Community Brag Posts

Adirondacks

Submitted by Tom_H on Mon, 11/09/2020 - 15:23

Built a couple of these earlier this summer for the wife. We went with a torched wood look, so after cutting all the pieces, everything got torched and then finished with spar urethane. After assembly I sprayed a few more light coats just to seal up the screw holes. These are super sturdy, and really comfy. By far the majority of the build time was in the finishing. Cutting and assembly can be done in an hour or two.

I'll probably be making ~4 more of these for around the fire pit by the lake, but this time after torching the wood, we're going to use some color-dyed stains to change it up.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
shou sugi ban (wood burning)/spar urethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Hailey Planked Headboard and Platform Bed

This is my first large wood project. I used pine and fastened the pieces with pocket holes and countersinking screws. I also used Elmer's stainable wood glue. I chose a dark cherry stain. I haven't coated it with polycrylic yet, but I plan to soon. Thank you Ana White for this amazing website. I'm going to buy your book for my siblings!

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Dark Cherry
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Mantel Moulding Headboard with Teal Accent

Submitted by jmiracle on Sat, 11/08/2014 - 10:49

Used the smaller Dentil crown, and the blue accent that will match the accents on the end table that i will also put up when finished

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$200?
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

cabin bunk system

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/14/2017 - 07:59

this project was pretty easy over all, I had a little trouble getting the drawers level, but that was about it. I did have to change the measurements to make it a full size bed but it came out fitting perfectly!!

Estimated Cost
$350
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Modern Platform Bed with 4x4 legs

Needed a sturdy bed for our Autistic adult son. Added an extra bracket at the head and base to support the corners. Then used 4x4 for the legs. Painted it a fun color and he loves his new bed! Need to find some ideas for a headboard but this is such a sturdy bed. We love it! Thank you so much for these great plans.

Estimated Cost
65
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Krilon Chalk paint. Blue gray off the self color. (Primed first)
Minwax stain for legs.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Simple Small Trestle Desk

Submitted by Jeff on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 12:52

First project using a kreg jig. It went well. Sanding was the worse part. If you are going to brace the legs you will need more wood than listed in the plans.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$50 for both desks.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Water based primer, gloss and clear coat. Should have used a better primer.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Fancy X Desk

This is the second X desk I have built. For this one I used a pre-done aspen piece for the top that I got from Lowes for $40.00. That was the only modification.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Rust-oleum "Traditional Cherry" 1 coat and wiped off immediately, then 2 coats of poly on the base and 4 on the top.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Sliding Door Console

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/16/2017 - 08:53

overall pretty easy porject took me about 8 hours to build/paint I sized it down a little made it only 32" tall and about 64" wide but keeping the depth to the plans. The barn door hardware I ended up building myself. I took 4 1" pulleys bolted those to the doors and the track I built using some angle iron and 3/8" metal dowel. The stain is 'golden oak' from min wax and I just used a simple white paint two coats.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
roughly $175.00
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Golden Oak (one coat)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Pottery Barn Rustic Bench Hack

I have always been a fan of the Pottery Barn Rustic Bench. I have not always been a fan of the price tag. $149 for the small bench and $249 for the large bench was a bit more than I was comfortable spending on a piece of accent furniture. Luckily, Ana had building plans for the Pottery Barn bench. I built all three benches for around $60! You cannot beat that!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$20 per bench
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Gloss - Almond for the legs, I aged the wood with vinegar steel wool solution and tea, stained with Varathane Kona stain, and then sealed with polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Built in Shelving

Submitted by JoeP on Thu, 11/13/2014 - 16:34

A company wanted to charge us $5800 for this!  All told I think I spent about $500.

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

Comments

X Console Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/19/2017 - 05:48

Ana, 

My wife saw this and wanted one to match her benchwright coffee table. I decided to make her one and used rough cut pine to get that look. Just used 80 grit to knock off the roughness but not enough to sand into the saw marks and was pleased with how good the results came out. I don't like exposed fasteners so all the joints are pocket hole screwed and glued and the table top is biscuit jointed and the end piece is doweled into the long runners. Love your website and the other projects that you have shown here. Keep up the great work!

Josie

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Mahogany stain and spar urethane topcoat (4 coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Farmhouse Table - No stretcher

Submitted by kevo on Tue, 01/22/2013 - 10:46

Loved the farmhouse table plan, but didn't love the stretcher and stretcher supports. If you remove those, you have to find other ways to provide support, which I did by way of a stronger apron and the use of pockethole screws.

Also, I shortened the table. It's about 69 inches long, plenty of room for 6 people, and just right for our apartment dining room!

Estimated Cost
<$100 if you have the tools already
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax American Walnut (water-based)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Shower Gift

I made these for my new niece-  Here's my story with recipe for a homemade sealer as the dye runs on drooly faces.

http://onblissstreet.blogspot.com/2014/10/sweet-baby-p.html

Estimated Cost
$15
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
food coloring and homemade sealer. Recipe on my blog.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments

Dylan's Cabin

I found this on the Pottery Barn site for $ 3,000.  We wanted to make it for my grandson who had a lot of health issues.  We thought he would really enjoy it.  We made it around a full size bed & I really think it looks just like P.B's. !!!

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

Farmhouse Side Tables

Submitted by mashhawkes on Fri, 01/25/2013 - 15:36

I was in desperate need of nightstands that would match my AMAZING farmhouse bed and shoe dresser and I found these! I had to make a few modidications to fit the space on our walls. I also put a few braces inside so the drawer wouldn't tip out when it opened. Overall they turned out pretty awesome if I do say so myself...

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
I stained with a Chestnut color and used a color by Sherwin Williams named Greek Villa. I distressed it with a sanding block and finished with 2 coats of a poly satin finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Loft-style stand

Submitted by Dr.Master on Sat, 11/22/2014 - 13:01

Maked for weekend:)

Estimated Cost
less 50 USD
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
oak-style stain for wood
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Final Kitchen Rebuild Reveal!

Submitted by brittanyj on Sat, 12/12/2020 - 12:23

5 years. Y'all. FIVE YEARS.

5 years after starting this complete kitchen renovation, I have finished!
Very cool write-up and video featured on Family Handyman recently about my one woman build here:

https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/kitchen-remodel-five-years/?jwso…

This project included designing and building all new cabinets and doors from scratch, creating unique pullouts for our specific kitchen needs, and tiling the backsplash.

I couldn't be happier with my kitchen and every time I walk in there, it feels like I'm stepping into a magazine!

It may have taken me 5 years, but the wealth of woodworking skills and knowledge I gained from this project are priceless. As is a brand new kitchen for less than 5k.

I used many of Ana's plans, and honestly, I never would've taken on this huge challenge if I hadn't found this site. I specifically remember the day I saw her posting about the momplex kitchens and a spark hitting that I could ACTUALLY do this. Thank you Ana! I love my kitchen and it's even cooler that I built every last bit of it.

Through the years of learning and building both the kitchen and many other projects (don't ask me what's next because the list is a mile long) I feel very confident in the shop and count building time as "me-time". I've even started teaching a beginners woodworking class on skillshare, and have over 2,000 students so far. I love that people are getting empowered to build, just like I was. https://skl.sh/34FSP5A

Long live DIY!

Estimated Cost
>$5,000
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Sherwin Williams Alkyd Enamel in Dorian Gray
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

2×4 Scrap Wood ~ Shower Organizer

I was in the shop on Thursday and decided to build something with the endless supply of 2×4 wood scraps I had collecting in the corner. We had been looking for a wood shower organizer since we moved into our new apartment, so decided that would be a good project to tackle. I few weeks ago I found a teak shelf that would have been perfect for our bathroom, but was not willing to pay $119. I designed a shelf in the style of the teak shelf I liked. Untreated pine is not suited for a wet environment, so I went to Home Depot and bought a can of waterproof epoxy for the finish. The end result is a very simple and functional shelf.

Estimated Cost
$5
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
Rustoleum Black Epoxy
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Joy Marquee

Submitted by blcrandall on Tue, 11/25/2014 - 23:14

Joy Marquee from Home Depot builders' workshop.

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Comments