Community Brag Posts
my first project
my best friend has built a couple of projects from this site. i enjoyed helping him a bit so when he decided to build one of these for yes baby that is due this summer, i figured i'd double up and build one for myself while we were at it. i haven't built anything since high school (10 years ago). he had all the tools and had made a lot of mistakes along the way so he brought be up to speed and told me a lot of "don't do this...trust me" tips that are helpful.
we used premium ply wood cut to 1x12s and poplar 1x2's for this. total wood cost was about 30 bucks per shelf. I decided to use a trim router for my framing along the outer edge. I think it gives it a professional look at it took 10 minutes to do.
NOTE: if you want to rout around the entire top and you used pocket holes....DONT DO IT. we found that one out the hard way on the other shelf. if your bit does anything but slightly round the edge it's gonna hit the screws. :(
i made a last second change and went with a vibrant red and a dark dark black to make it up. i couldn't be happier. it doesn't match my room at all but i don't care at this point. my friend did a great job taping off the trim and the lines are just awesome.
This thing is stout. i'm not a small man and would not hesitate to stand on top of this thing all day. can't wait to show it off to anyone i can:)
Comments
Sun, 04/08/2012 - 03:49
Great job on the build and
Great job on the build and paint job and welcome to the community!
Truss Table
I have been wanted to build this table for over a year and finally had the time for it. The plans made the cuts very simple.
Comments
Closet-to-Mudroom Conversion
Starting from the Extra Wide Shoe Bench plans, I expanded the upper section considerably. The cabinetry is all cut from hardwood plywood and joined with pocket screws and glue. I don't have a table saw, so a circular saw and straightedge were extensively used.
Modified Triple Pedestal Table
this table and chairs was a joint effort between my lifelong best friend’s son and I, his dad had just recently passed away and it was a good way for us to stay busy and also to help furnish his new house he’d just moved into, we used stock pine 2x and 1x lumber from the big box store and StoneCoat countertops epoxy resin on the table top.This was a lot fun and not too difficult to make and we were super happy with the way this project turned out!
Reclaimed Wood Adirondack Chair
Reclaimed wood projects.
Junior Size Classic Bunk Bed
We built this in our living room start to finish - we live in an NYC apartment. Because of the small room size we chose to modify the plans to a small mattress - hoping that it will last our boys until they are about 5 and 7 (currently 2 and almost here). This blog post outlines our buy and cut list for the modified size: http://wp.me/p3DCu3-Kd
How to make a 2 year old happy (the long way)
I started this in my garage this winter so that it was ready for spring. Nothing in this is too complicated but it requires some patience. It was all worth it to see how excited my daughter was to finally play with her friends.
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Christmas Helper Towers
I built two of these for my grandkids for Christmas. One for each of my kid's homes. I used Phillip Moore's folding modification where each side is a separate panel. (Great mod!). I used one T-Nut per hinge on the side where short screws had to be used. I just felt a little safer having that connection that cannot come apart since my grandkids can get pretty active. The kids love them!! Thank you for this plan!
Tall Cedar Planter
Made a tall wood planter from cedar and pine fence posts using Ana’s plans this weekend! Modified slightly and added a frame around top to give it a more finished look.
Awesome plans! Thanks Ana.
Benchright Farmhouse Table
This was our very first project EVER and it came out beautiful! We needed a dinner table and couldn't find anything that came close to the thousand dollar Pottery Barn Benchright table. While searching for used furniture I came across these plans to build my own. After days of begging and convincing, my husband agreed to help me build it. Now he thanks me all the time! It was so fun and easy.
We did have a couple hiccups with the measurements. Ana did say to read through the plans and comments first, but we failed to write down and remember what others suggested. That being said, these plans were very easy. We took our time building this table since it was our first time using a miter saw and our first time building anything. Our table was a little more expensive than other braggers because we didn't use reclaimed wood and since we are beginners, we botched a couple cuts and had to buy a few extra boards :). After sanding, we took some chains and a hammer to the tabletop and legs to make a more distressed and rustic look. We painted the bolts and pipe black with Rustoleum Flat Black. Our pipe was longer than our table, so we had it cut. If you buy your pipe from Lowe's, they will cut and thread it for you. We couldn't find any hardware that look anything similar to the Pottery Barn Benchright. We checked Home Depot and Lowe's, but decided to settle with some plumbing knobs that screwed in the pipe. Once we painted everything and put it all together, we actually loved the pipe knob look more than the Pottery Barn table hardware!
This table is so darn sturdy and will last forever. I can't thank Ana enough, and thank you to everyone that posts these brags, because you helped me convince my husband and myself that we could do this!
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Buffet Changing Table
So I altered the Emersen Buffet a little. We needed a changing table and I liked the idea of having the baskets handy for diapers, ect.. I will add the changing pad topper after we get the actual pad.
The door is from a weathered pallet I reclaimed.
I must say this is my first large project of this type. I would have NOT been able to do it without Ana White's site. However, now I feel capable of a lot more.
Thanks so much.
T S
Kreg Jig Fun
I used whitewashed clear pine for the bases and maple for the tops. I also built a corner table to match. I used a Kreg Jig for the first time for all 3 tables.
Rustic X DIY changing station w/ removable top
A Christmas gift for a friend who recently had a baby.
I went with one inch (3/4") project panels. The top shelf is 1"x 20". The lower shelves are 1"x 16", but I added 1 1/2" with two 1"x 2" banding. For the "x" brackets, I used 1"x 2" and added a middle piece to connect the legs and double as a side shelf ledge. The baby changing station top is secured by an L-bracket, where I added a block to keep the spacing even around the station top and screwed from underneath. (Note, you might have to trim the L-bracket to fit on the underside of the lip.) Also, I put on furniture felt under the baby changing station top to prevent any marring to the top shelf.
The removable top allows the changing station to become a standard shelving unit once the baby outgrows the changing station top. There are no holes drilled onto the topside of the top shelve as it's being secured by two L-brackets.
I stained all three shelves first. I painted the rest of the project white, which needed two coats. Then I assembled the unit together. Afterwards, I applied three coats of poly with a foam brush. After the second coat of poly, i used a gray finishing pad. On the third and final coat of poly, I used a white finishing pad (finer than the gray pad).
Sturdy Kids Chair
Very sturdy. Gets lots of use. Need to make one for new baby brother.
$10 Raise Cedar Garden Palnet, self watering
I read about a SIP, or self watering planter in Family Handy Man April 2012. There planse we expensive and compicated. These were easy and fun to make. I like the I dea of using 50% to 90% less water, and only watering once a week.
I added a post down the middle to help with bowing.
I found 5 foot cedar fence posts for $1.28 at orange. Including glue and screws $10. I have the palsit lininn, the withe piping on hand. HTe drain pipe was $6. for a total of $16.
Orange had a 2 x 2 plastic Self watering planter $30, big savings
I say starter only if you are not ripping, but using 1 x2 's
Comments
Wed, 09/05/2012 - 21:12
I am not sure, a roll my dad
I am not sure, a roll my dad had laying around. Most research suggests pond liner.
Reese Media Cabinet
This was a media cabinet that I designed for some friends, and I've got a full how-to and FREE PLANS up on my site at
Sturdy workbench with sturdy top
This version is five feet long. The sturdy top was made from scaffold boards. I nailed four stout 3" oval nails into the joining edges of two planks, then cut the projecting heads off at angle. Putting plenty of glue along the nail-free face I sash cramped the whole lot together overnight. Once screwed down I filled holes and cracks with epoxy woodfiller, gave it a though sanding and splashed on a generous amount of Danish Oil just to seal it from spilled coffee etc. Now all I have to do is line the shed...
My try at a step stool
Had fun doing this one. I used a gel stain and about 4 coats of lacquer to finish
DIY Wood Patio Set
We were in need of a nice patio set and just couldn’t find the right fit until we came across some 2x4 plans and thought “that seems simple enough”. Took some planning for the right dimensions but I swear my husband can build anything. It turned out beautifully. He made a table, a sofa and a chair….burned them with a torch is certain areas then put polyurethane on them. Thanks for looking.
Lanette
Peek-A-Boo Birdie Feeder
These little birdie feeders ended up being part of our Easter festivities. It was such a quick and easy project. I can't wait to hang them and see the looks on my kids faces as the neighborhood birds fly up for a snack.
We had almost all of the wood on hand from previous projects, they only thing we bought was the board for the faces.