4x4 Truss beam table and bench
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The plans were very easy to follow for non avid woodworkers. We decided to upholster the seat on the bench.
![](/sites/default/files/B046748F-ADFC-4DCE-BC07-53DC4D9BF552.jpeg)
The plans were very easy to follow for non avid woodworkers. We decided to upholster the seat on the bench.
We used the Build a Simple Bed plan and the Bunk Bed from Simple Bed. I modified the plans to build a double bunk bed. We needed a way to fit up to 6 small children in a long, narrow room. Although we haven't built the trundle beds yet, each bunk will also have a trundle bed. The kids especially love their "privacy" curtains!
This is the 3 box storage daybed, as you can see I added an armrest on one end as it sits in a corner.
Tips for building this project: Buy a decent circular saw, I used a cheap one and really regretted it. Square your timber, I ended up squaring my timber using a sander, which wasn't as easy as it sounds. Check you measurements, the bottom of one of my boxes was a little short because I didn't double check the measurements and I ended up having to fix it with an extra piece of timber. 2 or 3 saw horses are a real help and lots of clamps.
I used the cutout outline from the link below but had to convert it all to metric since I live in Sweden, also a standard single mattress here isn't as wide but longer then the one used in the linked project. I didn't take this into account and ended up having to buy an extra piece of plywood.
http://ana-white.com/2009/12/plan-stratton-daybed-as-request-by-you.html
I got the single mattress and the pillows from IKEA.
This was a lot of fun and I look forward to spending many hours relaxing on my new daybed.
Thu, 08/09/2012 - 10:48
Nice job on the daybed, I like that you got through all your "dilemmas".
Your saw's bevel function (hopefully it has it) might be nicer than mine but you can try to adjust it.
I have a $50 dollar skil saw and my only complaint is how difficult it is to set the base plate 90 degrees to the blade. I even take care to set the circular saw between two 2x4 when not in use so that setting it on the ground doesn't change the angle of the foot plate to blade. I can cut 90 degrees with a speed square as a guide, but I can't adjust the saw right.
I will be starting assembly of my first furniture project with the wood I cut two days ago. I will see how the pieces go together.
Best of luck on your next project!
Sat, 08/11/2012 - 06:27
Thanks, I'm pretty pleased with it. Yes that was one of my problems as well, trying to get the base plate set at 90, I found that if I leaned on it too much it flexed a bit which isn't good. Also by the end I had a pretty blunt blade or I was getting pinching or something thing because the plywood had some shocking edges with splintering. What I would really like is a proper saw table, but for now that's just a dream. Good luck on your project.
Wed, 08/21/2013 - 10:50
Hi there! I was hoping that someone on here had added the armrest! Would you be willing to post a pic of the end of the bed so that I can see how you configured it? Im goint to be starting this project soon for my daughter, and need to strategize some armrest ideas for hers.
Thanks so much!!
Wed, 08/21/2013 - 10:50
Hi there! I was hoping that someone on here had added the armrest! Would you be willing to post a pic of the end of the bed so that I can see how you configured it? Im goint to be starting this project soon for my daughter, and need to strategize some armrest ideas for hers.
Thanks so much!!
I finally decided I was going to make the fort bed for my daughter and was about to print off the materials list to take to the lumber yard and the junior height camp loft was front and center on the webpage. Though significantly more bed, it looked perfect my little girl. We really wanted her bed high enough to avoid the only heating vent in the room and didn't want to lose the floor space for play, this seemed to be an ideal fit. When I finally put the bed together I realized that keeping the staircase as in the original plans resulted in a bowling alley sort of space left over. It was awkward and really shrunk the room as the 'alley' wasn't usable for much of anything. I played around a little bit and my husband and I decided that we would put it on the side. It fit perfectly to the wall and was much more space efficient for the room. I am a little nervous about the new openness of the deck portion, but both kids have found it a fun place to read and pretend fish. It was my first project of this size and I did everything until the final assembly by myself and I am so glad to have done it. It took more time than I imagined, but again I am a true novice.
I really wanted it stained so that it would camouflage the wear a little better, but I had a great deal of trouble finding a low VOC stain in my town. I used the lowest I could find and a low VOC water based poly. It matches her dressers and trim nearly perfectly. Her older brother likes the bed so much that nearly everyday he tries to convince her that she wants to switch beds with him.
