Community Brag Posts

$18 Star Shaped Clothes Drying Rack

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/15/2016 - 19:54

Make a beautiful star shaped clothes drying rack that magically expands, using very simple tools and materials! Detailed tutorial and free building plans.

Estimated Cost
$18
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Custom Step Stool

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/03/2024 - 08:40

I’m going to make a step stool for the son of good friends in Florida. The design I liked had dovetail joints, which I’ve never cut before. So I made this stool for my wife as a prototype. Walnut sides with Cherry for the steps. 12.5” front to back, 14” tall, and just about a foot side to side.

Mark Johnson

woodworking bench

Submitted by jcengel on Thu, 07/05/2012 - 21:17

Used the sturdy work bench plans for the base. The base is 60" x 20". The top is 6'x2'. I wanted 2" overhang all around to accomodate clamping. I used 3/4" oak plywood for the benchtop. It's stacked as follows, oak plywood, 3/4" mdf x 2, oak plywood for a massive 3" thick top. I used pocket holes to join the legs and on a few of the other joints including to attach the top. The benchtop layers are screwed together with 2.5" wood screws with countersinks for the heads. I would have put a full shelf in but that's the piece of wood I had so I used it. I bought the 7" undermount woodworkers vise online for around $70. It's mounted with 2.5" lag screws and washers. I did not use exact 2x4's for the base, I used the standard 2x4's (which are actually 1.5" by 3.5"). The bench is pretty sturdy as is but with the massive top/vise and not using standard 2x4's it is not as solid as I would like. It's fine for now but eventually I going to install some threaded rods through the legs length and width to pull it together rock solid. I put some tung oil on the top and later i'll put some wax paste over that. I'm going to seal the edges with shellac or maybe just leave as is. Eventually put some bench dog holes in the top for my vise. I did this all with a cordless drill/bits, kreg jig, circular saw with homemade fence, rulers, squares, random orbit sander etc. Took about two weeks time, working mostly on weekends. The bench alone is around $130, all bought from a "big box" store. Be ready to spend more $$ on tools if you don't have them. This is my 2nd project.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
tung oil
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Hand Made by: Rusty Pine

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/22/2016 - 09:27

I made this in 1 day from the plans here on Ana White what a fun project it was and fairly simple to build 

for such a beautiful piece..www.facebook.com/groups/ozaofwc/ 

Estimated Cost
it cost me roughly 49.00 to build materials got at home depot here in florida..
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
We used Varathane Dark walnut stain..
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Modern Adirondack Chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 05/23/2020 - 21:10

Just followed the plans, and am in love with the finished look!

Estimated Cost
50
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Exterior Grade Paint/Sealer
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Rustic Dining table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 08/07/2016 - 09:28

Took the plans from Ana white and made my own twist to it! Came out awesome and the person loved it that I made it for! Kona stain on table top and Navajo white on the bottom. Did the same for benches and chairs to match! Thanks for the great instructions! 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Kona stain and Navajo white, clear gloss poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Planters

My plants are still really little here and I modified the planters to sit right at the bottom of my windows and fit a 12" pot exactly. Love them!

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Better Than I Hoped!

Been working from home for the past two months due to the health crisis. To stop from going crazy from being at home with my wife and four kids, I decided up pick up a hobby - here's where my homie Ana enters! I didn't want the sectional for my patio, but certainly the couch, chairs and table. The only mistakes had were my own (using wood putty, not sanding it well), but the plans were spot on. The only real issue I ran into was the cedar wood I used wasn't 1.5 x 3.5, but 1.75 x 3.5. This caused me to make additional cuts were I otherwise would not have needed it. Other than that, just remember to make the longest cuts first... I ended up needing to buy about five additional boards because it.

Estimated Cost
$350 (I used cedar, which is much more expensive)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Spar Urethane, clear
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Seasonal And Holiday

Bathroom Vanity

Submitted by boxermum on Sun, 07/29/2012 - 18:18

We purchased an unloved Victorian Farmhouse in 2008 and have been working on it ever since. The latest project is the main bathroom. It started out really small and dark. Like most rooms in the house we had to gut the room and start from scratch and like most projects the cost was much more than we anticipated. We had to come up with some creative ways to get what we wanted on a shoestring budget. Part of that creativity involved building our own bathroom vanity. I knew I wanted marble to compliment the marble floor we installed. I took to Craigslist and found a marble slab for 75 bucks. Then we scoured for plans and made modifications that would work with our ideas and dimensions. We still need to install the vessel sink and the wall-mount faucet to complete the vanity, but we are really happy with what we've created, and I don't think we could have found exactly what we were looking for anyway. I'm so grateful for this site and for the support everyone here offers!

We created the legs out of 3 - 1x3's that we glued and clamped together. We decided on a slat bottom shelf to help with any moisture issues that might happen in a bathroom. The drawers were probably the trickiest part of the build, but my husband says even those were not overly challenging. We just primed and painted to match the custom beadboard my husband also created in the garage. He also replicated and created period moldings for around the windows and doors. Finally, we built a custom built-in medicine cabinet that I will be posting in another brag post.

