All 98 projects
Every project has a cutting diagram, a cut list with real board sizes, step-by-step instructions and a shopping list. Most come in several sizes.
Mission tabouret (1909 plan)
A 17″ octagonal-top side table with keyed stretchers, adapted from a 1909 Popular Mechanics plan.
Coasters (set of 4)
Four square coasters from a short length of 1×4.
Phone stand
Two pieces and one angled joint. Holds a phone or small tablet.
Peg coat rack
A backboard with five Shaker pegs for the hallway.
Step stool
A sturdy 9″ step for the kitchen, with arched cutouts in the legs.
Tool tote
An open carry box with tapered ends and a dowel handle.
French cleat strips
Beveled strips for a garage tool wall.
Drawer organizer
A two-section tray sized for a kitchen or desk drawer.
Headphone stand
A base, a post and an arm. Most of the time goes into sanding.
Tea-light holder
A 2×4 offcut with three drilled pockets. A quick gift.
Toy car
A chunky car body cut from 2×4 with a curved roofline.
Door wedges
One diagonal cut through a short block makes a pair.
Garden stakes
Six pointed plant markers cut from thin strips.
Raised dog bowl stand
A wide top with two bowl cutouts, on two end panels.
Two-tier shoe rack
Holds six to eight pairs under a bench or in a closet.
Bathtub tray
A board that spans the tub, with cleats underneath so it can't slide off.
Charcuterie board with handle
A wide hardwood board with a cut-out handle.
Platform bird feeder
A shallow tray with a rim and a mesh floor that drains.
2×4 bookends
Two L-shaped blocks heavy enough to hold a shelf of paperbacks.
Desk pen holder
A 2×4 block drilled with a row of angled holes for pens and pencils.
Entryway hook board
A chunky 2×4 rail with coat hooks. Strong enough for heavy bags.
4×6 picture frame
A mitered frame for a 4×6 photo, cut from 1×2 stock, with a rabbet for the glass.
5×7 picture frame
A mitered frame for a 5×7 photo, cut from 1×2 stock, with a rabbet for the glass.
8×10 picture frame
A mitered frame for an 8×10 photo, cut from 1×2 stock, with a rabbet for the glass.
11×14 picture frame
A mitered frame for an 11×14 photo, cut from 1×3 stock, with a rabbet for the glass.
16×20 picture frame
A mitered frame for a 16×20 photo, cut from 1×3 stock, with a rabbet for the glass.
18″ floating shelf, 1×6
An 18-inch shelf, 5½″ deep, that hangs on a hidden cleat screwed into the studs.
24″ floating shelf, 1×6
A 24-inch shelf, 5½″ deep, that hangs on a hidden cleat screwed into the studs.
36″ floating shelf, 1×6
A 36-inch shelf, 5½″ deep, that hangs on a hidden cleat screwed into the studs.
48″ floating shelf, 1×6
A 48-inch shelf, 5½″ deep, that hangs on a hidden cleat screwed into the studs.
18″ floating shelf, 1×8
An 18-inch shelf, 7¼″ deep, that hangs on a hidden cleat screwed into the studs.
24″ floating shelf, 1×8
A 24-inch shelf, 7¼″ deep, that hangs on a hidden cleat screwed into the studs.
36″ floating shelf, 1×8
A 36-inch shelf, 7¼″ deep, that hangs on a hidden cleat screwed into the studs.
48″ floating shelf, 1×8
A 48-inch shelf, 7¼″ deep, that hangs on a hidden cleat screwed into the studs.
18″ planter box, 1×6
An 18-inch herb planter with 5½″-tall sides and a slatted floor. Cedar lasts longest outdoors.
24″ planter box, 1×6
A 24-inch herb planter with 5½″-tall sides and a slatted floor. Cedar lasts longest outdoors.
30″ planter box, 1×6
A 30-inch herb planter with 5½″-tall sides and a slatted floor. Cedar lasts longest outdoors.
36″ planter box, 1×6
A 36-inch herb planter with 5½″-tall sides and a slatted floor. Cedar lasts longest outdoors.
18″ planter box, 1×8
An 18-inch herb planter with 7¼″-tall sides and a slatted floor. Cedar lasts longest outdoors.
24″ planter box, 1×8
A 24-inch herb planter with 7¼″-tall sides and a slatted floor. Cedar lasts longest outdoors.
30″ planter box, 1×8
A 30-inch herb planter with 7¼″-tall sides and a slatted floor. Cedar lasts longest outdoors.
36″ planter box, 1×8
A 36-inch herb planter with 7¼″-tall sides and a slatted floor. Cedar lasts longest outdoors.
36″ 2×4 bench
A 3 ft backless bench from 2×4s, with three seat slats and apron-braced legs.
48″ 2×4 bench
A 4 ft backless bench from 2×4s, with three seat slats and apron-braced legs.
60″ 2×4 bench
A 5 ft backless bench from 2×4s, with three seat slats and apron-braced legs.
72″ 2×4 bench
A 6 ft backless bench from 2×4s, with three seat slats and apron-braced legs.
36″ sawhorse, 27″ tall
A 36-inch 2×4 sawhorse at a 27-inch working height. Build two for a cutting station.
36″ sawhorse, 30″ tall
A 36-inch 2×4 sawhorse at a 30-inch working height. Build two for a cutting station.
48″ sawhorse, 30″ tall
A 48-inch 2×4 sawhorse at a 30-inch working height. Build two for a cutting station.
2×4 ft raised garden bed
A 2-by-4-foot bed with 2×6 sides and 2×4 corner posts. Narrow enough to reach across.
3×6 ft raised garden bed
A 3-by-6-foot bed with 2×6 sides and 2×4 corner posts. Narrow enough to reach across.
4×4 ft raised garden bed
A 4-by-4-foot bed with 2×6 sides and 2×4 corner posts. Four feet is as wide as you can weed from both sides.
4×8 ft raised garden bed
A 4-by-8-foot bed with 2×6 sides and 2×4 corner posts. Four feet is as wide as you can weed from both sides.
2×8 ft raised garden bed
A 2-by-8-foot bed with 2×6 sides and 2×4 corner posts. Narrow enough to reach across.
12″ spice rack, 3 shelves
A 12-inch wall rack with 3 shelves and dowel rails, sized for standard spice jars.
16″ spice rack, 3 shelves
A 16-inch wall rack with 3 shelves and dowel rails, sized for standard spice jars.
20″ spice rack, 4 shelves
A 20-inch wall rack with 4 shelves and dowel rails, sized for standard spice jars.
24″ spice rack, 4 shelves
A 24-inch wall rack with 4 shelves and dowel rails, sized for standard spice jars.
20″ monitor riser, 9¼″ deep
A 20-inch riser, 9¼″ deep, that lifts a monitor 4″ with room for a keyboard underneath.
24″ monitor riser, 9¼″ deep
A 24-inch riser, 9¼″ deep, that lifts a monitor 4″ with room for a keyboard underneath.
24″ monitor riser, 11¼″ deep
A 24-inch riser, 11¼″ deep, that lifts a monitor 4″ with room for a keyboard underneath.
30″ monitor riser, 11¼″ deep
A 30-inch riser, 11¼″ deep, that lifts a monitor 4″ with room for a keyboard underneath. Wide enough for two small screens.
24″ wall bookshelf, 2 shelves, 1×8
A 24-inch hanging bookshelf with 2 shelves, 7¼″ deep, all from 1×8.
24″ wall bookshelf, 3 shelves, 1×8
A 24-inch hanging bookshelf with 3 shelves, 7¼″ deep, all from 1×8.
30″ wall bookshelf, 3 shelves, 1×8
A 30-inch hanging bookshelf with 3 shelves, 7¼″ deep, all from 1×8.
36″ wall bookshelf, 3 shelves, 1×8
A 36-inch hanging bookshelf with 3 shelves, 7¼″ deep, all from 1×8.
30″ wall bookshelf, 3 shelves, 1×10
A 30-inch hanging bookshelf with 3 shelves, 9¼″ deep, all from 1×10.
36″ wall bookshelf, 4 shelves, 1×10
A 36-inch hanging bookshelf with 4 shelves, 9¼″ deep, all from 1×10.