Tue, 08/28/2012 - 11:28
I love your bed so much! And I love the idea of having the stairs on the side like that. :)
This was the second double x bench that I made. It was very simple to make. It took me around 3 hours to build it and another 2 hours to sand, stain and paint it (this does not include the 1 hour between coats that I allowed them to dry). I used Annie Sloan Old White Chalk Paint and General Finishes Java Gel stain. Annie Sloan Chalk paint does NOT need a topcoat if it is being used outside.
Awesome Ladder Planters with Refresh! See finishing details @kristinliarestoration
2 person picnic table from work in progress to end product. Thank you Anna for the inspiration and the plans. With my dyslexia I had a few challenges, but in the end it finished up nicely. Perfect for me and my daughter.
Jack aka Teci Teacher
Hard maple waterfall coffee table.
Scott
A very enjoyable project. I'm relatively new to diy woodworking projects but these plans make it so much easier.
Thanks.
This is such a great project. Easy and fast you still have time to make one for hanging Christmas stockings!
We live in a termite infested area and as such were nervous about putting wood in contact with the ground. We modified these plans to sit on top of a welded bar frame that is moveable and stands a meter high. The measurements are custom to our welded frame but the shape was based on these plans as was the construction process followed. We dont have a worry about predators so have used a design that doen not have a closed floor - our girls can simply fly or walk up the ladder to the roost and are able to leave the coop when ready in the morning without us opening doors. We are also in a warm environment thus an enclosed coop is not needed.
So far they are happy and are happily laying in the two egg boxes (We left the remaining space closed internally so that we can use it for storage) and as there is no bottom to the coop they poop straight into the run and onto the sand floor.
They are not free ranging yet as we are nervous of our dogs chasing them but once we are happy to let them free range we will use the gate built into the welded run.
Thank you Ana and lady goats for this design - I spent hours (and hours) researching and reading and looking at coop designs before deciding that this cute number was the one we wanted.
From me and my happy hens, thanks again!
My hubby is 6'5'' tall. Since most matresses are 80 inches long, he mostly ends up with his feet hanging out of the bed (since you don't lay your head down at the very beginning of the mattress, right?). So I tried to solve this problem by making the bed 4'' longer than the plans suggested. I added 2'' of foam on each end of the bed, so now its 84'' long and my hubby fits perfectly!
Thanks for the great plans, I had a blast building my own bed!
So glad these plans were posted so that I could build my own outdoor sectional. I built two armless and two corner/end pieces. I used cedar with American Walnut stain and clear/satin spar urethane. I purchased the cushions online. They only had 24x24"; so for the back cushions, I used a seam ripper to open the cushion, cut the foam and extra fabric, and re-sew.
As stated in my table post, I just wasn't happy with what I was finding in the stores as nothing seamed sturdy nor made out of solid material. So I built a pub table and these stools to match.
I combined the stools from multiple projects and eventually just made my own measurements and mimicked the table construction that I made.
Although more expensive, I used Oak so it is sturdy and will take more than normal wear and tear (as I have three young boys under 10)
Made this bed from Ana's plans. Modified it with rail so I can add my box spring. Cost was approximately $160 for lumber, screws and stain. Absolutely loved the plans and easy to follow or modify if needed.
Tue, 02/23/2021 - 20:12
This is gorgeous! Is there anyway you could post your modifications? Very nice work!!!
Built this new Mudroom / Office from some plans i found on your website and I absolutely love it! It has turned out better than I Expected and I learned soo many new things when planning and building this out!
This is an adaption of the shoe shrine shelves. Since I didn't have a closet or other room than the bedroom to put these, I put them on their side. I modeled these off the shoe shrine shelves.
Each cubby is 11 3/4 deep x 8 x8 for the long version. The 2nd version I made was only 48 inches wide and did not divide well so I simply left the center cubby wider. I also made the 48" version to have different height shelves for purses in the middle and flats on the bottom.
I basically flipped the shoe shrine's on their sides and added LED lights. This also inspired a tall version for a cubby we had upstairs.
I used a panel saw to cut the plywood and then assembled with a Kreg pocket hole jig for horizontal pieces and biscuits for the top and the dividers. I did not want to fill the holes or I would have used Kreg instead of the biscuits.
I used 3/4" paint grade plywood and a 1/4inch back panel.
LED lights came from LED wholesalers on amazon. This step requires electrical knowledge! Not much more than a wiring a light but do not attempt if you are not qualifed to do so. LED strings required a fine tip soldering iron, wire and heat shrink.
