Pallet/reclaimed wood projects - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Pallet/reclaimed wood projects

Posted: 12/18/2013 7:44:28 PM EDT

Decided to start a thread for pallet projects. For me, it started as trying to get rid of some pallets that were delivered with insulation. Box stores wouldn't take em so I looked on the web for some ideas and saw a ton of cool shit.

I had 5 pallets to work with and had some pretty warped boards; clamped them together to straighten them out the best I could and ended up being able to use most of them. Made a wine rack, end table, coffee table so far. Out of wood for the most part but have enough to finish a couple little things for the basement TV area. The other half is for our daughters endless amount of shit!

Wine rack

End table

Coffee table - still have to sand, stain/varnish. Might add a shelf on the bottom space like the end table.

I am $12 into all 3: home depot had the 4x4's used on the coffee table in the bargain bin of lumber at 70% off because the end was split, a box of screws and sand paper. It was fun, learned some stuff, drank a lot of beer and have the satisfaction knowing I made them.

There is no fancy joinery, I have the bare minimum tools to be able to do these projects and just made them off of pictures I saw on the net. I am a beginner at this and had a blast!

Posted: 12/18/2013 7:55:46 PM EDT

[#1]

My wife shitcanned my ideas for reclaimed pallet wood furniture/items once she found out she was pregnant. Apparently some of them are treated with some not so awesome chemicals.

I still might try to make some things for the garage or something just for the shits and giggles of it since you can get pallets for free most times. How'd you end up reclaiming the wood? Just cut it or did you go board by board removing the nails?

Posted: 12/18/2013 8:13:06 PM EDT

[#2]

I went board by board at first but some of them were splitting too much. Used a sawzall and cut through all the nails for the last 3 pallets. 9" blade is barley long enough but it was able to get between the boards and 2x4's. Went from 30 minutes each pallet to tear down to 5 minutes for 3 pallets, my back thanked me.

I read that too but luckily all mine had the HT (heat treated) or PT (pressure treated) stamp on them.

ETA: you can see the nails cut that I left in the 2x4's on the bottom of the coffee table.

Posted: 12/19/2013 6:09:19 AM EDT

[#3]

I have some plans printed out at home for making birdhouses out of pallet wood. I will make them this spring when it warms up a little in the garage.

Posted: 12/19/2013 6:37:34 AM EDT

[#4]

I have made several Halloween props out of pallets. I was able to get all of my pallets for free by roaming around the local business park. When I saw any pallets next to dumpsters, I would ask the shop guys if I could have them. All said yes and were more than glad to get rid of them.

At first, I tried to use a hammer and pry bar to take the pallets apart, but I soon switched to a Sawzall to cut though the spiral nails. I used a propane torch on some of the props to give them a bit of "character".

Posted: 12/19/2013 7:03:05 AM EDT

[#5]

They get expensive if you miss a nail and run it through a surface or thickness planer.

Posted: 12/19/2013 7:17:19 AM EDT

[#6]

That casket looks bad ass! Nice job

Posted: 12/19/2013 7:33:53 AM EDT

[#7]

A few things I made.

Posted: 12/19/2013 10:04:47 AM EDT

[#8]

I have used pallets for kindling and rocket stoves and general playing around with fire for a while.

I wouldn't cook over it unless it's a stove (not a for grilling) just because of the nasty stuff that ends up on them.

They show up at the dumpsters at work once in a while, and last time we bought servers and desktops I got four of them.

I remove the nails and slowly pry them apart in my garage.

Posted: 12/19/2013 3:13:06 PM EDT

[#9]

I made these to put beside a grill , well, to hold stuff

Took me longer to paint than to build.

Posted: 12/19/2013 3:21:49 PM EDT

[#10]

built a gun cabinet out of wood from a 16foot pallet that had mahogany on it. also used some hardwood flooring that was ripped out of a house in town during a remodel

Posted: 12/20/2013 4:35:09 AM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
I made these to put beside a grill , well, to hold stuff

Took me longer to paint than to build.

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy318/nade-em/DSC00740_zps9243ed17.jpg

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy318/nade-em/DSC00738_zps3ac0b471.jpg

View Quote

I like your taste in agricultural equipment!!!!

BTW, anybody want pallets? I have LOTS that I got to stack firewood on and never used all of them... I even have a few 6' X 6' pallets...

Posted: 12/20/2013 4:50:53 AM EDT

[#12]

Oversized chair made out of pallets and landscaping timbers. Now just need someone to make me some cushions.

Posted: 12/20/2013 6:18:49 AM EDT

[#13]

This thread is of interest to me. I want to build some outdoor furniture this spring. Partly to save money, but mostly because I enjoy woodworking.

Posted: 12/20/2013 2:09:39 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
I have used pallets for kindling and rocket stoves and general playing around with fire for a while.

I wouldn't cook over it unless it's a stove (not a for grilling) just because of the nasty stuff that ends up on them.
They show up at the dumpsters at work once in a while, and last time we bought servers and desktops I got four of them.

I remove the nails and slowly pry them apart in my garage.

View Quote

Might work OK until you find a broken off nail with a tool.

Blades are not cheap.

Posted: 12/20/2013 10:44:07 PM EDT

[#15]

Here's a redneck coffee table that I made for my son's gaming room a couple of weeks ago.

