Community Brag Posts

Antiqued dark walnut

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/15/2017 - 20:42

My first project of this size.  I think it turned out great!  Did a gray weathered stain and drybrushed bright white over the base.  Sanded the top 60, 120, 220, 320, and just for fun I finished it with 1000 grit.  Stained dark walnut, finished with three coats of poly, sanding 320 in between coats.  Love this table!!!!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$89
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Dark walnut and poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Garage shelving to fit workbenches

Submitted by jamesjill on Wed, 03/17/2021 - 20:40

Garage shelving fit to allow workbenches to slide under when not in use.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Fancy Hall Tree

Submitted by KCreel29 on Mon, 03/11/2013 - 07:39

The well-laid out plans from this site made it a pleasure to build. I used pine for everything and stained with Rust-Oleum Early American. Also, I did three coats of Minwax Clear Satin Polycrylic. My wife and I decided to use 8 hooks because we have two young children who could not reach the top row of hooks.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$120
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Wood Conditioner, Rust-Oleum Early American, Minwax Clear Satin Polycrylic. I recommend doing small sections when doing the wood conditioner. I tried doing too much at one time and had to rush to make sure I got the stain on before the conditioner dried. Also, I used 3 coats of the poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Christmas Doll Cribs

My husband made these for our 5 year old daughter and our 1 year old granddaughter. They turned out adorable! Our first project with a kreg jig, best tool ever! It took a few weekends, but we are also building a house. The longest time was spend waiting for paint to dry!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
100 dollars for both including the kreg jig, glue, paint and of course the wood.
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
White semi gloss. Acrylic paint for the names.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Fancy X Farmhouse Table & Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/21/2021 - 16:22

Thank you for the easy to follow plans! This table is a wonderful addition to our home!

Comments

Play Kitchen

Submitted by sraper2 on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 18:22

I built the kitchen as a Christmas present. I still need to put the oven door on but still love how it all came out. I just started a blog and as I was posting my latest blog post I realized how obsessed I am with all of your plans!! Thanks so much :) I'm not sure how long it took to build because I only get to work in the garage an hour or two a few nights a week.

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

Her wedding anniversary gift

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/20/2017 - 21:57

Thanks for your video, Ana!

I had a bunch of salvage wood boards and wanted to offer my wife the space she'd always wanted for gardening for our wedding anniversary.

Your plans inspired me to build her this bench, adapting the design to the materials I had.

She loved it!!

Elodie :-)

Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Farmhouse Mudroom Bench with Drawers

I cannot thank you enough for the great plans for this mudroom bench! Being my very first woodworking project, I couldn't be happier with the result. Having a home built in 1927 means I have to use every inch of space for multiple things. I attempted to store tools and shoes in an Ikea cabinet which meant I never saw the cute little window. After weeks of planning, I finally got up the nerve to start building and wow!

In fact, having successfully built my mudroom out, I proceeded to rip out my pantry to the studs and redo it, too. Keep the great plans coming!

Built from Plan(s)
Finish Used
Dark walnut stain
High gloss white paint
Cotton baskets from Lowes
Hardware from Amazon

Walk-in Master Closet

Submitted by DionneM on Fri, 03/15/2013 - 17:18

I've been drooling over those custom closet organizers for years, but they were either too expensive, not well made or some combination of not right for us. So seeing Ana's master closet plan really sent my imagination soaring. My challenge. My master closet is a small walk-in 5'x7' so I did have to do some adjusting. I love having a place for shoes and sweaters. One of my favorite parts is the continuous top shelf that connects all the parts together forming a big 'U'. I used my Kreg jig to connect each of those pieces. Anyway, thanks Ana White for the inspiration.

Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Ace Hardware Trim and Cabinet Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Circular saw guide/sled

Submitted by Veronica P on Thu, 01/22/2015 - 17:46

Until now I've been doing the majority of my project cuts with my $30 jigsaw. Yes, it took about ten times as long as yes it was not quite as accurate so I ended up putting more time into sanding to clean things up after but I just didn't feel comfortable using the circular saw.

Well, I've got a list a mile long of things I'd like to build so it's time to  put on my big girl panties and get comfortable with the circular saw. So...I read a ton of tips and tricks online and saw a number of different guides.

Taking a little from a few different pictures of guides and using the scrap wood from an old dresser, I put this together. I clamp it to the top of my work table and go to town. I love it and now feel comfortable using the circular saw. I'm sure it's helped me make more accurate, straighter cuts than I would otherwise have made too. 

Estimated Cost
Scrap
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Tony

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 07:12

By using this jig, you are losing the full potential of your blade depth. A speed square would work just as well as this system and provide you with a full blade depth worth of cuts. I've seen systems like this before but really only useful for ripping long lengths of plywood/MDF/etc and not for cross cuts. I'm not trying to knock the way you do wood work, simply providing others with an alternative and easier way.

Veronica P

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 12:39

You're absolutely right that by using this I'm limiting the depth of my cuts to some degree. I have used the speed square as well and it's definitely a great tool that I'll use more in the future. The jig just offers me a little control until I grow more comfortable with the circular saw. Just an option for other newbies like me who might be apprehensive about using the circular saw.

Chevron headboard

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/23/2017 - 15:02

A friend asked me to make a headboard for him as he couldn't find anything online or in store that he really liked. 

I was up for the challenge and always love working with wood to make new and exciting things so, challenge accepted. 

This was my first attempt at a headboard and I think it turned out pretty nice. 

Knotty pine face with a cedar frame. 

Looking forward to my next project! 

Estimated Cost
CA 225.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Dark Walnut stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Jacobean 6 cube bookshelf for our nursery

Submitted by ScottT on Mon, 03/18/2013 - 10:43

This was my very first wood working project since working around my grandfather's shop 20 years ago as a child. I had to buy a few tools to get it done (circular saw, Kreg Jig), but it was a great learning experience!

I made a rookie move of wiping up excess wood glue, which didn't take the stain at all. I had to remove that glue with a Dremel tool and spot restain. Since then, I've been told to let the glue drops dry next time and just chisel off after they are dry.

Since this was my first project, I had to buy EVERYTHING I needed, so my costs were a little higher. Now that I have some groundwork laid, the next projects will be a snap.

I also highly recommend the Rockwell Jawhorse product, it made working with the Kreg Jig super easy!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
2 coats of Minwax Jacobean oil stain
3 coats of Minwax fast drying Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rustic Bar Stools with company Logo

I followed the No Sew Cayden Nailhead Bar Height Stool but added 2 more inches to the height.  I also left off the foam and leather to have a more Rustic look.  I used a burn tool found at Hobby Lobby to burn the logo that was traced on to bar stool tops.   It an easy build and the stools came out to less that $40 a piece. These took me a few weeks to completely finish but I had 6 of them built within a day.  The burning and the staining took the longest but these are easy enough to build in a weekend.

Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum American Walnut and Spar finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Concrete 4x4 Truss table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/26/2017 - 11:58

I used the plans for the 4x4 truss beam table to make this version with a concrete top. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$250-$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Weathered Gray with polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Bench to Table conversion

Submitted by Donna_Led on Fri, 04/09/2021 - 15:22

We made two of the Picnic Table to Bench units in the month of March. The second one is in the bottom part of the picture hidden by the wood rack. I took the picture from our upstairs porch. My husband is still amazed that we accomplished this. He is not a DIY'er. We built a new house in 2016 and had a bunch of leftover wood sitting on our (unfinished) basement floor. We managed to build our benches mostly from that wood. We did have to buy 3 more pieces to finish the second back/tabletop. Then we got the balance of the wood moved out to our storage barn. The color is deck stain from our porches. I chose 20 hours as our time frame because the used wood required a lot of sanding and prep work. Our time frame was probably about 3 weeks but we are 68 and 73 years old and were really in no hurry. The plans were very simple to follow. We made them 6 feet long.

Estimated Cost
Nearly free except for the big bolts and three 2x6x8ft boards. We had everything else.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Solid deck paint from Lowes in a cedar color we already had.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Doll Highchair

Submitted by Jeff_henke on Wed, 03/20/2013 - 20:47

Used basic plan, with some customization to the seat back and the tray area of the chair. Finished with white enamel paint, pine stain, and high gloss polyurethane to protect the wood.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
<$10 mostly scrap wood and leftover paint.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
White enamel paint for the frame and pine stain with two coats of clear poly on the natural parts.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

2x4 Accent Table

Submitted by Deitrich on Sun, 02/01/2015 - 06:35

I used the ideas of many and added my own as well, with the bottom shelf and 30 degree edge cuts on legs and bottom edge of table top. I constructed this in two separate parts, frame and inserts. I stained the the gray and brown parts separately then finished assembly and clear coated. I used nine 2x4x8' and one 1x8x6'. Table top is 60" x 22". I had to use one piece of 2x6 and rip to 4" wide. This filled the 1/2" gap I was left with on the gray part of table top. 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$90.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-Oleum Ultimate Wood Stain in Weathered Gray and Kona, one coat each.
for the top coat I used Rust-Oleum Ultimate Polyurethane in Semi-Gloss, three coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Jody Knowles

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 14:26

I really like the contrast with the colors. You did an outstanding job of making this piece a one of a kind. Very, very nice.

DIYGoddess18

Mon, 03/12/2018 - 12:41

Did you happen to have a support for the bottom shelf?  This is exactly what I'm wanting for my entry way! Awesome job and love the colors!

King farmhouse bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/30/2017 - 09:23

Built this over the course of a week, but could have been done in a weekend if I didn't have three young ones. My husband is military and we move often, so it is built to be broken down into three large pieces. Used these http://www.rockler.com/5-surface-mounted-bed-rail-brackets to attach the rails to the head board and footboard. This bed is a tank and doesn't move at all! We are in love with the way it turned out! 

Estimated Cost
$250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Ivory tower colored chalk paint by Renaissance with 2 coats of minwax polycrylic.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Adirondack Chairs - First Project

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/16/2021 - 06:32

I ended up painting them a Bright Blue and Bright Red like crayola colors and I forgot to take an after picture but I was so excited about this because it was my FIRST time building something with wood. My husband made the table with the scraps I had leftover.

Comments

Stella's Loft Bed Conversion from Classic Bunk Bed Plans

Loved the chunky look of the bunk bed plans but needed space for toys and junk.
Raised the height and used lag screws for extra security .
Stella can't wait to go to bed at night , so I take that as a successful project.

Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Latex paint.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner