Small Woodworking Projects to Try This Weekend

A few ideas for small woodworking projects to try this weekend include a birdhouse, a mailbox, a planter box or a toy chest. There are many woodworking project plans and ideas available online. Each of these items requires a minimum of cutting and joining and can be accomplished in a single weekend.

Birdhouses

Some birdhouse plans are pretty intricate and may take more than a single weekend to finish. However basic wren bird houses can be done quickly. It is important to make a house that will attract the specific type of bird desired. For example wren houses do not have a perch on the front of the house as they don’t need one and this can give predatory birds a place to sit. Purple Martin houses are larger and are designed to hold several nests. Review specific plans carefully to ensure they include precise measurements and sizes for all cuts and joins.

Mailboxes

A mailbox is a bit more complex than a birdhouse because it requires adding a door that moves and a flag that moves. A mailbox will be exposed to all kinds of weather and the wood will need to be treated to last longer in sun, wind, rain, snow or any other weather conditions in the area. Painting the box will also help it withstand weather. A variety of mailbox plans are available online for free. Some mailboxes are designed to be placed on a post while others are made to attach to a home. Review the plans carefully to ensure the box will fit in the space available.

Planter Box

This is a great project for a gardener as the boxes can be made large or small and used inside and out. Planter boxes need to be made of rot resistant wood such as cedar or redwood. This wood is more expensive, but will last much longer. Planter boxes can be lined with a plastic liner to eliminate the need for using cedar or redwood. They should also have drain holes in the bottom to allow water to escape when the plants get watered or it rains. The wood can also be painted, but only on the outside to avoid paint chemicals seeping into the dirt over time.

Toy Chest

A toy chest is very similar in structure to a planter box or square mailbox. It is simply large enough to store toys. It is important to install a spring on the lid to prevent it from falling down on a child’s head. This safety feature should be included, even if not indicated in the specific woodworking plans.

Other Ideas

These are just some of the idea for weekend woodworking projects. Other ideas include a bookshelf, a picnic table, a sandbox or even a small TV tray table. The more skilled and experienced the woodworker the faster the project can be done and more complex projects can be attempted.

It is important to always follow all safety procedures when working with power tools and saws during the construction of any one of these woodworking projects.