Posted by
Jace
on
Monday, November 14, 2011
Being the weirdo that I am, the first thing I thought of when Randy told me we were having a child was what I would build for his/her room. Of course, the first piece that came to mind was a crib that could be hand-crafted by his/her old-man and it could be passed down from generation to generation. Yeah, right... assuming it doesn't get eaten by mice in the attic where it'll sit for 20 years between generations. Even with this thought in-mind I was still open to the idea of building the type of crib that could be converted into a bed and used for many years. I looked at several models and I was all set to make this dream a reality until we found a crib that we absolutely loved (it can't be converted into a full-size bed, so there is potential for still making a bed one day if I get the itch). See the picture below of the crib we chose. The best part, it was significantly cheaper than most cribs we were looking at. With this option now a reality, I moved on to the other piece I would inevitably build, the changing table.
 |
| Owen's Crib (w/out Bedding) and Chair |
Again, I didn't want to make something that would only be used for a
few years and then tossed to the side or converted into a microwave
stand. I wanted to craft a piece that could be used for many years as a
dresser. I wanted to know that the blood I would shed building it
would be worth it (yes, there was a hint of blood shed). After doing
some research (Randy loves perusing
Pottery Barn and I love
Amish Furniture
websites and the always-trusty Google Image searches) we decided on a
plan and I sketched it up. After the boss approved the plans, I went
to work.
It's made of solid 3/4" Pine, 3/4" Birch
Plywood for the top/sides/shelves and 1/4" Birch Plywood for the door
panel and back. I went with Pine/Birch ( as opposed to Oak, etc.)
because it would be painted white. I painted it with enamel latex
paint (diluted with just the right amount of water) using my trusty
Harbor Freight HVLP spray gun
and then sealed with clear satin polycrylic which really adds a nice
finish. I was able to fully reap the benefits of spending a lot of time
fine-tuning my painting techniques while building our
entertainment center.
The painting process was a snap and was the easiest part of this
build. I then finished it off with self-closing euro hinges and
full-extension drawer slides. Randy found some "button" door knobs to
cap everything off. If you have any specific questions, please let me
know.
 |
| Face Frame |
 |
| Test-Fitting the Drawers |
 |
| Drawers All Installed |
 |
| Just Installed the Drawer Faces |
 |
| Ready for Paint |
 |
| After 1 Coat of Primer, 2 Coats of Paint and 3 Coats of Clear |
 |
| Making Sure Everything Still Functions |
 |
| Drawers Still Fit and Operate Perfectly |
 |
| Full-Extension Drawer Slides and Adjustable Shelves |
 |
| Set-Up in Owen's Room |
 |
| Lots and Lots of Space |
 |
| Done! |
Main Tools Used: My cheap Table Saw (I
reallllllly want/need to get a better one), 10" Sliding Miter Saw,
Router Table, Pocket-Hole Jig, Cordless and Corded Drill (life saver),
Palm Sander, Belt Sander, Various Hand Planes, Hand Chisels, etc.
Owen better enjoy it!
3 comments:
Looks good man. If there is something a newborn loves, its a changing table (for him to poop on!). That last comment was brought to you by Triumph the insult dog.
What did you use to make the peg holes for the shelves?
Very nice.
I very carefully measured each hole and used a homemade drill bit stop to drill each hole. However, it would be better to use a jig that is made for this purpose (or a homemade one - i.e. a peg board) or at the very least a drill press, but I don't have either. Instead it just took me a lot longer to make sure they were even, etc.
Looks awesome and what a treasure for you to say you built that! Too cool.
Post a Comment