Community Brag Posts

Started the project last fall and finally finished it this Feb. Check out the cool weather station!

This site as ever so helpful and vital to the completion of these chairs. Honestly,this project was the first time I had taken stock lumber and constructed something from it. I am handy by my own account,but never attempted anything like this before. Great site. If not for Ana white and this website,I'd have 2 less chairs. It is very rewarding building something from scratch. I'm sure this was the 1st of many projects and ideas I will get from this site. A+++. Thank you very much.

Our son is learning cello and we were told he needed a 14" chair for practice, so this plan looked perfect. 

Other than tweaking some of the dimensions as the plan didn't seem to quite work, the only other change I made was to use wooden dowels instead of screws to give it a cleaner finish. 

Seems stable enough for me to sit on.

3 piece sectional from cedar for my new sunroom!

Thank you so much, Ana, for posting these plans. My husband built the storage locker in a few hours last Saturday. Our only modification was to use beadboard for the backing instead of plywood, and to switch out the 1x12's for 1x16 project panels to add depth so the backpacks will fit. I love how it turned out and now there is no more tripping over backpacks! I can't wait for our next project.

I had a girls night in and we each made out our art using the nesting family tree sign. I put together the cedar fencing signs per Ana's instructions and we all brought supplies we had in the garage and we painted away! Thank you so much!

Built one for my niece, my daughter's is next!

My wife and I were looking for a "Big Girl" bed for our 3yo. After searching online and in-person and coming up more disappointed each time, I found your website and plans for the captains bed with trundle and I knew it was something I could build! I've built 3 dining room tables with benches and other furniture before, and so I started getting materials together. I took a solid day to make sure my measurements were on point and a week later, we had the bed constructed. I couldn't stop there so I built a book shelf on top of an old cabinet we found to repurpose. Thank you for allowing us to share our projects with you!

These are made from the 4x4 posts, 2x4 rails, and slats from an old wooden fence that weren't good enough to re-use when we repaired the fence.

It's close to the Simple outdoor bench, but I simplified the plan even more to take advantage of the pile of free lumber. Or maybe it's the Simple Outdoor Dining Table ... but a lot shorter.

CAUTION: Be careful to remove ALL nails, screws and bolts from the lumber you are reusing. If you can't get the metal out, mark that area and figure out a cut that won't hit it.

TIPS FOR RECLAIMED LUMBER:
* Trim the ends of the lumber square before you measure.
* Don't try to salvage split or rotted wood. Trim it off and see what you can do with the good bits.
* Plan your cuts so you have the least waste.

TOOLS:
10" Miter saw
Wood glue
Nail gun, with 2 1/2 and 1 1/4 inch 16gauge nails for gun (You could use deck screws if you have them)
Surform Pocket plane (wood rasp from Stanley tools)

CUT LIST:
For one bench, 21x36

NOTE: To cut a 4x4 cleanly with the 10" miter saw, put a thin shim behind each side of the 4x4

4 4x4 post scraps, 18 inches long (legs)
2 2x4 18 inches long (sides)
2 2x4 36 inches long (front and back rail)
10 fence slat pieces, 21 inches long (cut to fit the top after it is assembled)

ASSEMBLY:
See the picture of the underside of the bench:
1 - Square up the legs with the end pieces, glue and nail.
2 - Square the sides with the legs, so the legs are inside the 2x4 apron, glue and nail.
3 - Align the 2 end slats with the edges of the bench and nail through them into the 2x4 apron
4 - Space the rest of the slats on the top, leaving 1/8 inch or so etween the boards for drainage. Nail them to the 2x4 apron.

FINISH: Use the wood rasp to round the cut ends of the slats and 2x4s. Rasp with the grain to avoid raising splinters. Lightly rasp the tops of the slats to smooth any really rough spots.

A table or maybe a buffet is planned, with the same construction method, but a bit taller. Tables are 26-29 inches, most buffets are 36". It depends on what will make best use of the remaining bits.

I attached the tilt out portion using a Kreg jig and eventually removed the brace (it wasn't necessary and removing the brace gave it a cleaner look.

I used 2 x 2 as a trim around the outside which also allowed me to hide the hinge.

Other than that -- followed the build pretty closely. I used a cable on either side to stop the tilt out from falling to the floor (which allows me to leave it open as well.

This was my first project and it was a battle to figure out how to install the hinges and I did not love my jig saw work with the plan feet so I bought and installed furniture replacement feet which turned out much nicer (IMO).

Good luck!

Modified to dimensions 23"H x 19.5"D x 27"W.

Thank you for this plan! We had a blast building this project and watching our daughter's expression once she saw it complete made it all worth while! She has a very small bedroom and this bed allows her so much more floor space now plus it has the "fort" feeling. She loves it! Thanks, Ana!

We didn't want a platform bed but liked the looks of this bed. We used a 2x10 for the vertical frame. The 'rail' around the top of that is a 1x4. We sunk the supports slightly to hide most of the box spring. I also wrapped the box spring so that it matches our bedroom and isn't so apparent. The legs we did were two 2x4s as we couldn't find a 4x4 in pine. We did two twin beds to support the twin box springs and did a 'footboard' that brings them together. They wouldn't have fit through doorways otherwise. It turned out very well. The headboard is somewhat our own creation.

Decided to use your plans and build an entertainment center for the house. I did however change a couple of things, like it is a little smaller and I used weathered wood for the sides and front, along with deciding on not using the doors. After building this project ...I Loved it !  In fact loved it so much , I built a matching end table.  Thank you so much for the plans and ideas.

These are the shots from my dry-fitting assembly. I have yet to instal the back supports and to secure the top 2x6s but that will be done shortly.

I did run short of 2x4, I needed 1 more probably because of my inexperience with maximizing my cuts and minimizing waste. I plan on testing out my cuts in SketchUp for future projects and see if that helps. I find it much easier when the cut plan is already worked out before I get to the saw.

I cut and dry-fit the whole thing in 1 day although it would have been faster if I worked out the regional dimensions first. Again, SketchUp to the rescue!

I plan on adding pocket holes in the inside top piece of the leg assembly as well as the tabletop supports to secure the table top assembly.

This was a great build, I built it for my husband as a 25th anniversary present and he absolutely loves it.

I used knotty pine S4S and we plan to stain it to show off all those pretty knots.

This is only my 4th build, if I can make this anyone can!

We just built our first set of Adirondack chairs and after sharing with our friends, we have sold a few. We are now building other stuff too!

The only change I did to the original plan is place the 1x3 on the top in the back. Makes it look more stout and clean finish.

We painted it 3 times with a nice red and bought some great cushions at a good price.