Fri, 03/22/2013 - 08:18
Great job! Your closet now looks like a fancy shoe boutique!
Fri, 03/22/2013 - 11:50
The LED's came after we designed them. I was like there is no light where these are going and its hard to see inside the cubbies. This is true for the bottom cubies which are only 5 inches tall. So for 30 bucks a cabinet it was a quick and easy addition that really made them pop. Only downside is it can make the room look like you are in Nordstom's :) so she doesn't leave the lights on regularly.
Thu, 09/18/2014 - 01:42
Very nicely done. Do you mind telling me more about which particular LED product you used and the process to wire them in? Did you mill out any part of the cabinet to set the lights? How are they activated? Thanks in advance. You can also email me at [email protected]. Much appreciated!
I have had these for a while but never finished with the painting, the most dreadful part...but found some chalk paint that I love, and will always use chalk paint to finish all my projects now.
Wed, 03/27/2013 - 23:38
Love these. Also love that you mixed up your own chalk paint. :) Shelving in my daughter's room is definitely a toss up between photo ledges and these now.
Thu, 03/28/2013 - 15:54
Thank you, can't wait to start on their new bed. ;0)
Love this plan and the table and bench turned out exactly as I hoped. I did it by myself except for a little heavy lifting from my sweetheart. I researched the finish online and I am so happy with the results.
Tue, 02/10/2015 - 08:19
We have been shopping for tables and cannot find anything we like for a good price. I keep going back to building one myself. Your table top looks great .. nice and flat. Did you follow the plans to a T, did you use a kreg jig?
Tue, 02/10/2015 - 22:13
I did change the dimensions of the top a little. I wanted a wider surface. I did use a kreg jig, it made it a breeze to build. I spent a lot of time on the finish, sanding, using steel wool, and several coats of polyurethane. Thank you for the compliment !
This closet tower is from the Craft Room Storage Tower plan, and made mostly with left overs from other projects. I wanted a shallow tower storage just deep enough to hang pants and slacks in, and to use a 12" wide door I already had in my garage. At Target I found some kid-size hangers that were just the right size - about 12" wide. Trouser hangers are about this same width, but they weren't available in-store so I went with what they had. The only things I bought for this project are the knob, hinges, some 1x2's, and the hangers. The sides are from a lengthwise half-sheet of C/D plywood, ripped down to 12" strips on the table saw, with 1x2 edge joined at the back to create a "toe kick" to clear the baseboard. The front is trimmed out in 1x2 with a scrap of 1x3 to trim the top. The removable closet poles are from a flagpole, and the ends are held in place with some 1/2" craft boards. The back is 1/4" plywood. The longest part of this project was the sanding, because the plywood wasn't the pretty kind - used lots of wood filler on the knots and as a grain filler, then sanded it a lot. This project took about 9 hrs total, (sanding took the longest), construction with the Kreg jig and nailgun was very quick, and then paint and adding the door and poles. The removable shelf was added as an afterthought and is a scrap of plywood, with some S4S to hold it up, and a 12" scrap of moulding across the front of the shelf. It is 82" tall, 13 1/2" wide, and 14 1/4" deep. It's a perfect pair with the 6-cube tower that I built from Ana's cube tower plans a couple of years ago.
Fri, 08/30/2013 - 17:56
This is such a clever build! :) Thank you for sharing in detail how you put this together. =D I love how tall this is and how little floor space it takes up, which is especially a big issue for smaller home dwellers like myself. =D
Sat, 08/31/2013 - 06:23
Yvonne, thanks so much for the nice comment! I just love tower storage, you get so much for such a small 'footprint' in the room. We've replaced our bulky dressers with towers, which makes the room look much more spacious. If you build some, I'd love to see pictures!
There are 2 other items not mentioned above, that I added during this build: I added the 1x3 at the top of the insides, to help keep the joined side boards tighter together at the top (at the time I was thinking the joint might try to pull apart if it got humid). The second thing (you can hardly see this in the photo) is a 12" piece of 1x2 attached across the back, spaced between the 2 closet poles. This was added to help keep the side pieces the same distance apart when attaching the back, and provided an additional place across to nail it. I thought it would help make it more rigid. This piece is used every day, and so far it has held up great. :)
Comments
Ana White Admin
Tue, 10/05/2021 - 10:43
Great addition!
Looks professionally done and well built, the upholstered bench is a beautiful addition!