Here is my second project. A changing table for my soon to be first grandchild.

The plan came from a Lowe’s newlsetter this past summer and looked easy enough that a novice like myself could do it. The entire unit is made of Birch Ply and Poplar. Easy enough to get here where our selection of woods is somewhat restricted.

The large open end could have shelves but I left them out in favor of using the space for a mini Fridge. The other end will house a mini-microwave. When I told the woman who lets me live with her the plan she said they were not needed. I told her that the first time a crying baby does not have to come upstairs to be fed at 3:00am they wouldnt seem like such a bad idea anymore. Much to my amazement, I won that argument, frst one in 26 years.

This turned out to be a great learning experience. I learned…

Substituting one type of clamp for another is not neccessarily a good idea unless you make required adjustments.

You can sand plywood far too much relatively quickly.

No matter what stain the woman that lets me live with her chooses…I got the wrong one.

A “standard” changing table mat, in no way resembled the size of the table in the plan (How would I know, buying baby things was her job)

I still count it a success. The drawers work, the fridge and microwave fit, I trashed less than 1/4 sheet of ply and only one 1”x 4” x 8’ in the process. and Most improtantly, It is done and the baby hasnt arrived yet.!

Here is my first project. My son asked for a shelf to display his girlfriends prized signed volleyball. I had just read an article on building a torsion box shelf and thought that would be just the thing. The interior of the box is poplar and the outside is maple (at least I think it was Maple).