Show Me Your Pallet Projects!

[gtaus]

USING POCKET HOLE SCREWS WITH UNEVEN PALLET WOOD

I ran into a situation in my latest pallet wood raised bed build. The pallet 2X4's I was using to make my frames for the sides were uneven. Some were 1-1/2 inch thick and other were 1-1/4 inch thick. Probably not a big deal for building an actual pallet, but when I was using pocket hole screws to fasten the boards together, the front face of the boards would be off maybe 1/4 inch instead of being flush. Unacceptable!

I ended up taking those pieces apart and redoing them to make the front face flush. That's the front face that shows. I did not care if the boards were off by that 1/4 inch in the back where you would never see it. OK, so some wasted time and energy on rework.

As with many things in my life, after I have done it the hard way, I have found a better way to do it the next time. On YouTube, I found a good video on Pocket Hole Tips / Pocket Hole Jig Tricks. I think the whole 10 minutes video is worth watching, but my link should start at the point (5:19 - 7:50) where he shows you a jig to hold your uneven boards down flat and flush so when you screw them together, you have a front face that is flush from the start.

I think my next pallet wood project might be to make one of those simple jigs, using some reclaimed shelving board and pallet planks. I just happen to have a couple of clamps like those in his video. You can get those 500 lb. Horizontal Toggle Clamp at Harbor Freight. Current sale price is $4.99 each, but I think everyday price is $5.99.

I fixed my misaligned boards by clamping each piece down on the workbench and then screwing them together. That works. But I can see how this simple jig in the video would be so much faster, plus it already has the boards set to that perfect 90 degrees for the build.

I love working with pallet wood, but a person does come across issues with uneven pallet boards. Most of the time, I don't care with my outdoor builds. But, sometimes, it does make a difference. I learned a better way to solve my uneven pallet boards with pocket hole screws issue and thought I would pass it on to anyone who may be interested. Take care.

 

[ChicksnMore]

USING POCKET HOLE SCREWS WITH UNEVEN PALLET WOOD

I ran into a situation in my latest pallet wood raised bed build. The pallet 2X4's I was using to make my frames for the sides were uneven. Some were 1-1/2 inch thick and other were 1-1/4 inch thick. Probably not a big deal for building an actual pallet, but when I was using pocket hole screws to fasten the boards together, the front face of the boards would be off maybe 1/4 inch instead of being flush. Unacceptable!

I ended up taking those pieces apart and redoing them to make the front face flush. That's the front face that shows. I did not care if the boards were off by that 1/4 inch in the back where you would never see it. OK, so some wasted time and energy on rework.

As with many things in my life, after I have done it the hard way, I have found a better way to do it the next time. On YouTube, I found a good video on Pocket Hole Tips / Pocket Hole Jig Tricks. I think the whole 10 minutes video is worth watching, but my link should start at the point (5:19 - 7:50) where he shows you a jig to hold your uneven boards down flat and flush so when you screw them together, you have a front face that is flush from the start.

I think my next pallet wood project might be to make one of those simple jigs, using some reclaimed shelving board and pallet planks. I just happen to have a couple of clamps like those in his video. You can get those 500 lb. Horizontal Toggle Clamp at Harbor Freight. Current sale price is $4.99 each, but I think everyday price is $5.99.

View attachment 3239727

I fixed my misaligned boards by clamping each piece down on the workbench and then screwing them together. That works. But I can see how this simple jig in the video would be so much faster, plus it already has the boards set to that perfect 90 degrees for the build.

I love working with pallet wood, but a person does come across issues with uneven pallet boards. Most of the time, I don't care with my outdoor builds. But, sometimes, it does make a difference. I learned a better way to solve my uneven pallet boards with pocket hole screws issue and thought I would pass it on to anyone who may be interested. Take care.

His set up sure would be good for making picture frame corners!

 

[gtaus]

His set up sure would be good for making picture frame corners!

Yeah, he said he uses that jig for a number of different things - but he does not say what they are in that video. I'm going to build one of those jigs if I make another pallet raised garden bed with the sidewall frame design.

Might come in handy for some other projects as well. Would work with both even and uneven boards. I currently have a pocket hole clamp like he shows in the video, but it only works well if both boards are the same thickness.

When I built my first pallet wood raised garden bed, I used all full sized 2X4's which are 1-1/2 inches thick. So, I had no problems with my pocket hole clamp and the boards fastened together flush. That should be the first option, getting boards of the same thickness.

But with this second pallet wood raised bed, I was using 2X4's that were not the same thickness. I was determined to use the wood I already had for a pallet project. Also, I thought it might be a learning experience to use pallet wood of different thickness, as I can easily imagine others doing the same with limited pallet wood supplies. Well, things did not line up like I hoped, and I had to redo some work, but in the end I got my second pallet raised bed built. It would have been a lot easier if I would have had a jig like in that YouTube video.

