Show Me Your Pallet Projects!

[gtaus]

Do you need power tools for pallet projects?

Although I have been talking a lot about my powered tools on this thread, I think I need to say that there has not been one pallet project that I have built that could not have been done with only manual hand tools.

Back in the day, way back to the 1960's when I was kid helping my grandfather build the outhouse for our lake cabin, we had to use manual hand tools for everything because we had no electricity at the cabin. So I grew up knowing how to build stuff with "arm-strong" powered tools. Those were valuable lessons.

You don't need to spend a lot of money to get into pallet projects. You don't need expensive miter saws, or table saws, or air punchers like the AP-700. You don't need powered drills and impact drivers. Those are all tools that I bought because I spend a lot of time building pallet projects. It's kind of my retirement hobby. They save me a lot of time and labor which I appreciate. But I can't think of any situation where I would not be able to make something out of pallets without those powered tools. It would just take a bit longer.

And, most of the powered tools I have in my garage were purchased well before I got into pallet projects. Not only have I been buying, and accumulating tools for over 40+ years, but I also have tools handed down to me from my father and grandfather. I have only bought a few tools specifically for my pallet project hobby, and those were always optional.

For anyone who wants to use free pallet wood and make useful things, rest assured, you don't have to go broke buying expensive powered tools in the process.

 

[Molpet]

Do you need power tools for pallet projects?

Although I have been talking a lot about my powered tools on this thread, I think I need to say that there has not been one pallet project that I have built that could not have been done with only manual hand tools.

Back in the day, way back to the 1960's when I was kid helping my grandfather build the outhouse for our lake cabin, we had to use manual hand tools for everything because we had no electricity at the cabin. So I grew up knowing how to build stuff with "arm-strong" powered tools. Those were valuable lessons.

You don't need to spend a lot of money to get into pallet projects. You don't need expensive miter saws, or table saws, or air punchers like the AP-700. You don't need powered drills and impact drivers. Those are all tools that I bought because I spend a lot of time building pallet projects. It's kind of my retirement hobby. And I'm in a position where I can afford them. They save me a lot of time and labor which I appreciate. But I can't think of any situation where I would not be able to make something out of pallets without those powered tools. It would just a bit longer.

And, most of the powered tools I have in my garage were purchased well before I got into pallet projects. Not only have I been buying, and accumulating tools for over 40+ years, but I also have tools handed down to me from my father and grandfather.

For anyone who wants to use free pallet wood and make useful things, rest assured, you don't have to go broke buying expensive powered tools in the process.

I ache just remembering those days.
When I started working for the college we had plug in drills but manual screwdrivers. Lots of my work was hanging bookshelves, dispensers, and pencil sharpeners. I was taking a class in refrigeration when the instructor seen me using a screwdriver. He said I had the biggest forearms he ever seen on a woman. This was in the early 1980s and I was the first woman to take the class

 

[gtaus]

I ache just remembering those days.

Yep, I remember working very hard, but not getting much done compared to what we did later with powered tools. Especially powered saws. Sure was tired at the end of day.

For anyone taking a trip back in time, here is what my first drills looked like...

That first drill was used for larger bits, and the smaller drill was good for small drill bits. If you did not have electricity, those were your go to tools.

I was taking a class in refrigeration when the instructor seen me using a screwdriver. He said I had the biggest forearms he ever seen on a woman. This was in the early 1980s and I was the first woman to take the class

Only a shop teacher could say something like that to a young woman and think it was a compliment! But good for you in taking shop class and breaking glass ceilings. I graduated High School back in 1979, and boys took shop, girls took Home Economics. Never the two should cross.

My youngest brother, 5 years younger than me, was the first boy to get into Home Economics at our school. I never heard the whole story behind that, but I think he got kicked out of shop class because he tended to mess around in school and perhaps the shop teacher thought he was not safe. Funny how parents never tell you the truth about such things, but I was off in college and not living at home.

My younger brother did not care. He remembers going to basketball practice with cookies he made in Home Economics and everyone loved them. I guess it was OK to be starting point guard and the team's cook at the same time by then.

Now, of course, children can go into either class based on their interests. I think that's much better. Personally, I wished I had learned about cooking, sewing, and other "girl" stuff when I was growing up. But I also valued my time in shop class.

As an older man, I just wish that I had been exposed to more life skills when I was younger.

