Community Brag Posts

Dining Room Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/31/2016 - 07:23

Great plans. Fairly easy project. My husband built it and I stained it, Briarsmoke by Varathane. The most difficult part was to get the bread boards to sit flush with the perpendicular boards when attached. We had to undo and re-do that part several times. We followed the plans and built the table base before adding the bread boards at the end, but my husband decided that it would have been easier to attache one end of each board to the bread board, then attach the perpendicular boards together, then attach the other bread board.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Wood pre-conditioner. The stain color is Brairsmoke by Varathane, folowed by two coats of matte poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Green House

Great little project from your site!

I put PVC to the ground vs the metal siding and added a heat sink in the middle with some old computer fans.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$1,300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
PVC
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Niccador

Sat, 05/23/2020 - 17:23

That PVC heat pipe intrigues me. Can you share a little more about it? I'm assuming it pulls hot air from the upper vent, and cools it down via the section of pipe below ground, sort of like a natural A/C. Keeps things from gettting too hot during the summer months?
Kinda looks like you'd frequently trip over it though. I'd probably have run the lower exhaust right up by the edge of the door frame, or a corner.

Mother's Day First Build - "Cameron" Vintage Storage Dining Table

Submitted by meggrs on Sun, 05/20/2012 - 17:04

This wasn't my first DIY project but it was my build from this side and first real woodworking project and it's been the most satisfying to date. I made this table for Mother's Day for my mom who has been dreaming of the PB Cameron fixed trestle dining table but couldn't take the hefty price tag. Things I changed: - I added the "pegs" on the table ends to make it look more like the PB version. They are just 1/2" round wood plugs glued to the trestles. - I was going to add two more tabletop braces underneath (again to make it more like the PB version) but I cut one of them incorrectly so I just added on more in the middle. I'm turning the boo-boo lumber into a yarn swift; waste not. Things I learned: - If the wood is going to be stained and varnished, shell out for the *good* stuff. I had to put on way to many coats of polyurethane to make the cheapo pine boards smooth enough even after I had dampened it to raise the grain and sanded it. - Don't believe the stated length of the boards you buy. 36-inch boards are actually 36 inches and a bit. I ended up having to disassemble and re-cut my tabletop supports. - Practice with your jigsaw if you haven't made curved cuts before to see how tightly you can turn. Luckily I had extra ply to make another couple trestles after I botched the first two...

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$160 for materials
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Table base:
- Stained edges with Minwax Dark Walnut.
- Two coats Annie Sloan chalk paint in Old White.
- One coat Annie Sloan clear soft wax.
- Distressed edges with sandpaper to show stain underneath.
- One final coat Annie Sloan clear soft wax and a good buffing.

Tabletop:
- One coat Varathane wood conditioner. (Pine takes stain unevenly without it.)
- Three coats Minwax Dark Walnut.
- 18-million coats Minwax Semigloss Polyurethane. (It seemed like it anyway.)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

tracysmith

Sun, 05/20/2012 - 21:33

I've had to learn some of those things myself since I started building a year and a half ago. Sometimes it's frustrating and even costly, but when you learn it, you learn it and you never have to again. haha Unless you're really a gluten for punishment. ;-) Good job and thanks for sharing with us some of those lessons learned.

Mirror Frame

Submitted by AndyH on Tue, 03/04/2014 - 11:00

We had a big ugly frameless mirror in one of restrooms that builder had fitted as standard. Took it down and made this framed mirror instead.

Made from 4 by 1 with routed recess for mirror. Edges are 3 by 1s

Finished in Rustoleum Driftwood and two coats of Minwax Satin WIpe On Poly.

It is quite heavy so I fitted it to the wall with a French cleat made from two scraps of wood which also means it fits flush to the wall.

Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Driftwood and Minwax Wipe On Satin Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

ATV Bench

Got this idea while driving on the interstate and was able to snap a quick picture (I wasn't driving). Used plans for 2x4 garden benches and made them the dimensions of my dad and Grandpa's mule. Now we more can go for a trail ride! That's why I added cupholders! 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$45
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain (eventually)

DIY Truss Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 11/04/2023 - 14:54

2x4 Truss bench with some alterations.
My first project completed with help of your plans.
Made from pine and painted using a walnut water based primer and varnish to try and match it to our existing table.

Catriona

Playhouse castle

Submitted by vic b on Tue, 05/22/2012 - 17:44

visit us at www.madeatthisplace.blogspot.com, for details. We built a large platform off the ground and just put a house on top. Then gradually extended the design.

Estimated Cost
$5000
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Aargh (not verified)

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:50

This is so bad ass!! One of my favorite memories of my own childhood was a huge cardboard box play house that my dad made. It has 3 or 4 rooms, I loved it. This takes it to a whole new level! Fantastic!!

birdsandsoap

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 15:12

...

^^^ There are no words up there because I am speechless. This is the coolest FORTRESS I've ever seen.

