Community Brag Posts

Truss End Tables

The main thing I learned on this build is to measure and make sure something will fit where its supposed to go! I had already edited the plans to be the width I wanted, but not the height. They were about 6 inches higher than my couch :D I had to pry them apart and re cut them!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$35.00
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Kona Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Camp Loft Bed

Submitted by Just Jill on Tue, 07/21/2015 - 13:39

I followed the plan and it was way easier than I expected.  This thing is sturdy as a rock!  Shake it all you want, it's not going anywhere.  I'm doing my son's full bed next.

Estimated Cost
With smart shopping and price match, I spent less that $70.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Black Rustoleum satin paint. Many thin coats. I used up some left over paint as base/primer.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Thank you Anna! Salsa Console Table Project

Submitted by jblair814 on Fri, 04/01/2022 - 06:48

I have to give a massive shout out to Anna White and to all the other folks who did their own variation on the Salsa Console Table.

I started this project before my daughter was born, and needless to say, that turned it from a "couple of weeks" project to a "most of the year" one!

The good news is that in taking my time, I was able to think and re-design and that made the final project so much better! I kept the original idea of a 'criss-cross' wine rack, elevated the drawer/cabinet design with shaker-style joinery, and laminated the top myself (sooooo happy with how that turned out). I made the extra bits of trim around the mid-section and base myself with a router and scraps from the drawer faces (since trim is so expensive at box stores)

Lastly, the finishing involved two of my very favorite products: Benjamin Moore Advance for the body(expensive but diamond-hard finish) and Varathane Poly Stain and Seal (there is just no substitute for slow-drying oil finishes on tabletops - so smooth and rich in colour)

All in all, the project cost me around $600 (high prices of wood during Covid to blame) but there is just no substitute for doing it yourself, and since most solid wood buffet tables run $2000+ I still came out ahead.

Cheers fellow woodworkers!!!

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Library Cart turned Craft Cart

Submitted by kaleidiehl on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 19:57

I love the library cart idea, but needed something for my 4 yo and 7 yo crafter/artists to use to keep their supplies on hand and contained. I modified the cart to have 2 shelves (not angled). The top shelf is converted to a tray to keep supplies stable as the cart is moved around on its wheels. Stores in the closet and can be pulled out to use.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$35
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Outside:
Paint Brand: Walmart Brand
Color: Arctic White
Finish: Semi Gloss

Inside:
Paint Brand: Sherwin Williams
Color: Robin's Egg
Finish: Satin

Just used what I had available.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

FANCY X FARMHOUSE BENCH

Submitted by daddydrew on Fri, 07/19/2013 - 12:54

This was a quick morning project. It took an hour and a half to cut and build I have not done the finish yet but it won't take longer than an afternoon.I am available to do builds for people who like what they see and dont want to pay retail price for this stuff. check out my profile.
http://ana-white.com/users/daddydrew

Estimated Cost
35
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
minwax expresso oil based stain
polycrylic protective clear coat
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Newfey

Fri, 07/19/2013 - 13:43

You did a great job with the table, but I think you are way off on the time estimate. I just finished making the same table and two matching benches to go with it and there is no way that I could make the table in 2 hours.

melissafontes

Thu, 01/05/2017 - 15:44

How do you attach the table top.  Im no master craftsman but I have the table and tabletop built but the plans on the website dont say how to attach.  Im assuming pocketholes but I have no idea where or how to do it.  Can you lend any help on this?

Craftsman cottage loft bed

So thankful for these plans!  My daughter requested a cabin loft bed that could double as a "crafting nest".  I only had to make a few architectural modifications, but I built this by myself in five days, so I would say it's a very DIY-friendly build!  My daughter loves it and it adds functional and aesthetic appeal to the room!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$350 building materials.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Exterior: Paint wash 1:1 acrylic chestnut paint to water, brushed on with a foam applicator. Trim and roof is painted with Behr Incognito. Interior: Amber tinted Shellac. "Cedar Shakes" are a bundle of $5 cedar shims from a big box store, cut to length.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

2x4 Modern Adirondack Chair

I used the 2x4 modern Adirondack chair plans. I made it entirely from old treated lumber that came from a deck I tore down. All decking boards and 2x10 beams that I ripped to size. The finish is burned.

Comments

Art Table!

Submitted by Jess1221 on Sat, 06/04/2011 - 09:50

I used the plans for the craft desk and modified it a little. I made the top like a lid that just sits on top so I can take it apart easier. I also put on full extension drawer glides and made the drawer larger. This took me quite a long time because I was working on it and studying for finals! Well worth it though!

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
High Gloss black paint with Jamaican Aqua accent color
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Easy 3 Cube Bench and Towers

Submitted by anb80 on Mon, 07/22/2013 - 09:23

This was our first project. We needed storage for my son's small room and this worked out perfectly!

Estimated Cost
100
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

cshieff

Sat, 10/04/2014 - 20:20

This was my first project too!!  I just finished today & mine went in my son's closet.  Tomorrow I'll install 4 rails (an upper & a lower one on each side of the tower for hanging his clothes) and the project will be complete.

My next project is very similar to what you've got shown here - a tower on either side of his window, with another one on it's side & the feet removed.

Great job!!

Camille

My first DIY

Submitted by momncrew8 on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 07:54

I built this bench in one afternoon and did the finishing work on the other. Tools used were a handsaw, jigsaw, Kreg Jig Mini and electric sander.

I modified the plan to use 10 inch lumber for the sides so that it would fit in the space where it would be used. Overall length was increased to 30 inches. Most of the wood was already on hand, but a 12"x4' piece was purchase for the top (instead of reclaimed pieces)

Bottom shelf was joined with the Kreg screws. Aprons were fastened with brass screws. The top was put on with finishing nails.

Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax "Early American" for the top and Krylon Cover Maxx for the white (bottom). Entire piece was finished with paste wax.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

King farmhouse bed

Submitted by Texan59 on Thu, 04/14/2022 - 07:45

Always wanted to build my own bed frame and this was it. Let me start out by thanking Ana, for her great plans. I also wanted to say that even with lumber prices at high prices, does not mean quality lumber! The big box stuff took a lot of prep to become workable. I purchased the 4x4 posts from a local guy with a small saw mill. They were actual 4x4 inch, so some measurements needed to be adjusted.
Very satisfied with the outcome as visible by the inspectors in the last picture! Our plan is to finish it in a flat whitewash finish topped with a matte poly. This piece of furniture is stout and will last generations.

Comments

Child-Sized Deck chairs

We decided to make 2 of these chairs, and like others have said, we needed one more 1x2@ 8ft to get all of the cuts. Other than that small hiccup, there were no issues and we really enjoyed making these. We used pine wood for the frames and stained them in Mirimax's "English Walnut". The fabric is from Joanns which cost me $11.99/yd (40% off). I wasn't planning on spending that much but after all of the supplies these chairs actually cost us close to $20 a chair. If I would have shopped around for better prices, I could have likely found them, but wanted to get them done soon! These would make a great gift!

Estimated Cost
$20/chair
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Mirimax English Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

cavalrywife

Tue, 06/14/2011 - 16:49

I love the fabric too! We plan on making alot more furniture from this site! Thank you!

Batmobile full Bed

Submitted by bbcarey on Mon, 08/03/2015 - 10:12

My son had a 'lightning Mcqueen' toddler bed- but we needed to get him into a little bigger bed.  We had a spare full bed, and Batman is his current favorite... Since there aren't Batman full race car beds- time to start planning and building from sketchup!  Took me about 2 weeks of evenings (after the kids go to bed) and about $110 in materials.  The model is available in the sketchup warehouse at:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=u6b750a53-37a4-4d52-9d31…

 

For the wheel covers I ordered online at Amazon for $25 for a set of 4.

For the Wheels both HD and Menards make a 18" wood table top for ~$7 that I just cut the middle out  with my router to fit the wheel covers.

The slats to hold the bed (made to fit both box spring and mattress) were just 1x4 pine boards from menards.

The body was made from 3/4 MDF, though you could of course use plywood. 

I used a projector to project the image from sketchup onto the board to get it transferred- else it would have been 50+ pages if printing..

For the logos I just used a minila folder as my stencil and cut out the logo.  Needed to touch up the 'tabs' to hold the logo in the circle after pulling off the stencil.

Estimated Cost
$115
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
High gloss Latex paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

In reply to by Ana White Admin

bbcarey

Fri, 01/29/2016 - 21:18

I give you credit when people ask how I got started in woodworking because until I found your site and my first project (library cart) then 2 helper stands for my kids and other friends kids and it just went on from there. The skils taken from this site and learning Sketchup have brought a lot of nice furniture to our home as well as a sense of confidence to me!! Thank you!

MoxieMan13

Sat, 09/12/2015 - 19:10

My son really wants this and I promised him that I would make it.  Do you have a PDF or anything of the outline of the batmobile?  Thanks! 

Woodlandfox

Sun, 02/21/2016 - 14:29

Thank you so much for the greatest idea ever!  We stumbled on this and believe it will be the perfect next bed for our son, however, we cannot download any of the files.  Do you have a PDF of the measurements or any other form you can upload so we can make this bed?  Thanks in advance!  Great work!

SDonahue9807

Tue, 12/06/2016 - 07:23

I apologize if I am just missing this, but... do you have step by step instructions on building this bed? I see the pictures of each part and its corresponding dimensions, but I cannot located instructions on assembling the bed. 

 

Thanks!

Lockers

Submitted by Ndilbeck on Sun, 03/04/2018 - 17:20

Lockers for the whole family 

Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Gloss paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

kaperswoodworks

Mon, 01/25/2021 - 14:54

The plans linked is for a piece that is nothing like the picture here. I’ve noticed lately your website has incorrect links, the pdf print option doesn’t work, and the focus seems to be less on the plans and more about selling your pre-cut stuff. Very disappointing.

Ana white seesaw

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/21/2022 - 12:48

My 11 year old followed the plan and directions by you Ana!!!! We just helped him a little bit and we are so proud of the end project. The kids love it !!!!

Thank you Ana

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

A $15 One-Day Pirate Table

Submitted by Joanna A on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 20:57

This was my second wood project. I loved working on it. The measurements and instructions were great. It is definitely for toddlers which works well for us. I used stain we had from/for other projects. Thanks.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
App. $15
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Marisol

Sat, 06/11/2011 - 13:32

I have been eyeing this for a while...but I ended up doing the preschool bench. SO CUTE!!!!

Joanna A

Sun, 06/12/2011 - 10:40

Marisol, I was choosing between the two as well... but since I have boys the choice was a bit easier :-)

ndanner

Sat, 06/14/2014 - 12:12

Are the seats and table top supposed to be 1x2 instead of 1x3? I am confused bc the sides would be too short.

Reclaimed TV stand

Submitted by Bksmith on Fri, 07/26/2013 - 10:59

I needed a new TV stand, why buy when you can make. I am about halfway done and this is what i have so far. This has been built with all reclaimed wood. I took wood from a table, a hutch and a cabinet to make this. so much fun.
Stay tuned for the finish product!!

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