30″ plywood bookcase, 24″ wide
A 30-inch plywood bookcase, 24″ wide, with 3 shelves and a ¼″ back.
36″ plywood bookcase, 30″ wide
A 36-inch plywood bookcase, 30″ wide, with 4 shelves and a ¼″ back.
48″ plywood bookcase, 30″ wide
A 48-inch plywood bookcase, 30″ wide, with 5 shelves and a ¼″ back.
60″ plywood bookcase, 30″ wide
A 60-inch plywood bookcase, 30″ wide, with 6 shelves and a ¼″ back. Anchor anything this tall to the wall.
72″ plywood bookcase, 30″ wide
A 72-inch plywood bookcase, 30″ wide, with 7 shelves and a ¼″ back. Anchor anything this tall to the wall.
6×4 keepsake box
A 6-by-4-inch box with mitered corners, a solid wood lid and a ¼″ panel bottom.
8×5 keepsake box
A 8-by-5-inch box with mitered corners, a solid wood lid and a ¼″ panel bottom.
10×6 keepsake box
A 10-by-6-inch box with mitered corners, a solid wood lid and a ¼″ panel bottom.
12×8 keepsake box
A 12-by-8-inch box with mitered corners, a solid wood lid and a ¼″ panel bottom.
14×10 keepsake box
A 14-by-10-inch box with mitered corners, a solid wood lid and a ¼″ panel bottom.
8×12 edge-grain cutting board
An 8-by-12-inch cutting board from 11 hardwood strips glued on edge, 1½″ thick.
10×14 edge-grain cutting board
A 10-by-14-inch cutting board from 13 hardwood strips glued on edge, 1½″ thick.
12×16 edge-grain cutting board
A 12-by-16-inch cutting board from 16 hardwood strips glued on edge, 1½″ thick.
12×18 edge-grain cutting board
A 12-by-18-inch cutting board from 16 hardwood strips glued on edge, 1½″ thick.
14×20 edge-grain cutting board
A 14-by-20-inch cutting board from 19 hardwood strips glued on edge, 1½″ thick.
6×12 serving board
A 6×12-inch serving board from a single 1×6 hardwood offcut, with eased edges and an oiled finish.
7×14 serving board
A 7×14-inch serving board from a single 1×8 hardwood offcut, with eased edges and an oiled finish.
9×16 serving board
A 9×16-inch serving board from a single 1×10 hardwood offcut, with eased edges and an oiled finish.
11×20 serving board
A 11×20-inch serving board from a single 1×12 hardwood offcut, with eased edges and an oiled finish.
Wren birdhouse
A nest box for wrens: 4″ × 5½″ floor, 8″ tall, with a 1⅛″ entrance hole. Cut from 1×6.
Chickadee birdhouse
A nest box for chickadees: 4″ × 5½″ floor, 9″ tall, with a 1⅛″ entrance hole. Cut from 1×6.
Bluebird birdhouse
A nest box for bluebirds: 4″ × 5½″ floor, 10″ tall, with a 1½″ entrance hole. Cut from 1×6.
Screech owl birdhouse
A nest box for screech owls: 7¾″ × 9¼″ floor, 14″ tall, with a 3″ entrance hole. Cut from 1×10.
18×12 slatted crate
An open 18-by-12-inch crate, 9″ tall, from 1×4 slats on 1×2 corner cleats. Sized for records and books.
24×16 slatted crate
An open 24-by-16-inch crate, 12″ tall, from 1×4 slats on 1×2 corner cleats. Big enough for firewood or garden tools.
12″ storage cube
A 12-inch open cube from ¾″ plywood with a ¼″ back. Fits standard 11″ fabric bins.
14″ storage cube
A 14-inch open cube from ¾″ plywood with a ¼″ back. A good size for shoes and toys.
16″ storage cube
A 16-inch open cube from ¾″ plywood with a ¼″ back. Fits large storage baskets.
4 ft plywood-top workbench
A 4 ft workbench with a 2×4 frame and a ¾″ plywood top at a 34″ working height.
6 ft plywood-top workbench
A 6 ft workbench with a 2×4 frame and a ¾″ plywood top at a 34″ working height.