Community Brag Posts

Wood planter with trellis

Submitted by jwright on Mon, 07/02/2012 - 11:07

This is a quick and easy cheap build. I priced planters this size at the store and they were about $75 with a trellis. I built this one for under $20. Thanks Ana!

Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Stained with some leftover stain I had in the garage
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Under Sink Organizer

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/08/2024 - 09:38

I got tired of both the clutter under the kitchen sink and how often bottles of random cleaning solutions would tip over and make a mess. Based on Ana's plans, I made these organizer shelves so that all of our most-used stuff would be at the front. Found some scrap pieces of beadboard from another project for the backing, and put the whole thing together with glue and my finish nailgun. I'm pretty pleased with this small Saturday project. Thanks, Ana!

Sean Payne

Comments

Bar Height Table and Chairs

Decided to use mortise and tenon on the chairs to make for a clean look since I was staining and not painting.  I did use a lot of pocket holes on the table.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
American Walnut and Dark Walnut. Oil Based Poly and Furniture Wax
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

TV Stand Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 08/02/2016 - 10:00

This was a super fun project and didn't cost much at all.

Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Mixture of Grey and Brown stain with a poxy coating
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Farmhouse King Bed- Beetle Kill Pine

This was our first build and it was quite a big project to take on to start with. We had so much fun and learned so much along the way. 

Our biggest lessons were to hand pick our wood and make sure we get the straightest pieces possible. We had to wrestle some wood to make this bed work!  Clamp everything especially when using large bolts as the pieces would pull apart from each other. We even used a ratchet strap at one point becuase our small clamps weren't cutting it. I'm sure there's a better way and we'd love to hear about it but we made what we had work. We also had to figure out how to attach the side rails and at what height. We ended up using 3 4-inch screws on each end to screw them into the posts.  

We love this bed not only because it was a labor of love but because its such a solid beautiful piece. 

Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Polycrylic Water based - 4 coats, sanded using a 220 grit sanding block in-between each coat.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Huffaker6971

Sun, 08/18/2019 - 13:47

This is exactly what I've been looking for. Are there plans for this build?

sxewhodey

Sun, 03/01/2020 - 11:29

Very nice! I love the lighter wood too, but my wife likes the darker stain, so we compromised in the middle for the finish. Why  arethe post always so red? I can appreciate the natural tendency of nature to add color, but the 4*4's are always red-er in color. Do they always use a different pine or certain part of the tree for those?

Simple Wood Pantry Shelves

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/11/2024 - 13:31

The wire shelves that the builder placed were not cutting it for storage. This setup from your plan helped garner so much more space for organizing. The pantry is roughly 54”x 35” and we were able to place five shelves instead of the four. Thank you so much for your assistance!

Built from Plan(s)

The no more "you make a better door than a window" media cabinet

Submitted by bookette on Sun, 08/12/2012 - 12:30

I absolutely fell in love with the Tall Corner Media Console the moment it was posted. We had a decent corner stand for our TV, but it was low and was hard to watch when kids and adults alike were constantly saying "I can't SEE!" or "You're in my WAY!". I've learned that explaining "you make a better door than a window" over an over to a 7yo and a 4yo only takes longer.

Two dilemmas faced us:
1 - Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? DH insisted that we needed a big screen tv before building the console. I insisted that we needed the console first, so that we would have a place for the tv. Since it was determined the that console was cheaper than a tv, I won :)

2- What to color it? Paint? Stain? I was the one building, so DH said he didn't care, but that he liked the idea of staining. Having never stained before I was a bit intimidated - paint was my safety net. DH got this one, but only after I made him choose the stain.

I have the doors built and they are in the garage. With other things in the living room we wouldn't be able to open them all the way anyway. That and my final build weekend topped out at 105+ deg - and I was DONE being outside :) All in all, i like the open look of it, although I reserve the right to install those doors if need be.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Wood Stain - Vermont Maple
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

debandtom25

Thu, 08/30/2012 - 18:18

You did a fabulous job and I can definitely see it working without the doors too. The nice thing about stain is that can easily be covered with paint, if you change your mind down the road.

