Album: http://ift.tt/2BQTM0E - I followed this example with some minor changes to fit my own space: http://ift.tt/2BjE8d7 wife said she wanted one, so I decided I could build it. I watched the video at least 10 times and got a pretty good feel for what I needed to do. I've never done anything like this. The end result is not quite what I would consider "professional," but it looks pretty damn good and I'm happy with the result.I actually needed a lot of tools to complete this project, and luckily I already had some and borrowed the rest from my dad. This is what I used:miter/chop sawtable sawcordless drillsKregg jig - this I had to buycircular sawdrill press (to cut holes in plywood for new outlets. a jigsaw would have been useful here)band saw to contour trim to existing trimbelt sander and orbit sanderair compressornail gunhammerwire cutter/stripperdigital angle readerlong levelClamps. More than you think you might need.You do have to start with some very basic math, figuring out how big to cut your frame pieces so the finished project will fit your space after adding the plywood and trim pieces. In this case, the plywood and trim would add 1.5 inches to the top and front of the frame, so I took that into account when cutting the frame pieces.I started off building the center piece. This is actually the only piece I secured to the structure. I screwed it into place in several places, driving long screws in studs. The side pieces are secured directly to the center piece. I just used the miter saw to cut the 2x4s for the frame pieces and the kregg jig to drill the pocket holes. The frame pieces are held together with glue and screws.Despite all the measurements and test fitting, the frame sections didn't fit together perfectly so I had to attack them with a belt sander. Before everything was secured together, I clamped some plywood and trim pieces to front edges to make sure they would line up with the existing wall like I wanted them to. Once I was satisfied, I took the plunge and screwed it all together.The front plywood panels were cut on a table saw. The vertical trim pieces were also cut on a table saw because they needed an angle cut into them lengthwise to make them fit together nicely. The rest of the trim pieces were cut on the miter saw.A circular saw was used to cut the top seat pieces. I found the correct angle with the digital angle finder, marked out my measurements, then clamped down a long level on top the piece to use as a guide for the circular saw. This ensured a straight cut. You can buy jigs specifically for this but I didn't want to spend another $50 on something I may not use again.The front panels are secured with screws around the edges, which are covered by the trim afterwards. The trim is secured with glue and finish nails driven by a nail gun. The top is secured with long finish nails driven by a hammer, and sunk below the surface with a ...punch? Not sure what it's called, but it's like a metal cylinder that comes to a point, which you place on top of the nail head then you hit it with a hammer. I did have to add several shims at various points to the get the top sections level, and also behind the front panels to get them vertical and square. I used composite shims because they said they won't break or compress over time. I'll see if that's true.Next, every hole and seam gets some wood putty. Let dry, then sand down. After sanding we took a shop vac to the whole thing to get all the dust, then rubbed it down with tack cloth. We applied primer, then two coats of paint, then caulk around the edges.It took a month to build, working mostly on weekends. You may have noticed we didn't tear out any of the existing trim. It would have been easier if we did, but we wanted to build with as little damage to the house as possible in case it turned out crappy or we wanted to remove it down the line. I guess we weren't confident in how good it would look. If I did it over again I would just tear out the existing trim.Things I learned: Nice plywood and lumber is expensive. Do make sure to set up and "zero" your miter saw. Have confidence in the process and be sure to think ahead so you don't make a costly mistake. Table saws are scary - get a gripper or something to protect your hand and keep your hand away from the blade. via /r/DIY http://ift.tt/2BQ88yA