 

[StinkyAcres]

USING POCKET HOLE SCREWS WITH UNEVEN PALLET WOOD

I ran into a situation in my latest pallet wood raised bed build. The pallet 2X4's I was using to make my frames for the sides were uneven. Some were 1-1/2 inch thick and other were 1-1/4 inch thick. Probably not a big deal for building an actual pallet, but when I was using pocket hole screws to fasten the boards together, the front face of the boards would be off maybe 1/4 inch instead of being flush. Unacceptable!

I ended up taking those pieces apart and redoing them to make the front face flush. That's the front face that shows. I did not care if the boards were off by that 1/4 inch in the back where you would never see it. OK, so some wasted time and energy on rework.

As with many things in my life, after I have done it the hard way, I have found a better way to do it the next time. On YouTube, I found a good video on Pocket Hole Tips / Pocket Hole Jig Tricks. I think the whole 10 minutes video is worth watching, but my link should start at the point (5:19 - 7:50) where he shows you a jig to hold your uneven boards down flat and flush so when you screw them together, you have a front face that is flush from the start.

I think my next pallet wood project might be to make one of those simple jigs, using some reclaimed shelving board and pallet planks. I just happen to have a couple of clamps like those in his video. You can get those 500 lb. Horizontal Toggle Clamp at Harbor Freight. Current sale price is $4.99 each, but I think everyday price is $5.99.

View attachment 3239727

I fixed my misaligned boards by clamping each piece down on the workbench and then screwing them together. That works. But I can see how this simple jig in the video would be so much faster, plus it already has the boards set to that perfect 90 degrees for the build.

I love working with pallet wood, but a person does come across issues with uneven pallet boards. Most of the time, I don't care with my outdoor builds. But, sometimes, it does make a difference. I learned a better way to solve my uneven pallet boards with pocket hole screws issue and thought I would pass it on to anyone who may be interested. Take care.

Thanks for sharing! This would have come in handy when I built radiator covers. I ended up just sanding off the lip. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[StinkyAcres]

It's funny how there are all these tutorials out there and I'm over here trying to figure things out on my own. I'm weird like that. That's how I like to learn - by doing, not by reading or watching a video. But I obvious should be looking up how to do things correctly and efficiently...I just don't want to!! So thanks for forcing me to see these tips.

 

[gtaus]

It's funny how there are all these tutorials out there and I'm over here trying to figure things out on my own. I'm weird like that. That's how I like to learn - by doing, not by reading or watching a video. But I obvious should be looking up how to do things correctly and efficiently...I just don't want to!! So thanks for forcing me to see these tips.

Nothing wrong with learning by doing. But, like I said, I was doing, did it wrong, had to redo it to fix it, and then later I discovered a better way. Until I was fastening uneven pallet boards with pocket hole screws, I had no idea of the alignment problems and how a simple jig could bypass all that trouble.

I think working with pallet wood, which is probably not uniform in size or quality, presents issues that are unique to pallet projects. Many times, there is a better solution and if I find what I think is a good tip, I'll pass it along. Hope others will do the same.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

It's funny how there are all these tutorials out there and I'm over here trying to figure things out on my own. I'm weird like that. That's how I like to learn - by doing, not by reading or watching a video. But I obvious should be looking up how to do things correctly and efficiently...I just don't want to!! So thanks for forcing me to see these tips.

I am the same way..lol
I think of something (mainly animal housing currently) and then just try to build it to my minds specifications
I've watched videos posted here but I definitely don't seek them out!
That shingle video has me wondering if I wanna commit to something like that

 

[gtaus]

Thanks for sharing! This would have come in handy when I built radiator covers. I ended up just sanding off the lip. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

For a few of those pallet boards that came out only slightly off flush, I used my planer and then finished it off with a sander. So, I got the job done. Having said that, I now know that simple jig could have solved the uneven board issue before it became a problem.

For those who are not too familiar with pocket hole screws, the screws are driven into the wood at an angle - not straight. If you don't have the boards clamped down tight when fastening 2 boards together, then the angle of the screw can move the wood, causing the face to become uneven. When you have wood of the same size, you still need to clamp down the boards with a clamp. With wood of uneven thickness, you need to clamp down each board with a separate clamp. The jig in the video just makes everything easier.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I am the same way..lol
I think of something (mainly animal housing currently) and then just try to build it to my minds specifications

Exactly! Glad I'm not the only one. Why do I not think to find a tutorial when I have a problem? I don't know! My brother always has to remind me that Google exists.

 

[gtaus]

I've watched videos posted here but I definitely don't seek them out!

I hope you find some of the videos useful. I wish I would have spent a few minutes watching that pocket hole jig video before I had to spend ~1 hour in rework on my build. Live and learn.

Not too old to admit that I make mistakes and learn from them.