The bathroom really turned out better than I could have imagined and it was all built using materials from Home Depot - no special orders here!

Estimated Cost
$35
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
We topped the vanity with Cararra white marble, primed with Kilz and painted Behr's Silk Pillow in Satin finish. The chrome hardware is from the Martha Stewart line found at Home Depot.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Adirondack Chairs - first ever wood project completed

Submitted by fessehaye2 on Thu, 06/04/2020 - 17:00

Thank you for these really easy, step by step instructions. This was my first ever wood project and did it with borrowed mitre saw and few other tools I had at home. I'm now hooked and already planning my next project, twin beds for my kids.

Comments

http://ana-white.com/2011/06/large-modern-porch-swing-or-bench

I wanted a place to sit and watch the koi in my pond. I have a bi-level home and the bottom of my deck is about 5' from the ground; the support posts are 6'3" apart. The joist layout made hanging a 4' swing absolutely perfect. So, I took the simple design and modified it to be shorter to fit my space. This swing could hold a small car - I just hope the chain and connectors I bought will! I used treated wood and plan to use an opaque stain for lower maintenance when it has dried out (3 weeks). Now, to pick the color! Love this plan! Thank you!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75 using treated wood
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Plan to use an opaque stain for vibrant color and low maintenance once the wood has dried
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

my first project :) a workbench for all my other projects!

Submitted by lucywilson on Fri, 08/10/2012 - 08:23

* I have tred EVERYTHING to get this picture right side up!!! So sorry it is upside down! This was my first every woodworking project and I am very pleased with the result. I have used it many time since for other projects now too. The plans were easy to follow and although it took me some time it was easy to make. Very sturdy and a great size to work on. I made it out of wood from orange and stained it with weathered oak stain.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$70
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
weathered oak
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Tryed Side Table- Pallet Redux

Submitted by haystacks2 on Wed, 08/15/2012 - 17:38

Made these side tables for our master bedroom using the wood from 3 wooden pallets. The pallets took about 45 minutes each to disassemble and the plank sizing required us to ripped the boards to 3 different uniform widths.

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

Comments

Jaclyn Lieneck (not verified)

Fri, 09/14/2012 - 15:06

Do you have a blog? I commented on someone's blog and they sent me to this site, but now I cannot find their blog!!

Modern farmhouse side table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/29/2020 - 06:22

My first project since getting a miter saw! I'm so proud of how they turned out. We needed sturdy side tables so our toddler can't pull them down onto herself & these fit the bill. I dont have a brad nailer so had to pound in the nails by hand, which made it take a lot longer.... overall for me was a week & a half long project with 2 littles to care for at the same time. I used walnut stain, 2 coats. Can't wait to do another project!

Estimated Cost
$150 (for 2)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
walnut stain two coats
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Toddler Chalkboard

This was my very first woodworking project. It took me longer than it should have due to my unfamiliarity with power tools. Overall I would say that this project is a pretty easy build. The plans were clear, and I only made a few changes/additions. I increased the overall height of the chalkboard by 4" and attached the back legs with a hinge rather than screwing straight into the back of the chalkboard.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60 for lumber and finishing materials
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I used spray paint for the tray and body of the chalkboard and used a can of chalkboard paint applied by brush for the chalkboard itself. I noticed that it was difficult to get even coverage with the spray paint, and the paint would soak into some parts of the wood and the grain would show through.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

spiceylg

Sun, 08/26/2012 - 04:00

This really came out nice and welcome to the community. Love the idea of the hinges; smart idea! If you painted directly onto bare wood, without applying primer first, that would be a cause of the paint not taking evenly. The bare wood can be like a sponge so primer helps with it adhering to the wood.

Navy_Woodworker

Tue, 08/28/2012 - 22:53

Thank you spiceylg for the help. I should have applied primer first, but the spray paint I used said that no primer was necessary. After the first coat didn't take I should have went back and applied a primer coat.

Grill Station

Submitted by JDillen on Sat, 07/05/2014 - 15:32

Grill station

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
100
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Kona
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Cedar Benches

Submitted by SaraLodise on Sun, 07/13/2014 - 20:13

Made two 48" long cedar benches that could be carried down to the firepit in our yard. They're also nice for sitting on the deck and watching the dogs play. I had to use 3 - 2x6s for the seat instead of 2 - 2x8s since 2x6 was the largest I could get in cedar. Made it a little bit wider.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
?
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
none
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

18” Doll Bunkbed

Submitted by ewebrat on Fri, 07/24/2020 - 13:12

Awesome plans, Ana. Had to fight with not being able to get nice straight 1”x2” boards, and refused to go buy anything bigger to rip from. But overall, it turned out super nice and my granddaughter loved it. Already have a request for another one from her cousins 😊

Estimated Cost
$65
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
CIL Semi Gloss - Vintage White
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner
Back