Community Brag Posts

Clara's Table with Oak tabletop

Submitted by rhilborn on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 11:23

This was our first project to build. It was a great experience and a fun project to do as a family. We chose to make the tabletop out of red oak so that it could take a beating but the base is pine utility boards just as suggested in the plans. My husband has woodworking skills from school days and I have a fair amount of finishing skills. We had some pitfalls getting familiar with the Kreg jig but now that we are our second project was a breeze! We already made 1 of 2 modified bitty benches to go with the table.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut, Minwax Wipe On Polyurethane-Gloss; Behr Home Premium (Leftover housepaint), Minwax Wipe On Polyurethane. I have used 2 in 1 stain and polyurethanes before for finishing and I've also used spray on polurethanes, the wipe on stain and polyurethanes were my favorite combinations thus far! I did countless coats of stain on the tabletop with 120 grit sanding and/or 00 steel wool in between. There are also quite a few coats of poly on the tabletop since it's a work surface. The base has 2 coats of paint brushed on with a brush and then knocked down with a foam mini roller. I sanded with 120 grit sandpaper in between coats and then roughed it up a bit after the paint was ready before applying poly. I only felt it needed one coat of poly on the base.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

So happy with my console table!!

Ever since I saw the beautiful rustic X console table, I knew I had to have one in my house. And I finally built one all by myself!! Thanks to Anna and Hilary. I am so very happy with my console table.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
mixture of dark walnut and weathered oak
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Patio Table

Submitted by AndyH on Fri, 05/01/2015 - 18:57

Patio Table.  Made from pressure treated wood - hence not stained yet as waiting a while to season.

Measures 94 inches long by 49 inches wide.

Will post plans shortly.

Estimated Cost
$150.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Not yet finished as waiting for wood to fully dry.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Linda7

Sat, 05/02/2015 - 15:34

This table has a beautiful top. Can't wait to see the plans, and please post again when you have finished staining.

Calmly

Sun, 05/03/2015 - 14:16

I love this table! Forget the patio, I'm seeing this inside my dinning room.

DIY Modern Desk

I used Ana White's Modern 2x2 Desk Base Plan and Desktop with Storage Compartments plan to create this gorgeous desk for my sister!  This was my first real build, and first solo build, and I could not be more proud of how it turned out!

Estimated Cost
$90
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used matte black chalky finish paint for the legs and stain for the top (with two coats of poly).
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Table & Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/08/2021 - 11:26

I have a friend that is in a wheelchair and needed a table that she could sit at comfortably. This table was measured specifically for her and the bench measured for her family so that they can all enjoy meals together.

Comments

Queen Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by teenyblnd2 on Fri, 03/18/2011 - 15:14

This is the Queen farmhouse bed (still unfinished) That we created. Our old bed had died--Ikea just doesn't last!--so we decided to use our new skills to make our own bed. Here are the results!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150-$175
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
none yet...what do you think (we're leaning towards an espresso finish!)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Smaller Crate

I loved the look of the crate, but my dog is a small Lhasa Apso - Poodle mix, so I had to cut down the size of it. To figure out the approximate sixe that I wanted to make the crate, I measured his current (ugly) wire crate. I forgot to take into account that a 1x2 is acutally .75x1.5 ish so my measurements were slightly off but the only thing it mattered for was the door. I used 1x2s for everything. I did not have a jig, so I predrilled holes and did it a little differently. I would have prefered to have the jig, but Home Depot doesn't cary the mini in their stores and I would have had to wait a few days for it. I built this on my own (I am a 22 year old girl) while my boyfriend is out of town as a surprise for when he gets home, and I am more then pleased with how it came out!

Here are my measurements:

21 inches high (the walls are 20 inches high, and the top gives it about an extra inch)
26.75 inches long (24.5 inches excluding the overhang of the top)
18.5 inches wide (17 inches excluding the overhang of the top)

I needed:
6 - 8' 1x2
1 - 20 inch wide pine board, 5 feet tall (for the top)
Corner brackets to connect the walls
Hinges
Latch
Screws

Tools I used:
Table Saw
Drill

Hope that this helps anyone who wants to build one for their little dog!

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Modern Farm Table at cabin

Submitted by jehenslee on Mon, 05/04/2015 - 10:38

I pretty much just followed the plan. It did not take long to build, but I spent quite a bit of time on the finish. I sanded and sanded and sanded. I was going for a restoration Hardware type finish and got pretty close. This was the first piece of furniture I built. Recently moved to a farm so have been building farm needs projects and finally had time to build some furniture.  I purchased the bench cushions. 

Thanks for the awesome plans, information and site Ana! I love it!