I turned the knobs with a redneck lathe (power drill and sand paper)

Posted: 12/21/2013 7:20:38 AM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
My wife shitcanned my ideas for reclaimed pallet wood furniture/items once she found out she was pregnant. Apparently some of them are treated with some not so awesome chemicals.

I still might try to make some things for the garage or something just for the shits and giggles of it since you can get pallets for free most times. How'd you end up reclaiming the wood? Just cut it or did you go board by board removing the nails?

View Quote

Pallets are treated either with chemicals or they are heat treated. You want the heat treated ones. They'll have an "HT" marking on the side of the pallet.

Posted: 12/21/2013 4:57:00 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
They get expensive if you miss a nail and run it through a surface or thickness planer.

View Quote

Had some tile delivered on oak pallets. Really nice oak, not sure why it got put in the "pallet building" pile. Took it to the shop, broke it down, and decided that I was going to plane it.

Quickly found out why this very nice grained oak had been demoted to pallets.

First board through the planer and it sounded like I had thrown a Buick in a wood chipper.

Tree must have been in a fence row, that bitch was FULL of wire.

Posted: 12/22/2013 8:47:14 PM EDT

[#18]

Came across this today:

Posted: 12/23/2013 4:03:01 PM EDT

[#19]

1st house we bought had a 2 car garage with an attached workshop about 30x40. Widow of the original owner was cheap, would not let the old man spend money on much, including building the shop addition. The entire roof was decked in 2 or 4 foot pallet wood he had salvage from work.

Posted: 12/26/2013 5:23:15 PM EDT

[#20]

Very nice work everyone!

Posted: 12/28/2013 7:14:32 AM EDT

[#21]

Wish I had a Pic had a College art student on my UPS route who built a 1800's whaling boat out of skid wood it was an awesome looking build

Posted: 1/20/2014 11:01:02 AM EDT

[#22]

Pallet wood wall hanger.

Posted: 1/25/2014 11:33:01 AM EDT

[#23]

This thread is awesome.

Posted: 2/10/2014 3:58:24 PM EDT

[#24]

Made these for an upcoming charity auction. I got the tins at Manards, tractors and wagons from my favorite store, TSC

Thanks mic214 for the propane torch trick, i love how the grain in the frames stood out

Posted: 2/10/2014 4:34:42 PM EDT

[#25]

Is there any good way to tell what pallets have hardwood in them? What would be the best place to look for these pallets?

Posted: 2/10/2014 4:40:40 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
Is there any good way to tell what pallets have hardwood in them? What would be the best place to look for these pallets?

View Quote

Check on Craigslist for free pallets.

Stay away from big stores - Walmart, Home Depot, etc - they reuse theirs. Check with small Mom and Pop joints.

I've been getting mine from the local water utility. They had about 50 stacked out by their dumpster. I asked it I could take a few and the guy said that I could take them all if I wanted.

Almost all oak.

Posted: 2/10/2014 4:53:44 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:
Is there any good way to tell what pallets have hardwood in them? What would be the best place to look for these pallets?

View Quote

Most pallets i've seen are just poplar or pine. Some of the heavy duty pallets are oak.

Check warehouses, commercial glass shops, grocery stores, or big retail stores for the pallets.

If you were closer i could get you a crapload of pallets.

We usually give them away.

Posted: 2/10/2014 6:29:47 PM EDT

[#28]

I have been watching Treehouse Masters with my kids and now have a spring time cabin project.

Posted: 2/11/2014 3:41:48 AM EDT

[#29]

Quote History

Quoted:

Most pallets i've seen are just poplar or pine. Some of the heavy duty pallets are oak.

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy318/nade-em/custom_cabinets_001_zps05a768ab.jpg

Check warehouses, commercial glass shops, grocery stores, or big retail stores for the pallets.

If you were closer i could get you a crapload of pallets.

We usually give them away.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Is there any good way to tell what pallets have hardwood in them? What would be the best place to look for these pallets?

Most pallets i've seen are just poplar or pine. Some of the heavy duty pallets are oak.

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy318/nade-em/custom_cabinets_001_zps05a768ab.jpg

Check warehouses, commercial glass shops, grocery stores, or big retail stores for the pallets.

If you were closer i could get you a crapload of pallets.

We usually give them away.

Quoted:

Quoted:
Is there any good way to tell what pallets have hardwood in them? What would be the best place to look for these pallets?

Check on Craigslist for free pallets.

Stay away from big stores - Walmart, Home Depot, etc - they reuse theirs. Check with small Mom and Pop joints.

I've been getting mine from the local water utility. They had about 50 stacked out by their dumpster. I asked it I could take a few and the guy said that I could take them all if I wanted.

Almost all oak.

Thanks guys, I know where to find all the pallets I want, just not where to look for some hardwood. Thanks for the advise!

Posted: 2/14/2014 11:55:47 PM EDT

[#30]

Reclaimed cribbing material from banded shipments of railroad-car couplers. Mostly red oak and maple sawmill seconds, in 1.5" x 5.5" x 42" planks:

Rifle cleaning rests

Coat racks for work

Sensor racks for work made from some generic scraps

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Pallet/reclaimed wood projects

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