Reused Wood Pallets Projects

A Couch with Some Storage

It is so much fun to work on projects together with your family or alone producing great DIY items. You can be very good at many DIY projects and make magnificent work around your house. You can find some good ideas that are made from reused, recycled, or repurposed pallets. It is common to see wood pallets thrown out in nature, on the side of the roads, parking lots or junkyards, and you might think how they can be used outdoors of your house.

With a bit of imagination and some DIY, there is a lot of potential in these seemingly useless wood stocks. It might not be perfect from the first time you make things, but, seriously, this is your first time, first attempt and please do not expect an ideal work out. Try creating the one-of-a-kind projects with wooden pallets.

What Do You Start With

Identical in Size Pallets

Before you start making wooden pallets items, you will need to find suitable pallets. Gather wooden pallets identical in size. Consider some of the facts about pallets. They can be treated by chemicals or by heat, if you do not want to work with chemically loaded wood pallets, so give it a pass, if it smells, looks oily, is stained, is extra heavy, looks suspicious to you or even has too many twisted nails. It is better to avoid the pallets treated with methyl bromide and choose a heat-treated pallet for use, especially, in the garden. There is no way to know of knowing what exactly what exactly was shipped on the pallets. Always be safe and scrub the wood, wash the pallets thoroughly with hot, soapy water or bleach. Rinse well, and allow to completely dry.

Sketch Your Idea

Furniture Sketch

It is good if you put down your ideas on paper before you actually work with the wood material. This will surely helm you build a clear picture of what it is you actually want.  Of course, the finished work will look differently from your sketch. You might get some challenges while working with the material and will have to change some of the parts of your sketched idea.

Disassemble the Wooden Pallet

Taking Apart

Note that removing the nails out of the pallet requires some efforts. A few websites provide recommendations, but you can simply use a hoe and at times, pliers.

Cutting, Compiling and Improving the Material

Cutting the Pallet

If you do not have any electrical saw, you can use a manual saw and a grinder. Designate one pallet as the base. Sand all the rough edges and peel away and splintered wood.

Safety

Gloves

It is also recommended always wear gloves when working with pallets.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Wooden Pallets

There are many advantages to wooden pallets but also some disadvantages. Among their advantages, wooden pallets are cheap compared to plastic and metal pallets. They have higher friction than other types. Pallets can easily be repaired if damaged and even when beyond repair, pallets can be shredded to create wood chips, with a variety of uses (like mulch for instance).