Harrison Ford Carpenter Days: 14 Woodworking Projects That Still Sell

Long before he was a movie star, Harrison Ford was a carpenter with a tool belt, a young family and bills to pay. Unhappy with the small roles he was being offered, he taught himself woodworking and took on real carpentry jobs for clients around Los Angeles. That honest, hands-on work kept his family going until a casting director friend helped him back in front of the camera. There is something inspiring about that story, because it reminds us that a good pair of hands and a little patience can open surprising doors. Today, plenty of people earn real money from simple wood projects, and videos about the first build that paid for a whole shop are pulling in millions of views. Here are easy projects that sell well at markets and online, plus a few that just make home feel warmer..

Harrison Ford Carpenter Days: Where It All Began

According to his biography on Wikipedia, Ford was unhappy with the acting roles he was getting, so he became a self-taught professional carpenter to support his wife and two young sons. His clients included writers Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne, and he built a recording studio for musician Sergio Mendes. Casting director Fred Roos later helped him land a part in American Graffiti in 1973, and Star Wars followed in 1977. Feeling inspired to pick up a tool of your own..

You will need: A tape measure, a speed square, a cordless drill, a hand saw or circular saw, a few clamps, wood glue, sandpaper, safety glasses and hearing protection.

How to make it: 1. Start with soft, cheap pine boards while you learn. 2. Measure twice and cut once. 3. Sand every edge smooth before you assemble. 4. Finish with oil, stain or paint, and always wear safety glasses.

Tote Storage Rack, the Harrison Ford Carpenter Starter Project

One woodworking video called this the project that paid for every tool in the shop, and it has passed 2.4 million views. A tote rack holds plastic storage bins like drawers, so garages, basements and closets finally stay tidy. People happily pay for a sturdy one because store-bought shelves often wobble. You can build it in an afternoon from 2x4s and plywood strips, and it is easy to size for any space. Looking for an easy first project to sell?

You will need: 2×4 boards, 1×2 strips or plywood rails, wood screws, a drill, a saw, a tape measure, sandpaper and storage totes.

How to make it: 1. Measure your totes and plan the rails so the lips slide in. 2. Build two side frames from 2x4s. 3. Screw rails across the inside of each side. 4. Join the sides with top and bottom braces, then slide in the totes.

Simple Wooden Fall Pumpkins

Little wooden pumpkins are one of the best sellers at fall craft fairs, and they use up scrap wood you already have. Cut blocks from a 4×4 post or a small log, round the edges and paint them orange, white or soft sage. A twig or short dowel makes the stem, and a curl of jute twine adds the vine. Make sets of three in different heights, and watch them disappear from your table. Which colors would you paint yours?

You will need: A 4×4 post or small log, a saw, sandpaper, chalk or acrylic paint, a brush, twigs or dowels, a drill, wood glue and jute twine.

How to make it: 1. Cut the post into blocks of different heights. 2. Round the edges with sandpaper. 3. Paint and let dry. 4. Drill a small hole on top, glue in a twig stem and tie on the jute.

Farmhouse Dining Bench Like Harrison Ford the Carpenter Built

Harrison Ford, the carpenter turned movie star, even built the tables and chairs for his own Beverly Hills dining room in the 1980s, as Homes and Gardens reported. A farmhouse bench is a friendly way to start with furniture. It is really just a thick top on sturdy legs with a couple of braces, and it looks great at a dining table, in an entryway or at the foot of a bed. Custom lengths sell for good money. Stain it dark for a classic look or leave it natural. Where would a bench fit in your home?

You will need: 2×8 boards for the top, 2x4s for the legs and braces, a pocket hole jig or long screws, wood glue, a saw, a drill, sandpaper, stain and a clear coat.

How to make it: 1. Cut the top boards and join them with glue and pocket screws. 2. Build two leg frames from 2x4s. 3. Attach the legs and add a long center brace. 4. Sand well and finish with stain and a clear coat.

Cutting and Charcuterie Boards

Cutting boards are the classic first product for any new carpenter, and Harrison Ford fans who build them often say they sell the fastest. Hardwoods like maple, walnut and cherry look beautiful, and every board is one of a kind. Charcuterie boards with a handle are especially popular as holiday gifts. Finish them only with food-safe mineral oil or board butter. Want to start small? A single board cut from a nice plank can sell for several times the cost of the wood. Which shape will you try first?

You will need: Hardwood boards, a saw, a jigsaw for the handle, clamps, wood glue, a sander and food-safe mineral oil.

How to make it: 1. Cut or glue up boards to your size. 2. Trace and cut a handle shape. 3. Sand from coarse to very fine grit. 4. Rub in mineral oil and let it soak in overnight.

Floating Shelves

Floating shelves look like magic because the support hides inside the wood. They are popular in kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms, and buyers love custom lengths and stain colors. The easy way is a hollow box shelf that slides over a wood cleat screwed to the wall. Always screw into studs or use strong anchors so the shelf can hold real weight. Harrison Ford worked as a carpenter on real homes, and simple built-ins like this are what clients remember. Style them with plants, books and a few favorite things. Which room in your home needs one?

You will need: 1×8 and 1×3 boards, a 2×2 for the wall cleat, wood glue, brad nails, a saw, a drill, a level, long wall screws and stain.

How to make it: 1. Build a hollow box from the boards, open at the back. 2. Screw the 2×2 cleat level into the wall studs. 3. Slide the box over the cleat. 4. Secure it with screws through the top and fill the holes.

Ladder Plant Stand

Plant lovers never have enough space, which is why ladder plant stands sell so well. The shelves step back as they rise, so every pot gets its share of light. It is a simple A-frame build with a few shelves, and it fits nicely in a sunny corner or on a porch. Paint it white for a cottage look or stain it for a rustic feel. Make sure it sits level and steady before loading it with pots. Do you know a plant lover who would adore one?

