I was thinking I would use my Kreg Jig and just attach it straight to the top of the table. I am also thinking that 1/2 plywood would be enough for the shelves with a 1"x2" intermediate support. I am trying to lessen the cost and the weight; oak can get pretty heavy and pricey.

robertsuggs

Mon, 04/16/2012 - 21:35

I did have both 3/4" for the topper and the table. Is it overkill?, probably so, but my thought when making it with Oak was that I want it to last forever. I actually made a small table/night stand to go by the glider. I had some scrap of 1/2" that I used and it looks great, but I can tell that it is not as solid as the other, although still plenty solid for a small table.

brookifer86

Sat, 03/24/2012 - 08:50

I think 1/2" on the shelves would be fine, but definitely at least one 3/4" for the top. You could maybe skip the second layer and just add some 1x2 supports from below? I'm not sure. I went with the overkill method because I'm a worry wart. My baby is now 7 months old and extremely wiggly, so I'm glad for the extra support! Then again I used MDF for the shelving and white wood trim. I also skipped out on the dividers at the top, since wipes have their own boxes and I wasn't sure what else I'd be storing on top.

Guest (not verified)

Mon, 04/09/2012 - 14:37

You did a nice job. Do you think making the shelves 16 1/2 would be perfect? I noticed that to that the size was not correct.

robertsuggs

Mon, 04/16/2012 - 21:31

Thanks for the compliment. I think 16 1/2 would be pretty close. When I used 16 1/4, it wasn't bad by any means, but another 1/4" would likely do it.

bd

Sat, 02/22/2014 - 13:15

What trim did you use and where did you find it? It looks great, but I can't find anything like that. Thanks!

bd

Sat, 02/22/2014 - 13:17

What did you use for trim and where did you find it? It looks great, but I can't find anything in oak like that anywhere!

Rustic X Console Table (The Beginning)

Submitted by aDIYguy on Sat, 01/11/2014 - 18:16

This was my first project and love how it turned out. I have gotten compliments on it, but I unfortunately continue to look at the flaws in it and want to build another one. It was a great project though and I am in the middle of building the coffee table and end table as well. Here it is before we added all the odds and ends on to shelves and top

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Used rustoleum american walnut for stain and valspar signature ultra white for the paint. Brushed on stain waited a minute and wiped with a rag.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

sojaco

Tue, 01/14/2014 - 08:37

I love how you finished your console table - I'm now wishing I finished mine like that. I think we all see the flaws in our own work, but this looks fantastic and very professional.

sojaco

Tue, 01/14/2014 - 08:37

I love how you finished your console table - I'm now wishing I finished mine like that. I think we all see the flaws in our own work, but this looks fantastic and very professional.

Back