Community Brag Posts

Rustic X Coffee Table

Submitted by rhern053 on Tue, 12/18/2012 - 17:20

Rustic X Coffee Table. Stain is wet in the photo, so a bit glossier than I'm anticipating. Kept diagonal "X" cross-beams whole and staggered to create more depth in the look of the structure. One coat Minwax "Ipswitch Pine." Changed mind and went with 2-3 more of Minwax "Driftwood." Would have been more grey, less red had I gone with "Driftwood" from the start.

Estimated Cost
$50
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

Mini Coffin

Submitted by mtairymd on Sun, 09/28/2014 - 04:03

I scaled this 1 foot long coffin from a full size version I saw online.  I built two versions – see drawing links.  The first one (documented below) is from purchased craft wood which was clean and straight.  The second version was built from scrap pallets.   I’ve also included a quick video of the build along with PDF versions of the plans.

Build Instructions:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Mini-Coffin/

Video:

http://youtu.be/Rnwt6G7evgA

Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Paint or stain
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Toy Storage + Cubbies

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/13/2017 - 13:47

We LOVE how functional this toy bin is!! My husband built it in 3 hours, and then the stain took me 2 days (typical the finishing stain takes the most time! Ha ha) I did a 4 step process after looking at dozens of websites of how to stain- since we used pine board I didn't want the grain to stand out as much. 1: homemade vinegar solution stain 2: rustoleum weathered grain stain 3: minwax special walnut 4: 3 coats of poly 

I found the label holders at houseofantiquehardware.com 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$120
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Corner hutch

Submitted by Soni_max on Sat, 09/26/2020 - 03:06

This was challenging, but that made finishing it, so much greater. Ana's plans are so easy to follow.

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Rustic X Coffee Table

Submitted by bashir007 on Sun, 12/23/2012 - 07:52

Used cedar wood so I applied a few costs of oil based polyurethane to compensate for the softness of the wood.

Estimated Cost
75
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Steel wool and vinegar solution with an oil based polyurethane finish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Living Wall

Submitted by Rantzay on Thu, 10/02/2014 - 16:16

Found the plans for the little 3 tiered planter really interesting.  I built a few of the boxes when my wife says "You know...." She has wanted a "living wall" for years, so I modified some of the sizes to make the boxes 18 inches long to accommodate my 37" inch wall.  I added a french cleat to the back of each box, cut down a couple furring strips that I anchored to the wall and added the other half of the french cleat to the frame.  Woot! Together in moments.  The individual planters can be easily removed and rearranged.  I added LED's to the bottoms of the planters for additional lighting and it's really a cool affect.

Estimated Cost
$25 using cedar pickets
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
sanded smooth and treated with linseed oil
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Lap desk for daughter

It came out really good my daughter loves pokadots so I filled the thing with hundreds and hundreds of pokadots. This was a lot of fun and very rewarding.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
About ten dollars in wood and eight dollars for wood glue, screws, caulking, and hinges. Twenty dollars in Paint, paint pens, and clear coat glossy.
The time it took me cost was priceless.
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
All made from scrap wood that I had laying around.
Ceder, press board, and plywood. I used discounted paint for the solid color and spray gloss clear for that shine. I used a huge assortment of paint pens for all the pika dots. Two standard hinges for the top. Lots of wood glue through out the whole thing and lots of caulking for all the cracks.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project

100 Sq. Ft. Gable Shabin with Loft

Submitted by Emillie on Thu, 10/01/2020 - 11:45

We built a bunkie-style shabin for our off-grid vacation home. We wanted to keep it under 100 sq ft so we wouldn't have to worry about planning permission. This tiny shabin is 8ft x 12 ft with an 8ft x 7ft loft. It's perfect for our family of 4!

The whole thing (roof and all) cost around $6000 to build and we finished it in about 2 weeks. Phew! It was the perfect project for the summer.

Estimated Cost
6000
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Sleeping bunkie for a family of four.
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced

Comments

End table with drawer.

Submitted by dtmagnet on Mon, 10/06/2014 - 17:24

Used the plans for the Rustic X End Table on this site, modified them a bit to fit the space I wanted to fill. Also changed the design a bit to incorporate a drawer. I wire brushed each piece with a wire wheel brush drill bit to give it texture and make the grain come to life, then after assembly I went over the whole thing with a blow torch to add some nice colour and make the grain further stand out. Finally finished it off with minwax classic grey stain. I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$40
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Wire brushed and burnt with a blow torch, then stained with minwax classic grey.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Wifey

Sun, 11/02/2014 - 20:57

Looks nice. Any notes as to how you incorporated the drawer?

Cubby/Bookshelf/Corner Desk Combo

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/18/2017 - 20:40

This is a mashup of several plans, combined into one big, bad ass, office desk. I've had a little experience years ago in high school woodworking classes, but haven't really built much since. This reminded me how much I enjoy working with wood. So rewarding to be typing this message at my new office desk!

Estimated Cost
$400
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax "Early American"
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

treemeagher

Wed, 08/19/2020 - 06:25

This is amazing! So amazing could I ask you to share with me what prices from the collection of plans you used and how? I’m looking at your pic trying to figure out how to incorporate the plans you used. I want to build one for myself lol fantastic job!!!!

