Community Brag Posts

6'x6' Box

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/20/2016 - 19:22

I found these plans online and was just waiting for the kids' grandpa to come out and build it. Could be built in one afternoon (depending on how many trips to your local Home Depot, and availability of the correct tools)
Modifications from original plan:
6x6 instead of 4x4
Brackets to hold patio umbrella for shade
Added seat gussets for additional support
Added "wooden flange" around bottom of box to run lawnmower on
One additional center back support on each bench
One centered handle (instead of a handle on each end)
Stapled landscape weed barrier fabric onto the bottom
Sanded all exposed edges

Materials:
4@2x10x8'
12@1x6x6'
2@2x6x12'
8 hinges
2 handles
3 1/2" decking screws (for attaching 2"x boards)
1 5/8" decking screws (for attaching 1"x boards)
2+ 1 1/4" 2-hole straps for metal conduit (for attaching patio umbrella*)
*Our patio umbrella pole was 1 1/2" diameter, but 1 1/2" straps had too much play, so we used 1 1/4" straps and misc flat washers to adjust the snugness to the pole
Cut lengths:
2@2x10 cut to 72" (long sides of the box)
2@2x10 cut to 69" (short sides of the box)
Cut one each of the following out of a 12 footer:
2@2x6 cut to 75" (long side "flange")
2@2x6 cut to 64" (short side "flange")
No cuts were made to the 12 1x6's
Used one leftover 2' from the 2x8x10's ripped in half cut to 11.5" for arm rests
Used two leftover 2' sections from the 2x8x10's ripped in half cut to 21" for back supports
Used the last 2' cutoff to make two seat gussets (cut about 9 1/2" off and then ripped it at 45 degrees)
Used the remaining piece (ripped in half length-ways) to attach to the center of the backrest for additional support and as the attachment point for our handles
We decided to do one handle in the center of the backrest so one reasonably strong adult could open the lid
The bottom "flange" was assembled with the box upside down. Basically a 2x6 screwed to the bottom edge of the box allowing 1 1/2" overhang all the way around
After making cuts, but before assembly, we recommend using a quarter-sheet pad sander (or similar) with 60 grit paper to break all of the edges and round over any ends or corners that will be in contact with sandbox users
Followed other general assembly instructions

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300 with umbrella and sand
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
We live in a very arid climate (Utah) so we chose not to varnish or paint this project
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Corner Headboard Storage for Twin Beds

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/08/2016 - 18:27

Corner unit for kids bedroom. Added fabric boxes from ikea. The fit perfectly 

Estimated Cost
$200.00. All the materials are from the Home Depot
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Behr. Polar bear white
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Mudroom bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/10/2020 - 05:00

We built upon the mudroom bench plans. The length dimensions had to be modified to fit our room, but for the most part we stuck to the directions. We switched to metric for this project and it was the best decision. Make sure you have a Kreg Jig.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
350
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday

First project!

Submitted by adi1166 on Tue, 02/25/2020 - 08:03

We finally finished our first project - definitely made mistakes, but learnt a lot. I feel ready for tackling the next one 

Estimated Cost
20
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Medium Walnut - I wasn't a fan with the end result, so I'll probably try a lighter stain with 2x4s the next time
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Miter Saw Cart

Submitted by tracysmith on Mon, 06/11/2012 - 13:24

Love this plan, it was easy to do. I did modify it a little as did another member with longer support arms. I just purchased an extra 2x2 and cut it to fit! Thanks for the great plans!!! Hope to see more shop furniture on here soon!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$45
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Providence Picnic Table by Falafel and the Bee

This is my second large wood project...and both from this blog! The plans were fabulously easy. This was the first time I used my miter saw, and it was a great way to break it in.

 

Estimated Cost
Under $120.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Benjamin Moore Arborcoat Transparent Teak
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Seasonal And Holiday

Channing Bookcase/Desk combo

Submitted by Maremilina on Sun, 07/10/2016 - 23:24

Wife wanted bookcases for all our books and a desk/work area for her calendar.  I decided to modify the Channing Bookcase to suit our needs.  We built 5 of them to fit the wall.  We did not attach the back trim piece on the shelves to give them a recessed look.  Convinced the wife to let me buy the Kreg K4 system, which saved my sanity for the over 500 pocket holes we had to drill in this project. Thanks for the plans!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
With paint, about $350 but we live in Guam, so prices are significantly higher!
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Behr Marquee interior semi-gloss dark navy blue and ultra pure white (top and back).
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

2x4 sectional outdoor sofa

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/12/2020 - 08:10

My first Ana White project. My friend Shelley and I are RN's, and she got me hooked on woodworking. I started with cushions from Lowes ( in the sizes that you recommended)to see if I loved the sectional for a few years. I loved it so much I decided to have custom Sunbrella fabric ones made. Even though the custom ones were more expensive, it has been worth it. They go perfect with my California Mission style home. Now I want to add the armless one and make it a U-shape. I did add a piece at the bottom back of each sofa to hold the cushions in. The seat cushions would slide out the back when sitting on the sofa. I made the coffee table to match. Our family loves it!

Estimated Cost
building materials for sofa $250. Custom Sunbrella Fabric cushiosn $2000
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Stained with Carrington Minwax and sealed with spray Shellac
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Sideboard/Game Console

Submitted by jakegarner on Wed, 06/03/2020 - 14:19

Used the plan for a double-entry console to make a triple cabinet to go behind the couch and serve as a board game console and sideboard for the dining room.

Lowered the total height to 34 in to fit behind the couch. The total length is 8 feet.
For the plywood top I edged them then pine boards to make the top look more like a solid piece of wood and stained it.

Estimated Cost
$300-400
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Cluckingham Cottage

Cluckingham Cottage wasn’t built in a day, but it WAS built by a DAME!
A-frame instructions were pretty helpful considering the builder knows nothing about construction. I made a few modifications to accommodate my 5 chooks + 2 bantams . Sturdy and tight structure.

Estimated Cost
Under $400
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)

X-style coffee and end table

My mother wanted something to match the table she got for under her TV, and I found the plans here for the x-style coffee table and small end table to be very fitting. The crosses were pretty difficult with just a hand saw, but with the help of my brother in law we got these done in a few days.

Estimated Cost
$100-150 for both with paint
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Valspar - the perfect white
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Cedar Outdoor Dining Table and Benches

My wife and I loved the version that Finns-Dad made but we wanted it to be rectangular. The top is 1x6s around the edges with 1x4s in between. The frame is 1x4s. The bench tops are all 1x4s with 4x4 legs. There are 3/8 inch lag bolts in the legs. We did 4 coats of the urethane.

This was my first major project, and while there are many things that I would do differently if given the opportunity, we're still very pleased with it.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$350
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-Oleum Varathane Classic Clear Water Based Outdoor Spar Urethane Semi Gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Kids storage table and thumb chairs

Submitted by dmcarwin on Thu, 10/04/2012 - 06:31

I made this for my boys and they LOVE it! I opted for a square top, since the flower would not have gone over well...Plus I found a square top for $1 at the Restore and who can pass that up, and the legs were free. The rest of the wood was from the Home Depot Cull bin or furring strips. The chairs didn't get rounded (no jig saw) and I didn't add a hole (not a big enough drill bit). But my boys love them and use them all the time!

Thanks Ana for such great plans!

Check out more at http://mylove2create.blogspot.com/2012/10/diy-kids-table-and-chairs.html

Estimated Cost
Less than $10
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint I had on hand.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Roller Cart

Submitted by Ulrike on Fri, 07/31/2020 - 09:30

Fun and easy build. Took ~4h all in.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Kid's storage table and benches

Submitted by spiceylg on Wed, 10/24/2012 - 10:08

We built three of these for a women and children's shelter. We had friends help us with various aspects of the project. The colors are definitely more vibrant in person. Table tops are painted with chalkboard paint. Because we built three, it took three weeks with some down time here and there. Haven't sat down and figured cost but I know other bragposts have included them if you are curious.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Gray primer, Olympic 2 in 1 paint (still needed primer!) and Valspar Chalkboard paint for table top. All topped off with three coats of Polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Guest ma crazy (not verified)

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 20:49

This is beauitful I love the colors! The children are going to love them too! Keep doing God's work!

yurra-bazain

Mon, 02/25/2013 - 20:57

It is amazing that you built these for a women and children's shelter. You are truly using your talents for good. :) Thank you for the inspiration.

MrsPowers

Fri, 06/28/2013 - 22:27

Hi! I absolutely love the colors you used (and the chalkboard paint is pretty awesome as well). I did have a question. I saw your question about the type of material to keep costs down. The 1 in material in my town is way more expensive than 3/4 in quality Purebond plywood. Do you think the plywood would hold up? This would be much more cost effective and leave some change to do a couple of extra small projects. Thank you in advance for your help!

spiceylg

Tue, 07/23/2013 - 05:12

MrsPowers, I am just now seeing your comment, my apologies! I don't see why the plywood wouldn't hold up, but unfortunately, I am not the one to ask. I am still quite the novice! I had asked about material for the top because I originally didn't want to buy the pre-made round tops. However, time got away from us, so we ended up just biting the bullet and buying them after all. If you are on Facebook, you will probably get a question answered quicker there. Ana's wall name on Facebook is Knockoff Wood. Best wishes on your future projects and sorry I couldn't be of more help!

Rustic table with storage and chairs

The table top is modified from Ana's farmhouse table, the base is modified from the storage table and the chairs are modified from the extra tall bar stool. This project took me the weekend to complete, because of those darn chairs!!!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Cabot pecan stain and semi-gloss Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

In reply to by patrickhosey

little stuf

Sun, 11/04/2012 - 06:52

For the ladder I used straight 2x2s and 2x3's. I like the look of the straight back. I didn't want pocket holes on either side, so I used 3" screws through the legs into the 2x3s. I used a scrap 2x3 as a spacer.

Basement Storage

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 12/27/2016 - 11:44

Thanks for the instructions! Here's my version. I haven't built much of anything before, but I needed it in my basement to handle kids' stuff. My version is 18 feet long. I combined a 12-foot and 6-foot 2x4 to get that length, which meant less cutting, which I had done at Lowe's (for free). I used the 6-foot 2x4s throughout the shelf to ensure it was strong (in other words, I didn't want a 12-foot "section" and a weaker 6-foot "section" added on).

 

I was able to get everything in my car but the ride home was slow. I also had to use my egress window to get the 12-foot boards in the basement.

 

Total cost for me was about $170 including a couple boxes of screws and wood glue. I could've easily spent double the cost on store-bought shelving. Thanks for the plans!

Estimated Cost
$170
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Ana White chicken coop with modifications

We started with the basic chicken shed coop plans and modified it some. We wanted the peak to be in the front for ease of access and to allow leaves from tree overhead and rain and snow to fall to the back away from the entrance. The windows raise from the inside using 1/8" wire secured on the inside with a rope cleat hook.

We added Dutch doors. We added latches for the pop door to keep it iopen or closed as needed. Dutch doors also have decorative latches and eyehook latches to secure them when they are fully open. I rested the shed on 12 in. x 8 in. x 12 in. concrete patio pier blocks to allow drainage. we extended the roof about 6 " to allow for extra protection and avoid dripping whe  it rains.

On the inside I have a roost and a poop deck. Hanging from the poopdeck I have their feed to keep it off the floor and keep shavings, etc. from getting into the food. The poop deck  and the floor are covered with comercial grade tile to facilitate easier cleaning.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$1,000 including tools (Keg Jig) decorative hinges, wood, sheathing, shingles.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
White KILZ primer, Glidden Kenya for walls of coop and basic Glidden white. and Glidden red for Dutch Doors, for 1X6 under roof Glidden dark brown
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

anxo-a

Sat, 03/14/2015 - 02:50

Hi!

I love your coop and the modifications you made - I was planning on doing the same thing with the placement of the door. I was wondering if you could post a couple of photo of the inside of the coop? I'm especially interested in where you placed the roost.

Thank you so much for sharing!

Sturdy Workbench

Submitted by AhmaNaz on Thu, 09/17/2020 - 09:43

Did a couple builds for my family out of state and quickly realized that working without a station is CRAZY. Addedd wheels for mobility as I left it there.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
60 to 75
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Raw
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

storage bed toychest conversion

Submitted by hkingman on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 19:24

A few years back, I built a twin version of Ana's Farmhouse Storage Bed for my step-daughter. After she moved out, I converted it to a huge toychest for my three-year-old.

I would have left it as a bed, but with a quality mattress it was so high I was afraid he could get hurt if he fell out.

The conversion is simple. Remove 24 screws, reconfigure, add back the screws in different places. The support blocks become feet for the chest, and the slats become spacers under the top part. 

He loves being able to get his toys out himself, and I love that he can put them away by himself. A big upgrade over plastic storage boxes on high clost shelves!

Once he's a bit older, I'll probably turn it into a bad again. 

Estimated Cost
Zero!
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Linen white
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project