Fancy X Farmhouse Table

This is my first project and I am so happy with it! Thanks for the plans!

You can see my step by step process here:

http://ordinaryhappilyeverafter.com/blog/category/table/

I'm especially happy with how I was able to attach the top to the bottom without drilling through the top. I describe that here:

http://ordinaryhappilyeverafter.com/blog/2012/08/my-table-is-done/

Thanks for the inspiration!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
< 150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Jacobean (2 coats)
1 coat polycrylic satin finish on top followed by 3 coats of wax
3 coats polycrilic high gloss finish on base
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Adirondack Chair

Submitted by Ulrike on Sun, 06/21/2020 - 09:24

Followed Ana’s plans and turned out great. Stained it after it was assembled but would recommend doing that before assembly. Very comfy.

Estimated Cost
$35
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)

Outdoor end table

Submitted by spiceylg on Mon, 08/27/2012 - 14:38

I didn't use any plans but the Outdoor Ottoman comes really close. Needed an end table to go with our Outdoor Sectional that my husband and I built. While he was at a ballgame I whipped this up. Still have to sand and stain this as well as the sectional, but will probably do it as a winter project. We bought the 1x4s a while ago when we bought the 2x4s for the sectional so I wasn't exactly sure of the cost. I think I used 2 1/2 pieces of 8' lengths. Who would have thought a couple of years ago that so many of us would have attempted to build furniture and then even without a plan now and then?! Ana rocks! :)

Estimated Cost
Approx $5
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Not sure what brand, but spray painted Apple Green for a pop of color against the back cushions.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Coffee Bar

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/31/2016 - 07:12

I modified this plan to fit a 27"x 25" chunk of butcher block that my mother-in-law gave me. The finished height is 36 & 1/2". I didn't have any special tools to make the notches for the shelves. I simply lowered the blade-stop on my 7&1/4" miter saw and fastened the screw with hair ties (or in other words, I jimmy-rigged it ;)). I practiced on scrap wood until I reached the depth I needed. There is a 9&1/4" clearance between both shelves, and the shelves have a 1" overhang off the sides. I mainly used pocket holes to connect the pieces. The shelves (3-2x6s each) were fastened together with wood glue and pocket holes, then I slid them into place and screwed them into the side aprons/supports from the top, then filled with wood filler. For the top, I added support from underneathe (2x2s that I had on-hand), then used 2&1/2" screws from underneathe through the 2x2s into the butcher block. At first I used zinc wood screws, but learned quickly that they strip extremely easily, so I switched to sheet rock screws. Fun project!!

Estimated Cost
$35 in lumber, not counting the butcher block top which I got for free from my mother-in-law.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
For the butcher block, I decided to stain it since it would not be coming into contact with food. I sanded the butcher block with 220 grit sandpaper with my orbital sander. For the rest of my project I first used 80 grit, then 220 grit. Then I applied pre-stain wood conditioners overall, then Minwax provencial stain (I left it on for about 3 minutes then wiped it off). Then I used two coats of polyeurethene, sanding with 400 grit between the coats.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Ultimate roll away workbench

Submitted by maker4510 on Sat, 08/01/2020 - 05:22

NINE MONTH UPDATE: After using the bench for almost nine months, we’ve made some changes. The first is that our table saw, a Dewalt 7491 didn’t fit in the way the plans called for because of the fence. We ended up cutting down and rebuilding the table to make a platform for the saw, then we built three “tables” around it to leave a gap for the fence operation. We also added a curved piece that can be removed to access the riving knife lever.

The other change we made was to take out the clamp storage that was in one of the cart ends. When we rolled the cart in and out, the clamps would catch and fall off. We put in another shelf instead.

