Community Brag Posts

We followed the plans for the A-frame chicken coop very closely, and then modified it a bit at the end.

1. Trim was added to two doors on each side, as suggested. They are secured with latches at the top, more to keep them from falling open than to keep critters from getting in. We used 2x4x10's instead of 2x4x8's on the middle horizontal rail, giving us foot-long handles on each side. My husband and I are able to move the coop about 15 feet at a time, which is pretty good considering it is STURDY!

2. We used 1/2" galvanized hardware cloth instead of chicken wire, as suggested by one commenter (and lots of others in blogland).

3. I cut 1/4" plywood to fit the loft space and coated it with vinyl stick-on tile. This should make it easier to clean. We didn't screw down the plywood, so if we have to, we can remove it to hose it off/scrub it.

4. I cut a triangle of plywood to make an egg door at the end of the roost. It hinges at the bottom (with a 2x4 ripped into a 1x4 to cover the hardware cloth and provide a mounting spot for hinges) and latches at the top. I plan to use cotter pins or something to secure the latch. There is also a piece of untreated 1x4 held in place with tabs at the egg door to prevent bedding from falling out once it's converted to the nesting box (I'm planning to get pullets, not ready to lay yet, so they won't even have a tempting nest box)

5. There was no bottom door in the plans (to allow free-ranging), so I cut a piece of 2x4 to make a triangle against the bottom (same size as the egg door). It folds out (just like the egg door) and will allow the chickens easy access to the yard. We do have hawks in our neighborhood so free time will always be supervised. We also have a dog (who I coaxed into the coop for the main picture, haha!) who will need supervising. She's been around chickens before but you never know what will make her turn on them!

6. There was also no roost in the plans (although if you look at Ana's coop, there is a 2x4 across the middle of the side walls). I had a leftover closet rod, so I mounted that in the covered section parallel to the ladder. The ladder was shifted to the side. For the ladder, I just used a piece of cedar fencing and cut 2 48" dowels into 4 pieces each, and secured those with screws from the underside. I hope my chickens will be able to get up the ladder!

7. I also made a tube feeder from PVC and a dog bowl, and am working on a nipple waterer. Will update post when those are finished!

Now I just have to get some hens! I've been searching craigslist and can't wait!

My second project ever (was feeling brave taking on drawers)!!
I made 2 drawers from the plan and intend on building an upright attachment.
The bench is VERY sturdy and the drawer space is incredible. I managed to fit almost all my sporting gear in one and my board games in the other.

I took the junior hight bed and made it 75 inches tall (floor to top of bed). I also reduced the side measurements by 3 1/2 inches so that it fit an IKEA twin mattress and added some 1x2 boards on the front for looks and support of the safety rail. I used a slatted base of 1x4 boards. These adjustments were to make the bed fit our room and mattress. I didn't do the platform stairs as we had no space for it. I added height so that I can walk under the bed and so that I could put a nursery under. Our space is a tiny 8x9 foot bedroom. I plan on making this a bunk bed as the baby grows. The big sister is in love with her new bed. Thanks for the plans ANA!! Oh, and the color I chose for the bed is Theresa's Green by farrow and ball. Color can be matched in both Lowes and home depot. Total cost for me was $82 for everything.

6' long x 18" deep

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.

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!!!!

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/ 

 I had so nuch fun making this table. I love how it turned it out.

Mrs. Lasley

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.

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.....

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

I started this project on my own never building anything before. It was so fun. My husband helped me get the roof on and the trim work.

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!

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.

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 this for my daughter. Plans were excellent and I needed them because I am not an advanced woodworker. Going to try for a matching end table. If you have plans that would be greatly appreciated.

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.