Well, I married Dear Wife who was skilled in Home Economics. I make the plant stands, raised beds and flower planter boxes, for example, out of pallet wood, and she grows the flowers. We both do some food garden stuff, and that's good. I started taking some Senior Citizen Cooking Classes a few years ago and learned how to do a few things. I maybe make one or two meals every week now. That gives her a nice break. Sometimes we work together in the kitchen on a meal. I help where I can. But that has only been the last few years thanks to what I learned in the cooking class.

Unfortunately, the funding for the Senior Citizen Cooking Class ended and we lost that program just over a year ago. I miss it. FYI, I was the only man who regularly attended the classes, but sometimes other guys would come with their wife and have a good time.

I am glad to hear that some women find pallet projects an interesting topic. Some of the best contributions to this thread have been projects built by young women, trying to save money that is better used for their kids. And, if not building it themselves, they might get an idea or two and ask their husbands to make something for them out of free pallet wood.

 

[Molpet]

. I graduated High School back in 1979, and boys took shop, girls took Home Economics. Never the two should cross.

That's the truth.
I graduated HS in 76 and tried to take shop and was not allowed. I lived on what was left of the family farm and thought it would be handy. I took pre veterinarian instead.
When I was working at the college I asked the boss what I could do to become qualified for promotion to the higher paying maintenance job. He said there was nothing I could do to become qualified.
He also had told me I represented what was wrong with the world, woman working, to some of the guys . I ignored it and kept taking classes. I figured they were intitled to their opinion. I was young and had plenty of time. I did get that promotion in 2001 long after that boss retired. I worked a dz more years for a total of 34.

 

[Molpet]

There's no plans in the FB Link so I didn't include it

 

[gtaus]

Adjustable Height Modular Workbench for Table Saw

OK. I'm calling this project done for posting purposes. Using the concept of my interlocking modular workbenches that are 2X4 feet, I set out to make a new bench for my table saw that I bought at Menards this winter.

The basic concept is that half the bench, 2X2 feet, will be set at the height of all my other modular workbenches made out of pallet wood. Here is a picture of that first half...

Notice the 2 holes drilled into that top 2X4 on top. That allows me to run a 1/2-inch, 4-inch long, bolt through my workbenches and tie them together. That's the interlocking part.

On the right side of the bench, I made some adjustable height legs, cutting out a groove in the 2X4's and running a bolt through the 2X4's. Those legs can be adjusted in any number of heights and tightening down the bolt will lock it in place. Here is a picture of the right side of the table at full height...

Here is a side view of that showing that at maximum height, the right-side tabletop is about 3 inches taller than the standard work top of the left side. That might come in handy as an outfeed table for some projects...

I suspect I will probably use the workbench at either flush on top, or down for my table saw. However, while I was making the right-side adjustable height legs, I came up with the idea to add a rail type system where I can run the bolts up in the groove for any number of adjustable heights. Here is a picture of the rail system, along with the top 2X4 with hole drilled in it for a flush top position...

Since this workbench was specifically made for my new table saw, the default height of my adjustable legs was cut to make the right-side table flush with the top of the table saw. Here is a picture of the legs tucked up and stored in their "default" position for use with my table saw...

And here is the final picture with the new table saw mounted on the right-side of the workbench...

I made it so that the right-side top of my table saw is 1/8-inch higher than the left-side top of the workbench. That allows any wood I cut on the saw to feed out on to the left-side without catching, yet the 1/8-inch drop in height should not have any negative affects on my cuts. If the drop was significant, the wood could potentially bind in the saw blade and that needed to be avoided.

There is some final touch up work that needs to be done later. That was the first time I ever cut grooves into 2X4's like that. Out of the 8 leg pieces I cut a groove, I think I tried 8 different methods. At the end, I got pretty good. But the first grooves I cut need some finesse work done with a wood rasp or file to smooth out the inside grooves. I don't have a wood rasp kit, so I'll have to pick one up at Harbor Freight.

Well, the workbench is in working condition right now, so I'm not in a great hurry to get those wood rasps for that final touch up. The rasps are only $4.99 for the kit, but I think I will wait until they go on sale or maybe I have a 20% or 30% discount coupon to use.

That's a lot of open space under the workbench, especially on the left-side. I think future upgrades may include pull out drawers or adjustable height shelving. I did that on one of my other modular workbenches and it holds all kinds of parts storage boxes. I cleaned up my shop while at the same time getting things more organized and easier to pull out and use.

I thought it would be a one-day project, but it ended up taking almost 2 weeks, on and off, mostly off, due to life problems and my miter saw malfunction warranty issue. Like most things, now than I know how to make that type of workbench, I could build a second one in half a day of working. I have a steep learning curve in woodworking.

 

[gtaus]

He also had told me I represented what was wrong with the world, woman working, to some of the guys .

That's too bad, but I understand it. I like to think kids today have more options and less discrimination in their professions then we did. I don't know if that is true, or not, but I like to think it has gotten better.

And thank you for posting ideas like those pallet wood chicken planters...

I am not so creative and prone to using lots of colors in my projects. I bet lots of people might like those pallet wood chicken planters for a project. Thanks for sharing.

 

[gtaus]

On the Hügelkultur Raised Beds thread, @McChooky posted some nice pictures of a pallet wood greenhouse. Boy, I would love to make something like that. I'm posting a few of those pictures here because a pallet wood greenhouse has been on my wish list for a few years.

Very nicely done!

 

[McChooky]

On the Hügelkultur Raised Beds thread, @McChooky posted some nice pictures of a pallet wood greenhouse. Boy, I would love to make something like that. I'm posting a few of those pictures here because a pallet wood greenhouse has been on my wish list for a few years.

View attachment 4098343

View attachment 4098344

Very nicely done!

Thank you for sharing!

 

[McChooky]

Adjustable Height Modular Workbench for Table Saw

OK. I'm calling this project done for posting purposes. Using the concept of my interlocking modular workbenches that are 2X4 feet, I set out to make a new bench for my table saw that I bought at Menards this winter.

The basic concept is that half the bench, 2X2 feet, will be set at the height of all my other modular workbenches made out of pallet wood. Here is a picture of that first half...

View attachment 4097248

Notice the 2 holes drilled into that top 2X4 on top. That allows me to run a 1/2-inch, 4-inch long, bolt through my workbenches and tie them together. That's the interlocking part.

On the right side of the bench, I made some adjustable height legs, cutting out a groove in the 2X4's and running a bolt through the 2X4's. Those legs can be adjusted in any number of heights and tightening down the bolt will lock it in place. Here is a picture of the right side of the table at full height...

View attachment 4097250

Here is a side view of that showing that at maximum height, the right-side tabletop is about 3 inches taller than the standard work top of the left side. That might come in handy as an outfeed table for some projects...

View attachment 4097251

I suspect I will probably use the workbench at either flush on top, or down for my table saw. However, while I was making the right-side adjustable height legs, I came up with the idea to add a rail type system where I can run the bolts up in the groove for any number of adjustable heights. Here is a picture of the rail system, along with the top 2X4 with hole drilled in it for a flush top position...



View attachment 4097255

Since this workbench was specifically made for my new table saw, the default height of my adjustable legs was cut to make the right-side table flush with the top of the table saw. Here is a picture of the legs tucked up and stored in their "default" position for use with my table saw...


View attachment 4097259

And here is the final picture with the new table saw mounted on the right-side of the workbench...

View attachment 4097265

I made it so that the right-side top of my table saw is 1/8-inch higher than the left-side top of the workbench. That allows any wood I cut on the saw to feed out on to the left-side without catching, yet the 1/8-inch drop in height should not have any negative affects on my cuts. If the drop was significant, the wood could potentially bind in the saw blade and that needed to be avoided.

There is some final touch up work that needs to be done later. That was the first time I ever cut grooves into 2X4's like that. Out of the 8 leg pieces I cut a groove, I think I tried 8 different methods. At the end, I got pretty good. But the first grooves I cut need some finesse work done with a wood rasp or file to smooth out the inside grooves. I don't have a wood rasp kit, so I'll have to pick one up at Harbor Freight.

View attachment 4097293

Well, the workbench is in working condition right now, so I'm not in a great hurry to get those wood rasps for that final touch up. The rasps are only $4.99 for the kit, but I think I will wait until they go on sale or maybe I have a 20% or 30% discount coupon to use.

That's a lot of open space under the workbench, especially on the left-side. I think future upgrades may include pull out drawers or adjustable height shelving. I did that on one of my other modular workbenches and it holds all kinds of parts storage boxes. I cleaned up my shop while at the same time getting things more organized and easier to pull out and use.

I thought it would be a one-day project, but it ended up taking almost 2 weeks, on and off, mostly off, due to life problems and my miter saw malfunction warranty issue. Like most things, now than I know how to make that type of workbench, I could build a second one in half a day of working. I have a steep learning curve in woodworking.

This design is ingenious!I've never seen anything like it! Wow!