Rustic X Desk

Submitted by PoppaZotch on Mon, 10/05/2020 - 13:31

Rustic X desk but finished with a propane torch and wipe-on poly.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$110
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
charred with a propane torch
wipe-on poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Large Covered Sand Box with Seats

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 11/10/2024 - 20:03

Followed the plans for the sandbox for my granddaughter. She absolutely loves it and so do I since I have a seat I can sit at! I did enlarge it a little so added some supports. It works so great. - Sandy

Built from Plan(s)

My dream Modern Farm Table with Benches!

Submitted by mitchejl on Fri, 12/28/2012 - 17:52

My ex-marine uncle helped me build the modern farm table and benches. We bought pine from Lowe's. Not all of the pre-cut pine slabs fit the exact dimensions from the modern farm table and benches plans. We knew some of the wood would have to be cut again. A Lowe's worker was kind enough to use the store saw to cut some of the wood into the dimensions needed for the table and benches. He measured and remeasured.

Once in my uncle's garage, we first dry fit the furniture. My uncle started with the table. We dry fit the table on its back (in other words - we assembled the table upside down without drilling the table together). He then remeasured all of the wood for the table (while on its back). He wanted to be sure that all pieces would fit, once we started to actually assemble the table with drills. We did the same for each of the two benches.

Then we buffed out any dark marks or stamps on the individual pieces of wood. We did this by hand and not with an automatic tool. That part was BRUTAL.

Next we conditioned the wood. Wood conditioning is necessary, because pine stains unevenly. We waited 3 hours before applying the first coat of stain.

We applied the first coat of stain. Our stain was a mix of early american and golden oak. I did not intend for the table to come out as dark as it did. We mixed more of the early American stain than I had intended, because the table came out darker than I expected.

We waited in beween coats and we assembled the table and benches in between the first and second coat of stain.

We applied a second coat of stain to the assembled table and benches.

Then we applied polyurethane to seal and protect the stain.

After the polyurethane, we used wool to sand out any bubbles.

After the table and benches were assembled and everything drilled in place, we put wood putty in the places where holes were drilled.

Then, we stained the wood putty. The wood putty accepted the stain very well.

Duration

We built this table during the second week of August 2011. The project lasted between 28-30 hours over 5 days.

Make sure your boards of wood are fairly free from cracks. After inspecting them we put several boards back.

I love my table! I'm always complimented on its beauty. My materials cost around $230.00. I built this table, because the farm table and matching benches I wished to purchase totaled $2,000.00. Thanks to my ex-marine uncle, I have a fabulous table to last a lifetime. I mention his ex-marine status, because the military taught him perfectionism. Building a table with in 100 degree heat with a perfectionist was tedious and hard work. However, it clearly paid off in the end! Thank you Uncle!

Estimated Cost
$230.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
two stains: Early American and Golden Oak
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Whale cottage

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/22/2017 - 09:46

 Thanks! I was able to use your plans for all the cabinets. Real easy to follow! 

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

Mudroom bench and storage rack/shelves

Thants for the inspiration We love it.

Comments

No-Sew Upholstered Bed

Submitted by a_wolfe on Sun, 12/30/2012 - 16:34

Ok, so I was looking for a new headboard and stumbled on the plans for this Upholstered Bed.

Being without my full compliment of work this winter, I figured, what the heck. I'll try it.

Off I went to Home Depot, bought the supplies and got started.

I should mention that this was my first time doing any sort of carpentry, I have never used a jigsaw, and I had to borrow all the tools.

I found this SUPER easy! I had the headboard support finished in under an hour. Then I took my time cutting the plywood, just to make sure I didn't make any mistakes.

**I should mention right now, if you are planning on using a heavy upholstery fabric like I did, when you cut out the headboard insert, make 2 cuts! I wasn't able to get the insert to lay flush because the fabric was so thick! (I have since taking the picture added decorative trim to hide the little gaps)***

Once I had my plywood cut, I had no problem attaching it to the frame. The upholstery was a 2 person job that took a little time and a lot of staples, but not difficult.

I chose to tuft the headboard insert, and am so happy I did. It was time consuming, but worth it in the end.

All said and done, this took me a little over a week to complete. I had the construction done within a day or two, but the upholstery was very time consuming.

I love my new bed!

Estimated Cost
$275.00
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Heavy Upholstery Fabric:

DAWSON: OATMEAL

WIDTH: 55"

FIBER CONTENT: 43% Olefin, 42% Cotton, 10% Eco Cloth, 5% Acrylic


Painted legs with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

European farmhouse table

Submitted by jenzopr on Tue, 10/14/2014 - 06:04

When I first saw the original plan on ana-white.com, I knew that this table and the bench would fit perfectly into my place. Since in europe we measure mostly in meters, I adapted the plan to a table top of 1,0 x 2,10 meters (or for 8 persons) and made the bench fit between the table legs. Luckily, a friend (he is a carpenter) could get me solid beech wood and helped me to get it into the right size (it took a weekend, since we started from raw tree trunks). Assembly was done in two days and I stained it twice afterwards (3 days, with rest ;) ).

Estimated Cost
400 Euros (~500 dollars)
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Surface was just sanded, treated with hard oil and sanded again on the next day. You should repeat this procedure at least once a year.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate