I followed the plans pretty closely. I added dividers to make 3 drawer units but I didn't find it necessary to have the top shelf go all the way to the back since it would never function as a shelf. I used scrap pieces for that and they weren't big enough to be full shelves.
I used 1/2" MDF for the bottom, sides, and backs of the drawers to cut down on weight, cost, and general bulkiness. I used this free app called Cut List to figure out the easiest way to have the guys at Home Depot cut all the drawer panels after I learned I'm not that good with a circular saw. I used a hack saw to cut aluminum bars for hanging files and used scrap wood to make the little brackets to hold the bars upright in the drawer. The full extension drawer slides are functionally and asthetically better but it would have been so much easier to put in basic bottom mount slides.
I wanted a wood grain top and ended up with common pine boards over more expensive poplar or oak and I would use pine again without hesitation. I used Google SketchUp to figure out the widths of boards I needed to make the top with minimal cuts. Then joined them with glue and mending plates and sanded the hell out of them. I altered the dimensions slightly to make it the same size desktop as the Bedford desk. My two wing sections are 23" x 23" but I should have made them 23" deep by more like 24" or 25" long. I had to hack the bottom bracing to make a spot for the drawer units to slide into. If you alter the dimensions make sure you can secure a brace between the main body and the wing of the desktop and still have room for the brace at the edge of the wing.
My cost includes things like a Kreg jig, saw blade, clamps, paint brushes etc. so you may be able to do this for less. I could have gone with a middle of the line paint I think. This project was a beast for me because a) I'm not a furniture maker b) I don't own a table saw which would have been amazing c) I picked the hardest way to make the desktop and d) I modified some of the dimensions from the basic plans. I worked on this thing for weeks (granted sometimes I didn't touch it for several days or a week). But it was a fun and rewarding project.
Comments
Pam the Goatherd
Thu, 05/30/2013 - 12:17
Absolutely GORGEOUS!
Absolutely GORGEOUS!
Medickep
Thu, 05/30/2013 - 12:54
Thank you
Thanks!!
spiceylg
Fri, 05/31/2013 - 05:16
Wow
I never heard of using wine barrels in this way! I love it. It came out fabulous!
Medickep
Fri, 05/31/2013 - 05:34
Thanks
Thanks you. People make a lot of stuff out of wine barrels. Chairs, stools, Tables, candle holders, and even serving platters!
Joni
Fri, 05/31/2013 - 06:57
Awesome!
This is awesome! Very cool design. It looks very comfortable! Thanks for the tip on the Australian timber oil; I never knew what would be the best finish for an outdoor piece.
Joni
Fri, 05/31/2013 - 07:03
Awesome!
This is awesome! Very cool design. It looks very comfortable! Thanks for the tip on the Australian timber oil; I never knew what would be the best finish for an outdoor piece.
Medickep
Sat, 06/01/2013 - 11:38
Thank you
It is very comfortable, especially with a glass of wine. I chose the finisher I did because I live in Oregon with a lot of rain!!
Why does everyone's post, including my own show up as duplicate?
Medickep
Sat, 06/01/2013 - 11:38
Thank you
It is very comfortable, especially with a glass of wine. I chose the finisher I did because I live in Oregon with a lot of rain!!
Why does everyone's post, including my own show up as duplicate?
acd4476
Sun, 07/21/2013 - 17:05
plans
Awesome chairs! Beginning to think I need to make some as well. Did you have plans for this project or follow a generic adirondack chair plan?
Medickep
Sun, 07/21/2013 - 19:45
Yes I did
I did have some plans, which made it easier. I didn't use them as designed i.e. tracing, and I also altered the plans some to my liking. I got the plans for 15$ from here: http://www.gcwoodworks.com/Wine-Barrel-Adirondack-Chair-Large.htm
taimeup1
Mon, 07/22/2013 - 05:29
Stunning!!
Absolutely gorgeous!
Medickep
Mon, 07/22/2013 - 07:34
Thanks!
Thank you very much!!