Show Me Your Pallet Projects!

[gtaus]

I'm thinking something like a pair of eye-bolts on each panel end, and a drop through rod. Still thinking. And trying to make it cheap

Sounds like a DIY lift off hinge, of sorts. But, unless you have the hardware already, I know that the eye-bolts are going to add up fast and rod can be expensive. You might easily spend more on that design than just going with a ready-made lift off hinge. I mean, the ones at Amazon, were 6 pairs for less than $12.00.

If you used an eyebolt on each frame panel, you might be able to use some zip ties instead of a rod to connect the frames. I buy my zip ties in quantity and can get them for as little as a penny or two per zip tie in the large bags. I can get zip ties for cheap.

Another option might be to use a carabiner to tie the eye bolts together. I use carabiners for lots of stuff and they work fine. But they are more expensive than zip ties.

Of course, rope or wire might be a good option but I find those things take longer to tie and untie than just using a zip tie or a carabiner.

If you have some pieces of rubber, I have seen some people make a hinge out of an old inner tube rubber. Don't imagine it would last forever, but maybe long enough for what you need. Just cut the inner tube the length of the hinge and screw them into the wood of the frames. They would be flexible if you wanted to make different shapes.

Well, there are a few more things to consider. Good luck.

 

[gtaus]

My idea is cheap: Zip ties. Half of my run is held together with zip ties. @gtaus had a better idea with the hinges.

Yeah, I just posted the option of using zip ties. All my chicken run fencing is attached to the T-Posts using zip ties. They have held up for 4 years and still working fine. Just make sure you use the zip ties that are made to be outside in the sun. I think they are called something like UV rated for outside use. "Normal" zip ties might break down in the sunlight and not last nearly as long.

For my chicken run fencing, I made sure I paid a little extra for the sunlight proof zip ties. Otherwise, I just grab the cheaper ones for short term usage.

 

[chickengr]

Dead end on free pressure washer needed repairs....

A couple days ago, I mentioned that I picked up a pressure washer for free at our local church charity Thrift Shop.

View attachment 3576687

When I got it home, it worked fine for a few minutes, then shuts down and takes about 10 minutes to reset. I downloaded an owner's manual and in the troubleshooting section they say the pump is clogged and to contact tech support for further instructions. Well, I sent tech support an email a few days ago - no response. Not even an automated reply saying they got the message. Today, I called the company. Evidently, Campbell Hausfeld was bought out by another company, and the new company does not have any support for this washer. No parts, no instructions, nothing.

Well, shucks. I guess I'll just have to live with using it for a few minutes at a time and letting it rest for 10 minutes or so before another go around. I have been using it to prep the wood on my cedar timber swing to get it ready for painting. I was hoping that it would work good enough to pressure spray off lots of my pallet wood. When it works, it's pretty good. Just have to space out the cleaning on a project to allow for the downtime between the pump resetting itself.

I'm just so disappointed that the junk we have to buy today basically becomes disposable with the first malfunction. No parts, no tech support, and no instructional on how to maintain or repair this equipment. Even the original company is gone and bought out by someone else.

Well, I picked this unit up for free, so I'm not out any money, but you would think that some documentation on cleaning the pump would be a basic instructional surviving on the internet. But, so far, I've had no luck with Google or YouTube searches.

I like making pallet projects for a number of reason. First of all, I am reusing a material that otherwise would end up directly into our landfills. Secondly, if I build something, and later it breaks or needs to be replaced, I can do it myself since I originally made it on my own. Third, since I get the wood for free, I don't mind making something and if it's not useful or I no longer want it, I don't mind tearing it apart for use elsewhere. Fourth, sometimes I make a pallet wood project "proof of concept idea" and if it works out, then I might decide to upgrade the project with better quality wood or metal.

The last step of any of my pallet wood is to dump the bits and pieces, or broken boards, into a fire ring to burn out stumps. Better to use it as burning fuel for that than to haul it off to the landfill.

I use bits and broken boards to start fire in my wood stove in winter.

 

[gtaus]

Have you seen this?

https://www.powertoolhunter.com/how-to-clean-a-pressure-washer-pump-safely/#:~:text=Steps of Cleaning the Pressure Washer Pump 1,4 Step #4 Runs the Power Washer


Or this...

That link to the how to clean a pressure washer pump looks like it might be something I will try. I printed out those instructions. Thanks.