You will need: 1×3 boards for the legs, 1×8 boards for the shelves, wood screws, wood glue, two hinges, a saw, a drill, sandpaper and paint or stain.

How to make it: 1. Cut two pairs of legs and angle the bottoms so they sit flat. 2. Attach shelves of different depths between the front legs. 3. Hinge the back legs at the top. 4. Sand and finish.

Wooden Serving Tray

A wooden serving tray is a small project with a big gift factor. With cutout handles and a smooth bottom, it carries coffee, breakfast in bed or snacks out to the porch. Add a stenciled pattern or a simple inlay to make it special. Trays are light and easy to ship, so they are a smart choice for selling online. Make a few in different woods, the way Harrison Ford did as a carpenter testing what clients liked. Which pattern would you add to yours?

You will need: 1×4 boards for the sides, a thin plywood or board bottom, a jigsaw, a drill, wood glue, brad nails, sandpaper and a food-safe finish.

How to make it: 1. Cut the bottom and four sides. 2. Drill two holes in each end piece and cut out the handle between them. 3. Glue and nail the sides around the base. 4. Sand smooth and finish.

Wall Spice Rack

A wall spice rack frees up a whole cabinet and puts every jar where you can see it. The simple version is just a few narrow shelves with a front rail so jars do not tip off. Build it to fit standard jars, and it becomes an easy seller for anyone who loves to cook. Paint or stain it to match the kitchen, and add a little hook rail at the bottom for towels. How many spices are hiding in your cupboard right now?

You will need: 1×4 boards, thin strips or dowels for the rails, wood glue, brad nails or screws, a saw, a drill, sandpaper and finish.

How to make it: 1. Cut two sides and three or four shelves. 2. Glue and screw the shelves between the sides. 3. Add a rail across the front of each shelf. 4. Finish it and hang it into wall studs.

Birdhouse From One Board

You can build a whole birdhouse from a single 1×6 board, which makes it a great weekend project to share with kids or grandkids while a grown-up handles the saw. Leave the wood natural or paint it in fun colors on the outside only. Size the entry hole for the birds in your area and drill a few small drain holes in the floor. Birdhouses sell well at spring markets and garden shops. Which birds visit your yard?

You will need: One 1×6 cedar or pine board, a saw, a drill with a hole saw bit, exterior wood glue, galvanized nails or screws, sandpaper and outdoor paint.

How to make it: 1. Cut the front, back, sides, floor and two roof pieces. 2. Drill the entry hole and drain holes. 3. Assemble with glue and nails. 4. Add the roof and hang it in a quiet spot.

Wall Hook Coat Rack, a Harrison Ford Carpenter Classic

A wall coat rack is one of the fastest projects on this list. It is just a smooth board with a row of hooks or wooden pegs, and it tames the pile of jackets by the door in a single afternoon. Paint it white for a clean look or stain it to match your floors. Custom versions with a small shelf on top sell especially well. It is the kind of honest, useful piece a working carpenter like Harrison Ford would have built by the dozen. How many jackets are piled by your door right now?

You will need: A 1×6 board, metal hooks or wooden pegs, a drill, screws, a level, sandpaper and paint or stain.

How to make it: 1. Cut the board to length and sand it. 2. Paint or stain it. 3. Mark even spacing and screw on the hooks or glue in the pegs. 4. Screw the rack into wall studs.

Wooden Coaster Set

Coasters are a perfect way to use up scraps. Slice thin rounds from a branch or cut squares from hardwood, sand them smooth and seal them well. Wood burned designs, initials or painted patterns turn them into personal gifts, and sets of four tied with twine are a favorite at holiday markets. If you love handmade gifts, our easy mason jar crafts pair beautifully with a coaster set. Who on your gift list would love one?

You will need: A small branch or hardwood scraps, a saw, sandpaper, a wood burning tool if you like, and a water-resistant finish.

How to make it: 1. Cut slices about half an inch thick. 2. Sand both sides smooth. 3. Add a design if you like. 4. Seal with several coats of finish.

Outdoor Planter Box

A slatted planter box brings color to a porch, patio or front step, and it is easy to build from fence pickets, some of the cheapest boards around. Line it with landscape fabric and leave gaps for drainage so the wood lasts for years. Paint it white like this one, or leave cedar natural so it weathers to a soft silver. Large custom planters can sell for a nice price every spring. What would you plant in yours first?

You will need: Cedar fence pickets, 2×2 corner posts, exterior screws, a saw, a drill, landscape fabric and a staple gun.

How to make it: 1. Cut pickets for the four sides and the bottom. 2. Screw them to 2×2 corner posts. 3. Add bottom slats with small gaps for drainage. 4. Line with fabric and fill with soil.

Mid-Century Side Table for the Harrison Ford Carpenter in You

Mid-century style never goes out of fashion, and a small side table with angled legs is a beautiful way to show off your skills. Clean lines, warm walnut or oak and a simple open shelf make it feel timeless. Harrison Ford the carpenter built furniture for paying clients, and a piece like this is the kind of work that earns word-of-mouth referrals. It takes more care than a cutting board, so save it for when you feel confident. Which room would yours live in?

You will need: Hardwood boards for the top and shelf, four tapered legs or leg stock, angled leg plates, wood glue, screws, a sander and an oil finish.

How to make it: 1. Build a simple box for the top and lower shelf. 2. Cut or buy four tapered legs. 3. Attach them at a slight outward angle with leg plates. 4. Sand smooth and rub in a warm oil finish.