I used Ana's plan for Grace's Washing Machine and modified the interior panel to open downward instead of having a round door opening. My daughter LOVES this! VERY EASY build!
This is my first woodwork project, completed as a team, with my husband. Was good fun at times and frustrating at times! Our wood was thicker by a couple of millimetres out meaning the plans needed to be tweaked. Table was designed with the chair structure. We had cushions and covers made to measure (we live in SE Asia so cheaper than UK or US) about £200. Looking forward to building some deck chairs next!!
This bench is just perfect for the front porch. I have built several for friends and family. The plans are easy to follow. I wait until the end to cut the angled 45 pieces to be cut to fit exactly. Also filling the pocket holes on the legs and sanding prior to attaching the stretchers has saved me some frustration in finishing. I prefer the minwax jacobean finish with a minwax polycrylic in satin. I use any exterior flat with the same poly on top. I don't like the look of filling the pocket holes on the 45's so I try to place those on each end, countersinking my screws. Can be challenging to get screws in that way, but it looks better in the end. These are very sturdy and easy support 2-3 adults for seating.
This was my very first woodworking project. It didn't end up perfect, but I learned a lot by making it, and it is still a quite nice dining table.
The minor modifications I made of the plan: I used 1x4-s as a frame for the table top, flush with the top. (The 2x2-s are next to it inside.) I made the lower supports out of 4x4-s (except that they didn't have 4x4-s at the store here so it's really 2 2x4-s put together). I have a few 2x4-s connecting the 2x8 and 2x6-'s in the base, to make it a bit more stable (not sure I really needed these but anyway), and I also ended up putting a few 2x4-s in the core of the base, again to make it a bit more robust. I routed the 1x4-s on the table frame, and also the table legs with a 45 degree bit (using a router is really fun! And really easy).
I used pine for the base and red oak for the table top -- mostly because I have oak cabinets in the kitchen. After sanding to 150 grit, I stained the oak first with Minwax Oriental Ginger (I would have used a dye if I had had one but this worked fine), and then two coats of GF antique oak. The Minwax gave a nice warm orange undertone while the GF highlighted the grain. It has 6 coats of GF high performance water based poly on it, sanded and wet sanded with very fine grit (up to 2000) so it's pretty smooth. It looks like many people use grain filler with oak, but I like the grain so I didn't. The base is painted white with whatever semigloss white paint I happened to have at hand.
Lessons learnt: 1) always, always measure twice, and always, always make sure that everything is square. 2) Don't build a table base from a board that's not absolutely straight. 3) Make sure to have enough screws and that the screws are of the right kind. 4) If you use a 45 degree router bit, you need to sand that 45 degree part much finer than the other parts of the table top, otherwise the grain will stick out and make it very rough. 5) Don't wet sand oak -- the poly dust white residue gets into the grain and it's impossible to remove.
This was my third coffee table. After giving 2 as gifts, a friend paid me to make this one.
Hi! I made the Kid's Country Bench for my first ever woodworking project. Making this bench was the first time I've used a jigsaw (purchased for this project) and the first time drilling a pilot hole. My husband answered a couple of questions along the way, but I did all the work myself and am so proud. I did change some dimensions to accommodate pretty baskets I wanted to use. This is going to be very helpful for corralling two little boys' shoes in my entry.
Watts Built on Wolfe Way
Used the plans for the Rustic X coffee table as a starting point. Left out the X's as they don't appeal to me. Took a butane torch and burned the base and tabletop before staining, and stained the table in alternating stains to give it a really unique appearance. Stains used were Rustoleum Summer Oak, and Minwax Early American, finished with Minwax Semigloss Poly.
First time project.
My wife loves it and that’s all that matters!
These bookshelves were a great first project, mainly becasue with the affordability, ease and great look......I was able to convince my husband I was not crazy for wanting to build furniture. After all I was a Construction Management major in college, wood shop was my favorite class in junior high and I spent countless summers in Mexico building homes.
Well he is now convinced! This was the perfect addition to our playroom for our two kids. As they have transitioned out of the preschool years we need to update the look. These bookcases are the perfect size for most basket and cubbies.
The one lesson I have since learned and would do if I build these again is to make sure the guy cutting my boards at HD cut them all the same width.
The construction of this project itself took me just over an hour. All my time was out into making it look very old, and staining it just right. I am very proud of how it turned out. Looks a lot better in person. This table is for sale.
Enjoyed this project
Mon, 05/04/2015 - 10:16
Thanks for sharing, great job on the decor and finish!
Hi there! This is Dani from The Project Lady!
I wanted to share my building plan and tutorial for these dining room benches! Total cost is about $20 for lumber per bench!
Head over to my website for step-by-step instructions and pictures!
Happy Building!
Inspired in one of your projects this was my first project with wood and turned out a go to place for the kids and guests to play all the time.
Thank you for the plan. Kids appreciate it too.
Loved Ana's Farmhouse Bed so we downsized it and made it into a twin size for our daughter. Took out the boards in the middle and painted a stenciled pattern instead.
This is my first woodworking project ever. I wanted an outdoor sectional for my screened in porch, but couldn't afford to pay $1000 to $2000 to buy one. I saw this plan and decided to give it a shot! I used pressure treated 2x4 lumber rather than 1x4. My Dad always built everthing from pressure treated if it was to be used outside... so I followed suit. I have to say I am more than pleased with the final product. This piece of furniture will outlive me! I have three young girls so it had to be durable.... and this is definitely durable. Thanks you so much for the great plans. It felt great to accomplish this project and we'll enjoy this sofa for years to come!!
My first build, easy and fun. Finished in a weekend . Added handles to help my little man. He loves it, and so do I
Ana white.com
I needed something to hang above my scrapbook table to hold alot of heavy albums and supplies. I got instruction from Ana's General Store Cubbies plan but I modified it to 48" long since the boards were already 48" long. I went with 30" tall so it would hold the 12"x12" format scrapbooks comfortably. I hadn't bought my pocket jig at this point yet so I just used glue and screws stratigically so they are mostly hidden. I already had some trim so I threw some of that on there to cover a couple flaws.
I then made the bulletin board hanging below it. It is a ceiling tile cut in half and painted the wall color. I used the miter saw (yikes!) and even made some awesome 45 degree joints for the frame! Before I added the frame, I fastened some ribbons criss-crossed to tuck things behind. This picture doesn't show the final addition: some undercabinet lighting.
Now I just need to build a new TABLE to go under it!
This was my first build and I definitely learned alot about the new pocket hole techniques. Nothing too technical about it except I made things more difficult by adding a metal bedframe kit because I was in a hurry to finish because of some company arriving. The only issue is that you can see the support legs of the bed frame kit so I'm sure I will dissassemble it once the company leaves and build a lumber frame and remove the metal one.
Otherwise, the only two variations from the Ana White plan was that I added the Arch trim board and I also used 1.25" sheetmetal screws on either side of the pocket holes that attach the verticle boards. I pulled the boards up tight to the horizontal trim boards and made a cleaner line. I also learned to sand and prime every board before assembly next time, there are several hard to reach areas that need sanding once it is assembled.
This bed is built like a tank and is beautiful.
Wanted a new computer desk, fits the space perfectly, clean and simple lines with a beautiful natural wood and white finish. LOVE HOW IT TURNED OUT
