Community Brag Posts

DIY Outdoor Chaise Lounge

My husband and I made this outdoor chaise lounge using a combination of Ana's plan and another we found on the Internet. We wanted to be able to move this easily, so we added wooden wheels that we turned on our table saw. All in all, this project took us about two weekends. We are hoping the next one goes a little faster.

You can see more pictures of the build process on my blog.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

PERFECT END TABLE

Submitted by pmdockins on Sat, 06/07/2014 - 21:43

I saw the post and loved the table. I changed the dimensions to fit our couch and living room. The wood for the shelves was reclaimed from two old house that were eventually torn down. The houses were 90+ years old. Great old oak wood!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Mimwax Chestnut stain topped with Ebony stain. Minwax polyurethane (semi-gloss)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Ryobi Nation Bathroom Ladder

This leaning bathroom ladder was the perfect final touch to our budget bathroom re-do.

I used all reclaimed wood - old barn wood, pallet, and scraps - and had the nails/screws on hand. The only cost will be for stain, which the jury is still out on. Likely I will use the Danish oil in medium walnut.  Loved doing this project and the result!

Estimated Cost
$10 (reclaimed wood and hardware was on hand)
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
I rounded off the edges of the shelves like the "tip" recommended so they weren't so sharp. I don't have a nail gun, so I pre drilled very small holes and hammered in the nails after the glue set for a bit. I also cut a 10degree angle off the bottoms of the sides (to match the leaning angle at the top) so they would sit flat.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Idahofischer

Fri, 09/09/2016 - 11:01

I posted this brag post before registering with a user ID. I'm not sure how to "claim" my (first ever!) brag post. Anyone know if this can be done?

4x4 Truss Beam Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/22/2020 - 14:44

I followed this plan to create our new dining table and bench. I went with a distressed chalk paint for the base, and the top is made from 100 year old douglas fir barn rafters. They look great with our blue/white cafe chairs. Thanks for the great plan!

Estimated Cost
$400 (mostly from purchasing the reclaimed rafters)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Behr Chalk Paint and Dark Wax on Base, combination of Special Walnut and Oaked Grey stain on Top, matte poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Rectangles Daybed

Submitted by ethidda on Mon, 08/20/2012 - 10:12

For my first woodworking project ever, I decided to make the Rectangles Daybed. I have not handled a power tool before, except the drill. So, over all, I'm quite happy with the result.

I got odd lot fir, which was more expensive, but prettier and easier to work with. I would probably not do that if I had known I was painting it. I also decided to put in IKEA slats instead of making my own.

I put more details in my blog posts.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$230
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
One coat of primer, one coat of white paint (with very small amount of blue).
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Providence Table

Submitted by lubsies on Tue, 06/10/2014 - 14:19

We shortened the original table plans by 2 feet to fit it inside our breakfast nook and it turned out perfectly!

Estimated Cost
$150
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
White wash on the legs with Polycrylic finish (2 coats), and oil-based dark stain on table top and wipe-on poly from Minwax (satin finish) (2 coats of both stain and poly)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Mud room Lockers

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 09/10/2016 - 22:06

This is 10 feet long and 5 1/2 feet tall. Made using a Kreg Jig.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

DIY Tryde Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/24/2020 - 17:31

Thank you Ana for a great design. I was looking for a gift idea for my Dad on Father's Day and your design was perfect for what I wanted to make. My Dad really loved it! My name is Nathan and kinda new at builders with wood. You see, I am a brain tumor survivor of 20 years and I lost most of my vision from it. For the longest time I was told that I couldn't do this or that. Note, I am very careful and take safety seriously. Your ideas and designs have helped me a great deal with developing confidence with my newly learned skills and I wanted to thank you for that. Also, your designs are reaching people out there and they're bringing joy to a lot of people. Keep up the great work and I look forward to your next inspiration.

Estimated Cost
$25
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Baby Grand Piano and clear gloss polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Farmhouse Table

Submitted by jwerne2 on Thu, 08/23/2012 - 09:37

We decided to build the Farmhouse Table after our 30 year old dining table began to crack and just wasn't working so well for our family of 5. This was our first project, so we made a lot of mistakes but also learned a lot. One of the hardest things was finding decent lumber that wasn't warped or split. We also made two Farmhouse Benches but they aren't included in this photo.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Special Walnut
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Wood Working Apron

Thank you soo much for the apron plans. I've used a sewing machine about 5 times in my life, and I didn't know what "stitch in the ditch" or bias tape or trim was, but with the plans and some web searching, I was actually able to sew this apron. It took me considerably longer than others, especially because I don't have an iron, pins, or a seam ripper (ripping a seam took me over an hour). Again, thank you sooo much! I hope to never lose my pen and tape measure at the lumber yard again with this handy creation :)

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
Less than $6
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

CaitCouch

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/13/2016 - 09:31

We altered our plans as my dining room could only accomodate a 7 ft table! This was out first DIY that was this large of an undertaking and we love the way it came out. If we can do this as woodworking novices you can definately do it! 

Estimated Cost
$150 in the philadelphia area including wood, screws, stain, and finish another $75 if you need to rent a mitre saw.
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Sanded down the table starting with 150 grit, followed by 220, then 320. Next, MinWax English Chestnut (1 coat- painted on and sat for 5 mins and then wiped off with rags- we didnt time it just about 5 mins - did the top first- then sides- then the legs one at a time to make it more manageable) followed by MinWax Satin Matte polyurethane (2 coats- 5 hours between coats and then sit for 48 hours untouched)

It was suggested to us that before attaching we should sand, stain and seal the legs. We didn't follow this advice from a friend and we should have!! being down on the ground with the table is all together was very hard on our backs and bottoms (and were in our 20s!). that is the only thing i would have done differently.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Chick Brooding Cabinet for Quail

My family has started raising quail recently and I built their first home while they were still in the incubator. I have never done any wood work before, so this turned out much nicer than I expected! I followed the suggestion of having the brooder part on the top instead of the bottom and omitted the extra shelf. Two 5-gallon buckets fit nicely below the chicks. Since the quail are so small when they hatch, I used 1/4 inch hardware cloth for the "floor" but it wasn't long before that was too small so we had to change it to 1/2 inch. I am going to make a tray with each size of hardware cloth on it to make it easier to change out for next time, because they really do need both sizes.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$75
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Reclaimed Wood Outdoor Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/15/2024 - 10:47

I had leftover lumber from building the full size table so I built this outdoor coffee table using the same design just a little smaller.

Connie Breck

Wall Jewelry Cabinet

Submitted by jlabis on Sat, 08/25/2012 - 08:57

I used the wall jewelry cabinet plan and modified it a bit to fit the materials that I already had in the garage. The whole project was built using salvaged barn wood and siding that was built in the 1800's. It took a little longer to square up the boards and sand them to a friendly feel but I had little to no finishing time in the end. The plans were so spot on that used them almost exactly.! I just added another cross support to the door and used old barn wood tongue and groove for the back. I also fastened a little piece of wood at the top of the door with one brad nail. I did this to keep the door shut in a more attractive way then a clasp or hasp. The little piece swings out of the way with ease. I bought the knob at hobby lobby for 2 dollars and the hinges were less than 2 dollars. The hardware cloth came in a roll that was 24 inches by 25 feet long for 10 dollars. Basic wood working knowledge and tools are super helpful with this project and as is stated in the original plans... a kreg jig makes it so much faster and easier.! Thanks so much for sharing!!

Estimated Cost
about 14 dollars including the hardware cloth.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Just cleaned the wood with compressed air and sanded to a friendly feel being carful not to kill the old look. Thats the only advantage to using old wood... the finish time is short but the prep time is a little more involved.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Lydia Daybed

Made by my husband for our 3 year old daughter's first "big girl" bed. We love this bed!

Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

West Elm Wall Cubby Knock Off

Submitted by Mike F on Sun, 09/18/2016 - 06:15

My wife found this post on Pinterest and asked if i could build it.  The hardest part was cuting the angles wit the jig saw because i can never get it to cut square and i have a little OCD about that sometimes.  I ended up using my table saw a little.  I would not recommened that though.  If i had acess to a band saw stand that would have ben perfect.

Estimated Cost
Around twenty dollars
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
I used two different stains, provincial and special walnut.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Kitchen island

Submitted by deadspuds on Tue, 06/30/2020 - 20:36

Built this island off your coffee table plans...love this sight thank you.

Estimated Cost
200
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Mudroom Storage Lockers and Bench

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/19/2024 - 14:06

I really appreciated your garage/mudroom project guidance. I stumbled on it as I was trying to figure out how to design my project. I basically copied yours!! 😁

You also turned me on to pocket hole joinery. Previously I have used a biscuit joiner and find it very challenging. Thank you, I am a convert!

Don Arrowood

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