Community Brag Posts

Hey Ana! I just want to start by saying thank you for the great plans!! We are by no means builders but your EASY step-by-step instructions and photos enable us to fake it really well. I needed a laundry dresser for my very small laundry area and bigger bins (teenage twin boys). The round tubs on the floor were NOT working and were becoming a hazard. I have no access to pallets so we used 1x4's and furring strips. I also painted it the same color as my walls so it would blend a little better. SO very happy with it!! Thank you, thank you!!

This is Harriet's higher chair, rejiggered with 2x3s because lumber is expensive and that's what I could find in straight lengths. Seat and back are made with plywood from a project panel. Tried to fill all my gaps and hide all my screws that would be visible from the outside and added a foot rest. Finish started out okay, but as I tried to tweak it and re-cover some things, I became less and less happy with how it came out. Note to self, "stenciling is hard". Next time we will most likely transfer pre-done graphics from the printer.

Most of the time in this is in the finish. Some of the dry times were 24 hours others were 15 minutes.

Edit: Roundover bit for trim router used on edge of seat and around the edge of the back. I found this a necessary addition, but it would have come out better on edge laminated 1x4s instead of the plywood I used.

As an aside, Ana's page was instrumental in my buying decision of an incredible lineup of Ryobi tools (2 drills, impact driver, circular saws, oscillating multi-tool, powered caulking gun, inflator, trim router, Evercharge hand vac, And a EZ-Clean... But there are more I want/need... :-D ), and a Kreg K4. They are worth every penny. A lot of Milwaukee tech is getting integrated into some of the latest Ryobi tools. Even more worth it is upgrading the clamp on the K4 to an auto adjuster. ;) Makes life so easy. Thanks for the inspiration, Ana!

For any beginners wondering: Glue AND screw things together. Screws hold better than nails, but are not enough especially when building something that is supposed to take weight, and kids like to wiggle in chairs. Modern wood glue makes a bond that is stronger than most wood. if you try to pry apart a glued joint, you will notice that the wood will split and break before the glue gives way. I'm 275 lbs and this chair I made for my toddler doesn't groan or squeak when *I* sit on it.

This year for Valentines Day, I wanted to do something special for my wife...
Rather than buying some THING, I decided to build a cedar ladder planter for her. I've built a few things now from Ana's collection of plans (a farmhouse bed for my daughter, a potting bench that I use for an outside cooking surface at our remote property in the woods, and outdoor chair and sofa from 2x4s)
I followed Ana's plan to the T and it came out beautifully! (Just like the other projects)
Obviously with the whole COVID craziness and subsequent wood prices lunacy it cost more than $20, but it was still EXTREMELY reasonable. A family friend said they'd seen similar ones (to not nearly as pretty) costing WAY MORE than what I paid for materials.
I've been meaning to put pics up here for a long time but, life, army, COVID craziness...
For the gift, I filled out with raised bed type potting soil and put "chocolate roses" and a gift card for the local nursery to buy whatever plants or flowers she wanted...
I think she was a little irritated with me the days leading up to it because I was spending all my time outside in my shed and not letting her come in... but the end result blew her away (and made her feel a tad guilty for thinking I was just trying to not spend time with her hehehe)!

We have a wonderful rental cabin in Grand Lake, CO. I wanted to add some special seating outside. These chairs are perfect, comfortable, and even the moose came by to see them. They agree too that Ana’s design is wonderful. My daughter and I worked on these together, from beginning to end. We cut, sanded, stained, and finally put it all together. These are so comfortable, even my husband agrees!! Thank you Ana for the plans and video. I will be adding the table to go with them too. Jennifer

Tego needed a raised dog bath. No, I needed a raised dog bath. Specifically, my knees needed a raised dog bath for Tego. So, after looking at Pinterest and Ana's plans, I decided what I really wanted to do was customize something to fit my needs (and knees) and build it myself. Overly ambitious for a first-time woodworking project, but hey, raise the bar.

I started by reading and rereading Ana's beginner's woodworking guide (very informative). I also learned so many other things along the way. There's a reason, besides looks, you need flat boards (they need to screw together tightly). Unfinished basement floors are so not level (especially near the walls). Screw lengths matter (need shorter ones for thinner boards). The big-box store doesn't make precise cuts (but they can make a lot). Planning for the finishes will save you time (know your basket sizes). Just to name a few.

It's going in an unfinished basement, so I wasn't going to tile and add glass doors. I wanted to keep it relatively simple, basic.

The stairs were the hardest to measure and build (math matters) - and I might re-do. I made the steps smaller, dog-sized, but she finds them awkward. I'd stick with typical riser heights, but it depends on the size of your dog.

Plumbing to link the tub drain to the utility sink drain was the most expensive. Probably I could have done it myself, but I decided not to learn both plumbing and woodworking for one project.

Overall, I'm pleased with the result - and Tego is learning to love it.

Very easy instructions. I love the way they turned out. I used all 2x4's that I had left over from another project. I burned the top pieces and painted all other pieces. Love your easy instructions. My first time making furniture.
Thanks
Yvette