 

Janice

Estimated Cost
$150.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
I used the colors and process from this post:
http://ana-white.com/2013/08/rustic-yet-refined-wood-finish
I wanted my table darker though so I used more of the darker stain. Started with the gray, then dark, then a mixture.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Funky Step Stool

I kept coming across photos of this step stool plan in the brag pages and felt very envious that I hadn't seen it before I built the other set of steps!  So I decided I likely had enough scrap wood lying around I could make one for our upstairs bathroom too!
I used two pieces of pine rough barn board for the sides and for the treads I used 1x4 scraps I had, two pieces that already had an edge routered in them from some trim I did for my sons World Map Mural. 
I used my Kreg Jig for everything except the treads which are nailed.

I'm thrilled with it!  It's nice and light and easy to move around and holds up my little guy with no trouble!

Estimated Cost
Free! I used leftovers!
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
miniwax colonial maple rubbed on with a rag, no topcoat. (we'll see how it wears... didn't want a slippery finish.)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Upholstered Bench

Ideally we would’ve loved to have found a nice thrift shop coffee table and added a nice upholstered top to make a cheap and cheerful bench for the dressing room.

Unfortunately, no such table was to be found. So we did what DIYers do. We built one ourselves. Of course, as usual, we had big dreams and no clue where to start. In theory it seemed easy enough. Wood, nails…put them together.

After visiting Ana White’s amazing site, we came across this plan. Come on, it has the word EASIEST right in the title! It was perfect for us. Our bench is tweaked somewhat from Ana White’s.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$65
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
ProClassic latex paint from Sherwin Williams
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Afternoon bench

Submitted by Colindidit on Thu, 05/07/2015 - 19:11

I went this up this afternoon after seeing the plans. It's only 3 feet long because I only had one board that was salvaged from a friends garage. I could not bring myself to use another piece of lumber I went this up this afternoon after seeing the plans. It's only 3 feet long because I only had one board that was salvaged from a friends garage. I could not bring myself to use another piece of lumber different

Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Double Chair Bench

Very nice bench.  I have now made three.  This one is grey washed red cedar.  

Estimated Cost
170.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Grey Washed Flat Exterior paint, mixed 50/50 with water. Varathane Satin finish. Practice on scrap wood wiping on/off the grey paint to get the desired look. Polyurethane has a yellow hue, the varathane is crystal clear.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

First Build!

Submitted by jamilwest on Thu, 03/24/2011 - 11:02

The actual plans themselves came together REALLY well, and several times I found myself saying "How smart is SHE!?" when I would see how beautifully things were put together. 

 
The build was easy, but the finishing was hard.  I had to redrill sink holes a few times, putty the mess out of it, and I just couldn't get it sanded smooth enough to suit me.  
 
We ended up finishing it with Minwax Polyshades in Ebony.  Started out with foam brushes but ended up using the power sprayer.  Not recommended.  It was hilarious but very very messy!  We ended up with black stain all over ourselves, including our noses. :D
Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Polyshades in ebony gloss, put on with a power sprayer. Very messy!!
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Tryde media console

Submitted by Lmunro11 on Sat, 06/08/2013 - 07:34

This project was greatly inspired by another user's version. The extra 1x2s on the front and the color scheme. Also, in the plans you are told to use plywood for the back, I ended up using hardboard because it is less expensive and also much lighter. I found the console to be quiet heavy already so this really helped. Finally, the other user stained the top with English chestnut and I used "special walnut".

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
200
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Painters choice white paint/prime- 2 coats each
Mini wax "special walnut"- 2 coats
Varathane diamond wood finish gloss- 3 coats
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Holly's DIY Storage Bed

My daughter talked me into making her this custom full size storage bed, with a power center and a night light.

Estimated Cost
$300-$400
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Tryed Coffee Table and End Table

Submitted by mike5287 on Wed, 10/27/2021 - 12:00

Oldest is moving out into their own apartment so thought I would help them save some money and built a Tryed/Tryde Coffee & End Table, although both are slightly modified:

- Coffee table I added the lower section
- End Table I did with pocket holes vs how the plans had it laid out.

For the end table , which I started after the coffee table, I "jointed" the table top pieces on the table saw - very slightly as I wanted to keep the more rustic looking individual boards. This worked really well and I wish I had done it on the coffee table too.

For the finish, which to me always starts with lots and lots of sanding (started at 60 grit down to 400 grit), I used a mix of Varithane Red Mahogany (4 parts) and Dark Walnut (1 Part), then several coats of Clear Satin Polyurethane. For some reason the end table was VERY glossy so had to use some 0000 steel wool to reduce the gloss.

So hooked on the pocket holes now going to upgrade my Kreg jig to the 720 :)

Comments

Kid's Playhouse and Slide

Submitted by docfin02 on Mon, 03/28/2011 - 18:56

I LOVE these plans. This was my first project, and although it was a big one to start with, the plans were easy to follow. If I can do it, anyone can. I added the rock wall. My kids and I love it. Total cost for me (including all lumber, nails, paint, slide, etc.) is about $850.

Estimated Cost
$850
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
1 coat primer, 2 coats paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday