Community Brag Posts

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

Potting Table

Started with Ana's basic plan/dimensions. Changed the back legs to 1x6, added aa 2nd shelf and storage closet to hang hand tools/gloves.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$125
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax/Helmsman Semi-Gloss Spar Urethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

$10 Shelves

Submitted by mgesinel on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 11:36

As soon as I saw this I had to try it! So cheap and so easy! Makes for a fun piece of art work/ practical storage for books.

Estimated Cost
$10 per shelf
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Blue big kids picnic table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 08/05/2016 - 23:25

I primed and painted all of the boards before I cut them. Then I just had to do some touch up when I was done. This is my first woodworking project and the instructions were clear and easy to follow. I already have my next Ana White project picked out.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$100
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Primer and paint
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Bed for teen boy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/24/2020 - 21:54

Went shopping Saturday, worked a few hours, then worked most of the day Sunday. Our boy is in heaven and everyone else wants one now.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$150-$175
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Weathered look, the same brand as recommended.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Mailbox Stand

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/12/2024 - 08:33

I didn't like the standard mailbox we had at my house so I designed this with my CAD program and mage it happen. thanks for this opportunity to post this.

Rich Hebert

Outdoor Patio Table

Submitted by stephanief on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 18:29

I built this outdoor patio table in about a weeks time working on and off. There are mistakes, it's uneven in places and it is not perfect! That being said, the plans for this are very forgiving and nobody would ever know without looking for these things.

You can get the breakdown on the build, the finish I used, chair solutions and other suggestions here:

http://legosecretagent.blogspot.com/2012/07/outdoor-patio-table.html

This beautiful table only cost around $60 total to build!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$60
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax, specifics at http://legosecretagent.blogspot.com/2012/07/outdoor-patio-table.html
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Kentwood side table (Restoration Hardware Kenwood nightstand)

I DO NOT have a Kreg Jig. If you don't have a Kreg Jig, I recommend purchasing small mending plates. I got mine at Walmart, they were $1.77 a 4 pack. I do not recommend using 3 inch nail screws and trying to get them in super straight. While it worked for 3 face frames, the last frame I just could not get to work (maybe I was getting tired). Speaking of tired, I mostly build in the middle of the night while my family is sleeping. If you look closely, I put the 1x2 26 1/2 inch pieces on the front and back frame. Wah wah.... I had to add an extra 1x2 across the top and re-size the 3/4 inch plywood on the bottom.

I'm pretty sure everything went wrong for me with this build but I wasn't going to let a nightstand beat me!

In case you are wondering, the cabinet pull is from Anthropologie. I haven't decided whether or not it's too fabulous for this piece.

Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Ha. I stained it with Minwax Gel Stain in Aged Oak and then my husband wanted dark dark dark so I did 2 parts Minwax Wood Finish in Dark Walnut to 1 part Minwax Polyshade in Bombay Mahogany. Then somewhere along the lines I sanded it all down, put mineral spirits on it and stained it with Rustoleum Dark Walnut. I touched it up using Minwax Gel Stain in Dark Walnut. Then finished with Minwax Polyurethane in Satin.

TLDR: I could never reproduce this color again. Ever. That is all.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Kitchen Island

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 08/10/2016 - 07:59

I created a different top out various size select pine boards joined by biscuits and glue and then added utensil hooks on both ends and a bottle opener

Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Gunstock stain and satin polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Tall Planters

Submitted by np78s on Mon, 05/25/2020 - 20:01

I love the way these planters look and knew I wanted to make them. My freehand circular skills aren't great, so I attached the pickets together with a furring strip and used a template (second picture) to make the cuts. I used screws to attach the furring strips so that once the trim pieces are attached, the furring strips can be removed - or not. This method takes a little longer but it allowed me to make uniform parts. It's also easier to align the sides of the planters since the pickets are already attached to one another - i.e. one unit. I've made two, have a third, shorter one in progress and plan to make more!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
No finish used. these are for vegetables and I didn't want to use a finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Night Tables

Submitted by Aisha on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 09:40

I used the plans for the Reclaimed Wood bedside tables but I didn't want to make all those drawers (being a beginner) so I settled on one. It took me fairly long to complete but really it should have been only a weekend project. I love the way they turned out.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
One coat each of Varathane's Early American followed by Red Mahogony. Two coats of poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Debi_G (not verified)

Fri, 07/20/2012 - 20:16

I too fear drawers.
Your bedside tables have turned out beautifully!

Simple Entryway Bench

Submitted by eulysses on Sun, 05/11/2014 - 19:46

This is my second project. I based it on the "simple easy storage bench". I made this for my wife, she requested an entryway bench as you enter the house from the garage. I'm glad I was able to finish it just in time for Mother's Day :).

I learned a lot by doing this project (e.g. hiding nails, wood fillers, warped wood, sanding, to name a few). There's still a lot of things to learn, I'm hoping to be able to practice more.

Estimated Cost
$35
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Clear Gloss Polyurethane (minwax)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Alden's Computer desk

Submitted by veiglcc on Sun, 08/14/2016 - 08:20

Small computer desk built for mom. Was not built from a plan.

Estimated Cost
Estimated cost $60.
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Bombay Mahogany stain (gloss).
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Kids Twin Beds

Submitted by amichener on Wed, 05/27/2020 - 08:29

This is my first wood building project and I love the way they turned out. Took my about a week of work here and there on the first one and the second one I built from start to finish in two days. This is called the Simple Twin Bed and it's a great plan, very sturdy. Pocket holes work GREAT on this build. I added pocket holes to the side rails in to the posts for extra support.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$135
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

$2.00 Scrap Lap Desk

This was a really quick and easy build. I built it with two bucks and two hours with some scrap wood I had laying around. The only thing I bought was a package of 2 standard hinges ($2). Also, I deviated from the plan a little by not including the lower storage compartments (didn't want it to get too heavy), making the legs 4" shorter (so it's more comfortable to use in bed), and not building the storage dividers under the flip-top lid. Check out more info by clicking my blog link!

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$2.00
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Finish Used
A quick sanding and a coat of Rustoleum Ultimate Wood Stain in Dark Walnut.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Farmhouse Table

This was my first woodworking project. Thank you Ana for providing the plan and making it easier for me.

Estimated Cost
60
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax oak and fast drying poly.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

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?

Back