Show Me Your Pallet Projects!

[Smokerbill]

I have a high quality, but old, concrete wheelbarrow. It's made of heavy gauge steel, but narrow so it's even more difficult to control on its single wheel. The front of it is shaped kind of like a snout, so mixed concrete can be poured out of it in a directed flow.

But the tire doesn't leak and I got it for 10 bucks from an OfferUp ad, so I'm happy with it. Makes for a good workout when I haul stuff in it. New, similar wheelbarrows like it cost a couple hundred bucks, so paying 10 was a great bargain.

 

[gtaus]

I have a high quality, but old, concrete wheelbarrow. It's made of heavy gauge steel, but narrow so it's even more difficult to control on its single wheel. The front of it is shaped kind of like a snout, so mixed concrete can be poured out of it in a directed flow.

But the tire doesn't leak and I got it for 10 bucks from an OfferUp ad, so I'm happy with it. Makes for a good workout when I haul stuff in it. New, similar wheelbarrows like it cost a couple hundred bucks, so paying 10 was a great bargain.

No doubt you got a good deal on that old concrete wheelbarrow. I rebuilt my old wheelbarrow for $15.00, basically the cost of a new wheel and supporting hardware. Even though I don't use my wheelbarrow very often, it's still a very useful tool. It has severed me well for over 30 years. I am not anti-wheelbarrow.

I just express my sentiments on how much more I use my 4-wheel carts and how much safer they are for a guy at my age. The ability to convert from manual pull to hitch on the riding mower means I can move much heavier loads, much safer, and get more work done in less time.

I look for ways to avoid a good workout!

The important thing is that if you are happy with your tools, then you probably don't need other options. I got to the point where I could no longer move the heavy loads with my one-wheel wheelbarrow and needed to explore other options. The 4-wheel carts put me back into action and increased my productivity.

 

[ChicksnMore]

I have a high quality, but old, concrete wheelbarrow. It's made of heavy gauge steel, but narrow so it's even more difficult to control on its single wheel. The front of it is shaped kind of like a snout, so mixed concrete can be poured out of it in a directed flow.

But the tire doesn't leak and I got it for 10 bucks from an OfferUp ad, so I'm happy with it. Makes for a good workout when I haul stuff in it. New, similar wheelbarrows like it cost a couple hundred bucks, so paying 10 was a great bargain.

That's a great deal! We got our ancient wheelbarrow cheap too. Don't think anything can break it. I use our wheelbarrow for all the heavy work. Rocks, dirt, wood...just about everything. We even use it to move our hundred pound tortoise when needed. I love the ease of emptying a wheelbarrow and I lack anything to pull or dump a cart. Our old cart got used primarily for moving plants...but it wasn't a heavy duty cart and I definitely miss it anyway. With a creaky hip and a funny foot though, maybe its time to change that.

 

[gtaus]

With a creaky hip and a funny foot though, maybe its time to change that.

Exactly, I kind of aged into the 4-wheel carts myself. I was at a relative's house and was helping her clean up her yard. She had a Gorilla cart that I used. Boy was that nice and so easy to move heavy loads. I was to the point where I no longer could fill my wheelbarrow up full with heavy soil and move it around the yard. I'd split those jobs into two or more trips just to make sure I did not wrench out my back, or legs, or whatever. So when my wheelbarrow's tire rotted out and needed to be replaced, I got my first 4-wheel cart. Made me feel about 20 years younger, or should I say I was able to do the jobs I did 20 years ago in the same amount of time with even less work.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Exactly, I kind of aged into the 4-wheel carts myself. I was at a relative's house and was helping her clean up her yard. She had a Gorilla cart that I used. Boy was that nice and so easy to move heavy loads. I was to the point where I no longer could fill my wheelbarrow up full with heavy soil and move it around the yard. I'd split those jobs into two or more trips just to make sure I did not wrench out my back, or legs, or whatever. So when my wheelbarrow's tire rotted out and needed to be replaced, I got my first 4-wheel cart. Made me feel about 20 years younger, or should I say I was able to do the jobs I did 20 years ago in the same amount of time with even less work.

Sold! Think I'll go pick up one of those carts after I get home mid-month from a wedding. We lost a huge 10-15' tall tree type cactus this year and I've been eyeing it and groaning at the clean up chore ahead.
What kind of vehicle do you use to pull it? I know pulling our little cart in our sandy dirt was actually harder then pushing a wheelbarrow...can't imagine I could move a cart that holds that much weight easily.

 

[fuzzi]

Sold! Think I'll go pick up one of those carts after I get home mid-month from a wedding. We lost a huge 10-15' tall tree type cactus this year and I've been eyeing it and groaning at the clean up chore ahead.
What kind of vehicle do you use to pull it? I know pulling our little cart in our sandy dirt was actually harder then pushing a wheelbarrow...can't imagine I could move a cart that holds that much weight easily.

It has large pneumatic tires, which makes it easier to pull. I may take it with us the next time we go to the beach, as it should handle the sand well.

 

[Sally PB]

It looks like a big child's wagon. I had a thought of getting in it and rolling down our sloped driveway!

Yeah, but how does it steer?

 

[fuzzi]

Yeah, but how does it steer?

I'm too old and "chicken" to find out!

 

[gtaus]

Idea for Bench Grinder and Belt Sander Portable Pallet Workbench

I was in town yesterday picking up chicken feed at the Fleet store. Stopped by a few of my favorite pallet pickup places and found 2 partial pallets with nice strong plywood tops. Picked them up and put them in back of the old Explorer to take home. I'm sure I could use those partial pallets with plywood tops for something.

Those partial pallets with plywood tops are still out in the Explorer, but we are having thunderstorms at the moment so I will just post a Google picture of what they look like...

Just estimating the sizes of those pallets, one was about 1/2 size of a normal pallet and the other one is about 1/3 size. I would like to make something out of the smaller one.

After I loaded those partial pallets, I then went over to Menards to pick up a few things, and found these small wheels on sale...

These are not really strong wheels, only rated for 60 pounds each, but I got to thinking of using them to make a portable bench for something small.

First idea that came to mind was a bench for my grinder. I have been looking at getting a separate stand for my bench grinder, like this one at Harbor Freight...

But that stand costs $45.00 and does not have wheels to move it around the garage. Since my garage space is limited, I need to be able to move my tools and benches out of the way so I can get our cars into the garage.

The partial pallet with plywood top that I just picked up was a little more than double the surface area of the metal stand above. So, I could put another tool on it.

A few months ago, I bought an open box 1X30 inch Belt Sander...

I could fit both my bench grinder and the belt sander on that plywood pallet top. Then just build some kind of framework for the legs and bottom supports for the small wheels I just got from Menards. Then I would have a moveable stand for those two tools, which would free up the counter space on my good work benches.

Now I am looking into different ways to make the wheels retractable in some manner so that I can easily move the stand when the wheels are down, but when I want to use the tools, I can retract the wheels and the stand will sit solid on the floor and not move.

If nothing else, I could make a custom fit dolly with those wheels and just slip it underneath the stand when I need to move it. That would be easy.

To give you an idea of what I am thinking, I found a picture on Pinterest that is close to my idea. Just a basic frame with the partial plywood pallet on top. Wheels on the bottom would have to be retractable because I like my tool stands not to more around when I am using them. I think I could mount both my bench grinder, the belt sander, and maybe even a vise on a portable bench.

Well, like I said, it's rainy cats and dogs outside, so I am inside the house thinking of new projects to build. If anyone has a good suggestion on making retractable wheels for a small workbench, that is where I am stuck at the moment.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Idea for Bench Grinder and Belt Sander Portable Pallet Workbench

I was in town yesterday picking up chicken feed at the Fleet store. Stopped by a few of my favorite pallet pickup places and found 2 partial pallets with nice strong plywood tops. Picked them up and put them in back of the old Explorer to take home. I'm sure I could use those partial pallets with plywood tops for something.

Those partial pallets with plywood tops are still out in the Explorer, but we are having thunderstorms at the moment so I will just post a Google picture of what they look like...

View attachment 3628660

Just estimating the sizes of those pallets, one was about 1/2 size of a normal pallet and the other one is about 1/3 size. I would like to make something out of the smaller one.

After I loaded those partial pallets, I then went over to Menards to pick up a few things, and found these small wheels on sale...

View attachment 3628651

These are not really strong wheels, only rated for 60 pounds each, but I got to thinking of using them to make a portable bench for something small.

First idea that came to mind was a bench for my grinder. I have been looking at getting a separate stand for my bench grinder, like this one at Harbor Freight...

View attachment 3628653

But that stand costs $45.00 and does not have wheels to move it around the garage. Since my garage space is limited, I need to be able to move my tools and benches out of the way so I can get our cars into the garage.

The partial pallet with plywood top that I just picked up was a little more than double the surface area of the metal stand above. So, I could put another tool on it.

A few months ago, I bought an open box 1X30 inch Belt Sander...

View attachment 3628657

I could fit both my bench grinder and the belt sander on that plywood pallet top. Then just build some kind of framework for the legs and bottom supports for the small wheels I just got from Menards. Then I would have a moveable stand for those two tools, which would free up the counter space on my good work benches.

Now I am looking into different ways to make the wheels retractable in some manner so that I can easily move the stand when the wheels are down, but when I want to use the tools, I can retract the wheels and the stand will sit solid on the floor and not move.

If nothing else, I could make a custom fit dolly with those wheels and just slip it underneath the stand when I need to move it. That would be easy.

Well, like I said, it's rainy cats and dogs outside, so I am inside the house thinking of new projects to build. If anyone has a good suggestion on making retractable wheels for a small workbench, that is where I am stuck at the moment.

Would the wheels with a locking mechanism be adequate to make them sit solid when needed? I've been thinking of building a workbench and was thinking of using that kind of wheel so wondering if the locking mechanism works well enough.