As to the YouTube video, the problem with my pressure washer is not with flushing the pressure hose or wand. In the troubleshooting guideline in the owner's manual, it walks you through a series of steps to determine if the pump is clogged. One of the steps is to check the water flow out of the pump outlet. Under pressure it is supposed to shoot out 8-10 feet with the hose and wand not connected. In my case, the pressure washer pump only shoots out maybe 1 foot at the most. That indicates the pump is clogged internally and not the pressure hose or wand.

Well, when I get ready to tear apart the pressure washer, I'll reread the instructions to clean out the pump as outlined in the link you provided. As I mentioned, the Campbell Hausfeld company was bought out and the new company does not have any support for the pressure washer model I have. I hope I can fix it. Thanks, again.

 

[Sally PB]

Yeah, I just posted the option of using zip ties. All my chicken run fencing is attached to the T-Posts using zip ties. They have held up for 4 years and still working fine. Just make sure you use the zip ties that are made to be outside in the sun. I think they are called something like UV rated for outside use. "Normal" zip ties might break down in the sunlight and not last nearly as long.

Yup! Mine have held up for 3 years, and no issues, that I can see.

 

[NanaK]

Our coop and run are about 10 years old now. There are many zip ties holding the hardware cloth to the 2x4 welded wire. I've replace quite a few over time and some we have replaced with wire. The thicker sizes of the black UV rated ones last a lot longer outside. Great for tarps too. The colored ones work great for brooders and things not out in the direct sun. One thing I really like about zip ties is how fast you can work with them.

 

[avjudge]

I use bits and broken boards to start fire in my wood stove in winter.

Same here, and I just remembered that a few years ago I built a box out of pallet wood to store that kindling!

 

[gtaus]

Same here, and I just remembered that a few years ago I built a box out of pallet wood to store that kindling!

Yes, I have more than one pallet wood box built only to hold my pallet wood....

 

[gtaus]

One thing I really like about zip ties is how fast you can work with them.

Since my father passed away, I've been doing things pretty much on my own. I have discovered a number of things that help me get my tasks done easier with just myself working.

For example, I now often use zip ties to hold something in place, like fencing on T-Posts, so that I can be hands free to attach it with stronger wire if I want. After a short while, I discovered that the zip ties alone, for that job, seemed to work just fine. Zip ties are indeed fast to work with, and if you have to cut them, it's just as fast and easy with a side cutter or snips. I have become a big fan of zip ties lately. You can buy zip ties in large economy bags on sale for as little as 1 cent per zip tie.

Another shortcut I often use is my 18-gauge brad nailer. If I have some boards that need to be held together, I often times just shoot a brad nail or two into the boards so they don't move. Then I am free to drill holes and drive in screws without needing a third hand to hold the boards while I work on them. The brad nailer has really been my second helper in many, many, projects.

I buy off brand 18-gauge nails at Menards and they cost a fraction of a penny each. I bought a bunch of packs of assorted sized 18-gauge brad nails on sale for about $1.00 for 1000 brad nails. If my math is correct, that is about 10 brad nails per penny.

Usually, if I use my brad nailer, the brad nail just stays in the wood. No need to pull it out for any reason. However, if you have to take something apart and you have used brad nails to tack it together, a simple pliers will pull out the brad nail and it's like it was never there.

Recently, I also mentioned that I use a powered stapler...

and have a pneumatic 2-in-1 brad nailer/stapler from Harbor Freight...

Those tools are really handy when you work alone. Most of my Ryobi tools were bought on sale where you buy a battery kit and get a tool for free, and the Harbor Freight 2-in-1 stapler I got for FREE with a $30 purchase of other items. I take advantage of those sales when they come around.

I have used almost all those tools on my pallet projects. You don't have to spend much money on those tools and they have been really good for me to use working alone.

 

[Smokerbill]

My portable chicken run idea is on the back burner for now. I really need to build a couple of nest boxes for my chickens. A few of them are getting very, very close to laying their first eggs. Their combs and wattles are getting bigger by the day, and becoming bright red. They're squatting when I go into the run, too. All tell tale signs, I believe.

I'm thinking about making the nest boxes with 100% pallet wood. Built on legs so it can be moved, fairly low to the ground so they don't use it for a roost. Slanted roof so they don't roost on top of it. Pallet 2x4s for the framing.

Hopefully I can get it built tomorrow. Need to check the pallet wood and make sure it is all heat treated lumber, and not chemically treated before I start building.