Community Brag Posts

woodworking bench

Submitted by jcengel on Thu, 07/05/2012 - 21:17

Used the sturdy work bench plans for the base. The base is 60" x 20". The top is 6'x2'. I wanted 2" overhang all around to accomodate clamping. I used 3/4" oak plywood for the benchtop. It's stacked as follows, oak plywood, 3/4" mdf x 2, oak plywood for a massive 3" thick top. I used pocket holes to join the legs and on a few of the other joints including to attach the top. The benchtop layers are screwed together with 2.5" wood screws with countersinks for the heads. I would have put a full shelf in but that's the piece of wood I had so I used it. I bought the 7" undermount woodworkers vise online for around $70. It's mounted with 2.5" lag screws and washers. I did not use exact 2x4's for the base, I used the standard 2x4's (which are actually 1.5" by 3.5"). The bench is pretty sturdy as is but with the massive top/vise and not using standard 2x4's it is not as solid as I would like. It's fine for now but eventually I going to install some threaded rods through the legs length and width to pull it together rock solid. I put some tung oil on the top and later i'll put some wax paste over that. I'm going to seal the edges with shellac or maybe just leave as is. Eventually put some bench dog holes in the top for my vise. I did this all with a cordless drill/bits, kreg jig, circular saw with homemade fence, rulers, squares, random orbit sander etc. Took about two weeks time, working mostly on weekends. The bench alone is around $130, all bought from a "big box" store. Be ready to spend more $$ on tools if you don't have them. This is my 2nd project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
tung oil
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

modified garden farmhouse table

Submitted by JennyInGex on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 03:24

I put an ad in a local classifieds for free wood. Got some heavy oak beams I had local carpenter saw to make the leg posts. The top boards are construction scaffolding boards. All will be sanded and stained some more, top boards sanded and varnished, bottom boards and posts stained and some holes filled w epoxy and it is good to go.
This was a really fun project. We stood on top of the boards to make them bend down when screwing them in from the top as well as bottom, as the middle board is cracked and bent. I love the table as it is now but it will look even better when the boards are even more worn and grey from the elements. Thank you Ana White!!!!!!!! we can't wait for a book of yours' to come out for a European audience, as we Europeans have a hell of a hard time to convert the measurements! This means we improvise a lot. The tables in your book help, but the local wood we buy in many different countries and stores.. have different measurements!!!!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
We don't have minwax here so it is a French company called Liberon I think
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Hand Made by: Rusty Pine

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/22/2016 - 09:27

I made this in 1 day from the plans here on Ana White what a fun project it was and fairly simple to build 

for such a beautiful piece..www.facebook.com/groups/ozaofwc/ 

Estimated Cost
it cost me roughly 49.00 to build materials got at home depot here in florida..
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
We used Varathane Dark walnut stain..
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Workbench bar

Submitted by ussreddawg on Sat, 07/07/2012 - 11:28

This bar is constructed from blue true dimensional 2x and 4x blue pine. The top of the bar was put together with biscuits. Bottom portion was joined with lag screws. Stained with mini wax.

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Mini wax stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Student Desk Chair

Submitted by BlueRose on Wed, 04/23/2014 - 15:50

I found your plans for the child storage chair while searching for chair designs to build a student desk for a customer. With the addition of the table to the chair it works well. The wood is from a local sawmill where I work so I can cut it to my specifications right from the log. The wood is Curupay or Bolivian Rose Wood and changes color from brown to red from the sun light. The finish is shellac and varnish. While taking the first one to the customer another person ask for 2 so it looks like I may be making chairs for a while.....

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
50 Bolivianos
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Shellac and Varnish
no stain required with this wood
Shellac needs to be applied first to seal the wood for the varnish to dry quicker as there is oil in the wood
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse Bedside Table

This was a nice easy build for a saturday or sunday morning. Build this as a house warming gift.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
65
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
N/A
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Park Bench

Submitted by Tim PIZZ on Sat, 05/16/2020 - 06:17

This was one of my first projects. I just used a circular saw but a mitre saw would be better. I’ll look for one soon. It was rewarding, fun and we love how it looks on our back patio.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I primed the pieces with Sherwin-Williams exterior latex primer before assembly then painted with Sherwin-Williams Resiliance exterior latex. We chose “Retreat” as our color.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Console - Gone Beachy!

Rustic X Console, built as directed. After building we sanded the whole thing pretty well, and did one coat of walnut stain. After the stain dried, I went back and painted over with a bright beachy blue, and while the paint was still wet, wiped it with rags. You have to work in small sections so the paint doesn't dry too quickly. I also went over some areas (where the paint was too thick and on the shelves) with a wet rag, then back over with a dry one. Two coats of satin polyurethane (spray) on top and all done! I want to get rid of the lamp and do 3 different sizes of white lanterns instead!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75
Finish Used
Walnut stain, paint, satin polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Front porch bench

Submitted by Shane90019 on Sat, 04/26/2014 - 13:31

Second project. I built this bench for my front porch. This was a practice project to get comfortable with pocket screws before I attempt a large table for my back patio.

Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-olem Wood Stain Kona, Cabot Semi-gloss Spar Varnish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Love this desk!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/26/2016 - 23:41

I have a tendency to kick my feet while I'm working at my desk so I decided to customize the bottom and have only legs. I love how it turned out!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark walnut varathane and poly clear coat
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Scrapwood wooden houses

Submitted by Kate_14 on Mon, 05/18/2020 - 13:49

I built these cute little houses with scrap wood. They are easy to customize!

I used 1x6 boards for the house and 1x2 boards for the roof. I attached the roof with bradnails.

Estimated Cost
0$
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint and stain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

WattsUp Front Porch Bench

Submitted by WattsUp on Mon, 04/28/2014 - 14:09

This was my first project. It was really easy to execute. I thought that I would have a hard time with the strips, but it was not what I imagined at all. It turned out very well.

Estimated Cost
$40.00 for 5 yards of fabric. I already had the pressure treated lumber.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Covered the pressure treated lumber with water resistant out door fabric.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Tip's Try

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2016 - 08:59

My daughter needed a new bed after our second child came along. 

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

My first build

Submitted by Angmic74 on Wed, 05/20/2020 - 23:31

Ana- I can’t thank you enough this was my very first build-EVER. With guidance from my hubby, I was able to build this beautiful pottery bench/ bar. Definitely wish I would have stained some pieces prior to assembling but live and learn. I’m officially hooked on helping in the shop and doing some of my “honey do’s” myself!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Beach Surf Chairs

Submitted by rkyount on Sat, 07/14/2012 - 12:35

Just finished these for my 3 yr old twins, and they love them! Took me about 5-6 hours of work, including painting/drying time. I definitely recommend spray painting the parts before assembling to get all edges sealed.

Estimated Cost
$20 per chair
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
2x coverage Rustoleum spray paint, 2 coats
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

2nd Project - Kentwood Bookshelf

This was my second project and I ran into some difficulties because the wood I was working with was not perfectly straight. I was in a hurry to finish it and did not apply polyurethane, but I really wish that I had after seeing how great it is on another project.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Driftwood
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
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