When are you installing the moat??

vicb (not verified)

Sat, 06/23/2012 - 07:46

Thanks guys, I'm lucky I have a husband who doesn't roll his eyes when I say, how about....... He loves building and so do I.

Two piece sofa table

I used a combo of a couple of Ana White's sofa table plans and I changed them so that two tables would fit together at the angle of my sectional couch. I used pennies on the top and covered in epoxy resin.

Estimated Cost
50$, (including, 25$ of resin, 25$ wood)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I couldn't find a stain that I liked so I used some old wall paint watered down and wiped off like stain. Then, I topped with three coats of a shiny clear coat. I really like the shiny finish of the pennies. This paint is Sherwin Williams Stunning Shade. I painted the top of the table in the same paint and then I glued the pennies down with regular Elmer's glue. I cut the pennies around the edges with bolt cutters so they filled the entire area. After the pennies were in place I covered them with a pour on epoxy resin. I used Super Glaze that I got at Home Depot. The Super Glaze was about 25$ and I only used about a third of it. I didn't included the price of the pennies in the cost. I used about 15$ worth of pennies. Most of the time making this project was in gluing the pennies to the table and cutting them to size. The actual woodworking of the project could be finished in a weekend, but this was my first project so it took me longer. (If you use pennies to top a project, I highly suggest getting pennies that are already the shine that you are looking for. I foolishly tried to was 20$ dollars worth of pennies and ended up with bowls of rusty pennies all over my house.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Outdoor chair to match the sofa

I built this chair to match the outdoor sofa.  I had some extra 2 x 4's after I completed the project.  I just substituted 24 inch 2 x 4's for the 72 inch 2 x 4's that the original plans called for.  

Estimated Cost
$16 I used the wood that I had already purchased for the outdoor sofa, but ended up having to purchase a couple of additional 2 x 4's to complete it.
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Summer Oak
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Desk

This was my first attempt at this desk and all things considered it turned out pretty well. I glued the top and shelves together instead of using pocket screws. I then stained the top and shelves expresso and used the expresso stain over the white paint on the base and then wiped it off to give it an aged look.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
50

Sasha W/D Pedestal

This thing is AMAZING! If I was able to build as often as I do laundry, I would have a much more impressive brag list! Thank you for the plan!

Estimated Cost
60+scrap
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I used black outdoor paint left over from another project.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Little Kids Picnic Table

Submitted by DTMcF on Mon, 03/10/2014 - 15:33

Our first project from Ana-White.com - but certainly not our last! This preschool picnic table was an easy introduction for a couple of newbies. Our one-and-a-half year-old uses it all the time. Thank you!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
interior paint & primer
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

outdoor sofa

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/10/2016 - 16:15

This is the first thing i have made using 2x4's. the plans were very easy to follow. it cost me approxmently $100.00. I made the stripe pillows from fabric i have had.  

Estimated Cost
$100.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
none
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

More angles - little ladder shelf

I like the clean lines of this little shelf. Not sure whether it will become a plant stand or bed side table in the spare room. Found it quite tricky to put the bottom shelf in the right spot - even though the legs were fastened with 2 screws each at the top there was still enough give so that pushing a leg out or in a bit created a wobble. Ended up putting glue on and with the help of an extra pair of hands and a spirit level put the shelf into place by trial & error, making sure the whole thing stood nice and firm on the ground. Put on some clamps & came back the next day to put the screws in. Used a plug cutter to cut 'covers' for my screws from off-cuts of the same timber, but didn't quite manage to get the grain aligned so you still see them. Made these from decking boards (very close in dimensions to 1x3 boards) sold as 'forest reds' in the hardware store, which are a mix of eucalypt hard woods.

Estimated Cost
$18 for timber
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Exteriour grade clear poly-urethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Jake

Tue, 05/29/2012 - 16:35

Your step table, step stool, whatever you want to call it is beautiful. Great Job! I have made four of them. I reinforce the bottom shelf in case you want to use the step-?? to get stuff off high shelves or just paint a room and not mess with a step ladder. My first one is in our kitchen and it is the most used piece of furniture in the room. I got my grandkids and a little girl from across the street to build the others. The loved the experience. You can see pics at my page on Ana-White.

Bunk Beds!

Submitted by JayD on Sat, 03/15/2014 - 10:55

Great plans. Easy project -- made some mods and saved a bundle. My son is stoked!

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

Kitchen Island

My wife and I wanted to replace an ugly metal wire shelf in our kitchen, fortunately Ana had plans for a nice-looking kitchen island!  The two new challenges for me with this project were the notches for the shelf supports, and the drawers.  I was able to figure both out and am glad to now have those skills in my toolbelt.  The top was a pre-made red oak board from Menards.  The other shelves are red oak, the rest of the frame is pine.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200 on lumber (half of that for the top alone, 1 3/8" oak @ 2' x 5')
$40 for drawer slides (soft-close) and hardware
$30 for finish
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Waterlox Original
5 coats, 2 days drying time between coats. Applied with foam brush.

White cabinet paint used on the frame
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced
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