I made a thing: Baby Change Table edition

"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
11/06/2014 at 18:54 • Filed to: Dadlopnik

Last week I finally finished my homemade baby change table. I certainly learned a fair bit doing it:

The reason for the split in the top/bottom: When I was looking for some large pieces of wood to cover the top/bottom shelf, Windsor Plywood had a sale on some 24"x24" laminated pieces - something like $3/piece. That was way cheaper than the other stuff I saw, so I bought them and used them. It certainly isn't perfect, but it's definitely the largest thing I've done so far.

Next up: a curio cabinet. Judging from how long the change table took, if I start now I should be able to get the curio cabinet done before little hands are mobile and able to grab things.

DISCUSSION (28)

T5Killer > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/06/2014 at 19:03

Awesome I really want to start doing this. I am planning on making a shoe "lazy Susan" for my wife for Christmas.

Kinja'd!!!

desertdog5051 > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/06/2014 at 19:13

Nicely done. The joint in the top could be a problem, though. I like making things for the house. I made my own dado blade after I priced them. Works just fine. Same as cars in my mind.

desertdog5051 > T5Killer
11/06/2014 at 19:14

That should be fun. Let us know on the progress.

T5Killer > desertdog5051
11/06/2014 at 19:17

Thanks I will :). I am going to make it 2 or 3 layers only since that one will be way to big.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > T5Killer
11/06/2014 at 19:28

I need to make one of those for my wife also. please post how you did it if you do end up doing it. I plan on making it smaller in diameter but 8ft tall to put in the corner of the walk-in closet.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/06/2014 at 19:33

GREAT JOB DUDE. I love the homemade stuff I'm planing to make a large dinning room table and king size bed for my new house. I'm planning on buying a shit load of tools on black friday.

I've always wanted to do this sort of stuff but I have been in an apartment for most of my adult life. but I'm moving into the house on the 20th and starting to build stuff shortly after.

you can find al sorts of great free plans on ana-white.com . but again great job for a first timer.

T5Killer > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
11/06/2014 at 19:35

Cool Will do. I am looking at one just like this.

http://matthewcolleen.wordpress.com/2013/01/27/55/

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > T5Killer
11/06/2014 at 19:38

cool I did not know you could get the circles pre-cut that would save a shit load of time and patience.

Thanks for the link

T5Killer > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
11/06/2014 at 19:49

NP I was happy to see that too! Lowe's BTW does have them I checked LOL.

Jcarr > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/06/2014 at 19:51

Nice, are you planning on adding rails?

Also, did you piss on it to test water resistance/splash back? ;)

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/06/2014 at 21:11

Kreg pocket screws changed my life and saved my marriage.

Kinja'd!!!

shop-teacher > T5Killer
11/06/2014 at 23:16

Cool, a Lazy Shoezan!

shop-teacher > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
11/06/2014 at 23:17

Love, love, love my Kreg Jig!

shop-teacher > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/06/2014 at 23:18

Good work!

shop-teacher > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
11/06/2014 at 23:20

Spend the money to get the good stuff. The cheap stuff is just not accurate enough for furniture building.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > shop-teacher
11/06/2014 at 23:48

I'm getting Dewalt for everything, got to have the Yellow tools. I have about $850.00 worth of tools picked out just waiting until black friday to buy it.

my list so far:

-12" compound miter saw

-corded drill for drilling obviously

-20v impact driver (to screw go thru 4x4's easier)

-20v cordless drill (so I can limit torque so I don't screw in too far)

-Kreg jig

-orbital sander

-Jigsaw

-various clamps

If there is another must have I would love to hear it. I know a table saw would be nice but I simply don't need it for the things I plan to make.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > T5Killer
11/07/2014 at 00:01

Quite the shoe rack! Any thoughts on what you are going to use for the horizontal flat parts?

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
11/07/2014 at 00:05

I've checked out Ana White's stuff before. She has a ton of designs, but she seems to love pocket joints for some reason.

I totally want to do a dining room table as well. I've got some huge 3"+ thick spruce slabs from an arborist friend. I think they'd work well for the table.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
11/07/2014 at 00:07

I've had my eye on the DeWalt DWE7480 table saw. I hadn't thought about a Black Friday deal. I wonder if they will have any deals up here in Canada.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
11/07/2014 at 00:08

Interesting. I guess I'm old school - I prefer mortis and tenon joints.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > desertdog5051
11/07/2014 at 00:10

he top has half a dozen layers of Varathane on it, and is almost like a sheet of glass. Running my finger across it, I can't feel the gap at all.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Jcarr
11/07/2014 at 00:11

No plans for rails. The pad we have for it has a curve to it to prevent baby from rolling around.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/07/2014 at 00:13

I'm finding the stuff on there a little too simple. so I'm essentially going to take 3-4 dinning room table plans and making my own hybrid out of all of them. I'm smart enough to be able to customize plans and change dimensions. I just need to look at something to get the ball rolling in my head and get some basic measurements to start with.

that spruce would make an awesome table top.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/07/2014 at 00:15

I sure hope so since I'm in Edmonton. They usually do up here as well so I'm waiting to see since I don't need the tools today may as well wait 2 weeks and maybe save a few hundred bucks.

desertdog5051 > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/07/2014 at 00:24

Looks good. Something very satisfying about making something out of wood.

shop-teacher > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
11/07/2014 at 04:23

I am a fan of the yellow tools, and you won't find a bad tool from them. I do suggest you try other good brands like Bosch, Makita, and Milwaukee. They all have certain things they do better than each other. IMO you can't beat a Bosch for jig saws, and you can't beat a Milwaukee for sawzalls. I've got the 20V Dewalt impact driver and drill, and I love those little suckers.

You will need a table saw to make furniture. Dewalt makes the most accurate little table saw, I absolutely love mine. I wouldn't get the smallest version, as they aren't capable of having a dado blade installed. That's something you'll need for making furniture as well.

I suggest spending the extra to get a sliding miter saw. You'd be surprised how often you'll need the extra capacity, and it makes lining up to your mark way easier. Bosch makes the nicest one of these, and Hitachi makes really nice ones too. I'm rocking a 13 year old Dewalt, and it is a fantastic saw.

For your corded drill, get a hammer drill, with a two speed gearbox. That will come in very handy for working around the house.

Also, clamps are a much better buy at garage sales, and on Craigslist. They don't wear out, and can be had for pennies on the dollar.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > desertdog5051
11/08/2014 at 00:05

Thanks. I think there's some satisfaction from comes from making anything - whether it is wood, metal, clay...

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
11/08/2014 at 00:08

That's more or less what I did for the change table - found a few different styles I liked, mashed them together, and adapted as I went.