Otherwise, we love the bench. Having the two rolling carts that we can reposition based on where we need a table extension is great. The miter saw stand works perfectly, and our dust collection setup rolls right underneath. We’re also in the process of building a router table that fits in the removable bench room area.

ALSO, sorry for the upside down/sideways pics. It won’t let me remove or fix them.

We made the ultimate roll away workbench with very few changes. Added the clamp hanger on one end as pictured. We didn’t add the shelf under the miter saw, as well be putting a dust collection cart.

We absolutely love the cart.M, now to save up for a table saw. The only change I would like is that I wish the side shelves were a little deeper, more like 10” instead of 8”, so more tools would fit.

Estimated Cost
380
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
None
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Flip Top Storage Bench

Ana's Flip Top Storage Bench. I made this ASAP, after I saw it in the book, and then online. I thought it was going to be longer and was thinking it would go great in the mudroom, but after it was finished it turned out to be the perfect size for a fireside seat.

This is my first time using hinges....are they supposed to show? By the time I got them on and working I was pooped and didn't want to test my luck. Maybe I'll have to get some more decorative looking ones!

Used my Kreg Jig, still had splitting issues.
Used finishing nails around the shelves to secure a bit.

Oh and HD didn't have a 1x12x12 so I had to get three 1x12x6 . Bet that cost more, but I'm happy to have some more scrap wood to play around with.

Thanks Ana!

Estimated Cost
Lost my reciept....maybe that's a good thing?!
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
minwax color expressions walnut, about 2/3 of the tube.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Maira (not verified)

Sun, 10/21/2012 - 09:27

You did a great job on this table. What color stain did you use? And did you put a coat of poly on it?

Yes, the hinges are supposed to show. I made this table about two years ago when Ana first posted the pans, but I don't use it as a table. I use it as a bench in my entryway to hold gloves, hats, etc. It's held up great all these years, and now I'm thinking of building another one for by my garage door, since that's where we come in and out most times.

ValerieMcClintick

Sun, 10/21/2012 - 09:38

Thanks, I used Minwax color expressions in walnut, I haven't put poly on it yet, I thought I might just put a wax over it to make it a bit smoother. I don't really know what I'm doing quite yet, so I'll have to learn my options!

I'm thinking of making the longer version for the mud room....should go quicker on round two right!

:) Valerie

abbpim

Mon, 10/22/2012 - 09:06

I think in order to get your hinges to be more minimally showing you can inset them by using wood chisels to shave a rectangle of wood from the surface where the hinge lays. I've used hinges on a couple things so far and that's what my husband said to do but I was being to lazy to get some chisels. You can get them at any hardware store for pretty cheap I think. Now I'm not positive on any of this since I haven't been doing this hobby for too long. Your bench looks great by the way!

Saddle Seat Stools

Submitted by naomi on Fri, 08/29/2014 - 06:57

After a lot of cutting, screwing, chiseling and sanding... oh and a lick of paint! My new little Saddle Seat Stools are complete. Time will only tell whether they will hold up to the abuse the boys give them especially Brodie! These new stools only cost me $48 to make the pair and I got all the timber from Bunnings

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$48
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Teak and White Enamel Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Home Depot DIH Workshop Rolling Storage Cart

So I went to the DIH Workshop held at my local Home Depot and finished my cart over the weekend. I had the guy at HD cut my plywood down, won't make that mistake again. He made each one about a inch shorter than I asked for so I had to make my adjustments for everything else based on that. Next time I will take a tape measure with me to make sure instead of lugging everything to my car, taking it home and then measuring.

All-in-all I like the way it came out even with the minor adjustments still a fantastic cart.

Estimated Cost
$52
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Olympic Paint Gold
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic Vanity

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/15/2017 - 23:26

Ana, we saw your plans for the barn door cabinet that was pinned in pinterest and absolutely loved it and felt we had to build it but we had to completely modify  the plans to have it custom fit our bathroom. It was a trial and error experience never having built anything before. Thank you for giving us the idea.

Estimated Cost
$275
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Lacquer and Early American stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

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