Community Brag Posts

Tryde Coffee Table

I love this site! This is my second build. I started this project one weekend and came back to it to finish. Unfortunately, two of the boards bowed by the time I got back to it the next weekend; so, I added imperfections of mine own and give it a rustic look! 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60 for lumber
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used Varathane weathered grey stain and poly semi-gloss for the top. For the bottom, I used Varathane ebony stain and poly semi-gloss. I went with these because our couches are black on the bottom and grey on top.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Cube bookcases

As part of my daughter's big 8th birthday bedroom re-do, I knew she needed some new storage for books and...er...stuff. You know how kids accumulate little scraps of paper, photos, tiny toys. I can't stand to see that kind of stuff lying around, so these cube bookshelves seemed like a great solution for the problem. The canvas "drawers" are from Target and were not expensive. I followed Ana's Six Cube Bookshelf plans very closely with two exceptions. First, I shortened the legs an inch to ensure that the units would be short enough to fit under the bedroom window. Second, I added an overhanging 1/4" MDF panel to the top of each bookcase and trimmed out the bottom of the panel with cove molding. The rest of the wood used was solid pine. I'm now working on building a third unit for my other daughter's room. This time I was smart enough to finish the insides of the cubes before putting the whole bookcase together. Getting into those corners once the project is complete is time consuming and difficult. Painting the insides of the boards ahead of time has proven to be much simpler.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Sherwin-Williams ProClassic in semi-gloss followed by satin Minwax Polycrylic.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Red Hen Home's Narrow Cabin Dresser

This was my first project with drawers, and I learned through sad experience how important it is to have ULTRA straight boards to begin with! I am grateful for things like itty-bitty washers to help correct things that aren't quite straight enough. More info on my blog!

Estimated Cost
100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Top and shelf are a custom mix gray-brown stain. Red Valspar paint for the body, glazed with ebony stain.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

IraqTANKER4thID

Mon, 10/21/2013 - 10:47

I had to use Full Extension slides instead of regular euros because of the seam for the drawer bottom being right in the middle of the mounting holes. Now my drawers are not quite mounting the correct way. I have learned a lot of painful lessons on this one. Man.

Modified Brina Bedside Table

I added a cabinet door and put some extra trim on to fancy it up a bit. I also used my router and an ogee bit on the top. The top and plywood sides are aspen and the rest is poplar. They were finished using General Finishes Georgian Cherry gel stain.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
General Finishes Georgian Cherry
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Reclaimed wood dining table

Submitted by OWJ3 on Mon, 08/07/2017 - 13:41

Built this for my wife from warehouse floors from the Mare Island Naval Station. 150 plus year old planks. Doug Fir.  Hope it will become a family heirloom!

Estimated Cost
$700
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Classic Gray and Dark Walnut on the top. White wash on legs.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Nightstand

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 19:42

We made this out of walnut we milled a couple years ago. We didn’t stain just used Dixie Bell Gatorhide to seal it with. Not sure why the pictures turned sideways when they uploaded.

Comments

Modern Farm Bench Adaptation

Submitted by babysteps on Thu, 03/10/2011 - 10:03

I have been wanting a bench for this space for years. I adapted the plans to fit the baskets I was already using. I used 2x8s to make the seat deeper. Final dimensions are 60" wide by 17.5 deep by 18" high.
My actual cut list:
2 - 2x4 by 57" front and back apron
4 - 2x6 by 18" legs
2 - 2x8 by 57" seat
6 - 2x2 by 14.5" seat supports
2 - 2x4 by 6.5" side spacer between legs
I used a Kreg jig for the first time to attach the support pieces to the side aprons. I used the same hollow made by the Kreg to add a few screws through the support pieces into the top.

Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax wood conditioner. Minwax Pecan and Early American blend. Minwax gloss poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Very first project - planter boxes

Submitted by Howegirl on Sun, 05/26/2013 - 09:25

My very first woodworking project. I learned a lot. Most importantly, to watch my cuts more carefully. Also, a good stain and stencil dress up anything. I used braided jute for handles and love them!

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

ALPHABET BLOCKS INSPIRED KIDS STORAGE SEATING

This project allows your creativity to flow.  It's a woodworking and art DIY project.  These storage benches for children are inspired by my youth when I played with wooden alphabet blocks.  It's the perfect accompaniment for this Alphabet Blocks Inspired Chalkboard Play Table.

Estimated Cost
$15/a seat
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
latex paint and pecan stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

kids bench

I built this bench for my niece on her birthday. It as easy and fun to build. My niece and everybody at the party loved it.

Estimated Cost
$12
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar Simi-gloss white
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Live Edge Oak Bench

I found this oak character slab at a local lumber yard and fell in love with it. I loved it so much I bought a second one. After torching the slab using the Shou Sugi Ban method, I scraped away the charred surface and used tung oil to complete the finish. I added two more coats of tung oil allowing at least 24 hours in between each coat. The legs are made from rough cut pine from the same lumber yard (these guys take good care of me!). I also used the same charring method on the legs and feet along with tung oil. Check out all the detail and character of the edges! This bench could easily be used as a coffee table. It is approximately 6 feet long and 30 inches tall.

Comments

First Build: Bookshelves

This was my first build, and it went really well. My dad helped me to cut the wood, and I was able to completely assemble, prime, and paint them by myself in the basement.
I decided not to use MDF, instead I used plywood, I think they turned out to be quite sturdy.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr White High gloss paint and white primer.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Kitchen Remodel

Submitted by kablewi2 on Mon, 05/27/2013 - 19:47

These are the original cabinets that were built with the house in 1971. They had small drawers at the top and 2 shelves. They weren't very efficient storage. I pulled everything out of the cabinet, pulled off the facing (euro-style) and restructured them to have full size pull out trash and 6 nice large heavy duty drawers. The drawer fronts I made from alder wood based on a design I saw online.

Estimated Cost
$100 - $200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
walnut stain; artistic distressing; glaze made of the same walnut stain and black paint used on cabinets. I used a chisel, a hammer, an exacto knife, some nails and a rasp to distress the fronts.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Vintage Bunk Bed

We built this bunk bed for our daughters (age 3 and 4) and they LOVE it!  We are so happy with it.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$600
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

Rustic X for a dining room console table

Submitted by Yella33 on Sat, 09/02/2017 - 16:17

I made this all by myself, using a borrowed R3 kreg jig. It took me about four days, working several hours a day, in between babysitting sessions when the grandparents had my kids. I'm proud of how it turned out. I planned to put a back and solid sides on it because I need it to function as a bookshelf for the kids' books, but I couldn't figure out how to attach my panels and in the end I liked the airyness of the X sides. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Leftover Paint & Minwax Provencial Stain and Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modified 4x4 Beam Table

Submitted by BStorm on Tue, 10/05/2021 - 10:41

I modified the plan I got from this site to better fit the size we wanted (a bit longer) and to fit the style we wanted (without angled picnic table style legs). Sorry pics are sideways or upside down. They weren't on my end...

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Mail Box

I used Ana's plan to make this mailbox for my daughter. I altered the plan a bit from the original. The hardest part was cutting the curve at the top sides, and putting on the door with a toddler helping! This piece is VERY LOVED by my daughter, and gets LOTS of play!

Estimated Cost
about $20 including lock and hinges (I used scrap wood pieces.)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint, decoupage
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Fancy X Picnic Table

Submitted by kayleenwj on Wed, 05/29/2013 - 18:52

My husband built this loosely based off the plans and scrap wood we had in the garage. I stained it with Minwax in Winter Sky. Thanks Ana!

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Winter Sky Stain
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Julia Nightstand with Shelf

This was my first project for my new house. I think it turned out well. I added a middle shelf. I built two for our bedroom, one for both my wife and I.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Golden Oak Wood Finish
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Mantel storage bed

This is a queen size mantel bed with storage as cubbies only (also Ana White).  The paint is Eider White from SW (white with grey undertones, no yellow) and water-based poly since I really didn't want any yellow in in.  

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Eider White
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate