Show Me Your Pallet Projects!

[Smokerbill]

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.

View attachment 3577832

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...

View attachment 3577840

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

View attachment 3577842

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.

I have a lot of Ryobi too, including an old reciprocating saw, a power washer (which actually works! Haha!) and a gas fueled weed eater. Dewalt corded drill, Black/Decker circular saw/corded. I got a lot of use out the Harbor Freight el cheapo narrow crown stapler. Best $30 I spent in a long time.

 

[gtaus]

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

I have been picking up pallets for just over a year. I have never seen a "MB" chemically treated pallet in that time. All of my pallets have been "HT" heat treated. If a pallet is painted, I don't even bother picking it up.

 

[gtaus]

I have a lot of Ryobi too, including an old reciprocating saw, a power washer (which actually works! Haha!) and a gas fueled weed eater. Dewalt corded drill, Black/Decker circular saw/corded. I got a lot of use out the Harbor Freight el cheapo narrow crown stapler. Best $30 I spent in a long time.

I talk about my tools that I find useful because I'm at age where I appreciate the time and labor-saving benefits of using them. Plus, at my age, I don't have many bills that a young family might have to budget. If a tool helps me to enjoy my hobbies for a number of years longer, it's worth it to me.

 

[Smokerbill]

I actually made a pallet project today. Simple, but effective.

Since my pullets are just now starting to lay I had to figure out a way to serve them their oyster shells. I decided to make a pair of boxes using pallet wood for the sides, and an old 5/8" deck board from who knows where for the bottom. I used my pneumatic narrow crown stapler to construct the boxes, 1-1/4" staples.

I mounted a 2x4 on the run's wall studs and screwed the boxes onto that. Made sure it was close to horizontal with my 4 foot carpenter's level.

Now they have oyster shells, grit and water in a nicely organized setup. I set some 2x4s on top of the boxes to keep them from slinging the granules onto the floor, and to keep them from perching on the boxes. I hope it works out that way.

 

[fuzzi]

Love the idea. I need to make something similar, soon. Or maybe just hang a small cup on the cattle panel.


Won't make a joke about the beer...

 

[Smokerbill]

Love the idea. I need to make something similar, soon. Or maybe just hang a small cup on the cattle panel.


Won't make a joke about the beer...

Please don't joke about my chickens' nest box. They seem to like it! LOL And they don't care that it's not a craft or imported beer box. They're not snobs.

 

[gtaus]

I actually made a pallet project today. Simple, but effective.

Since my pullets are just now starting to lay I had to figure out a way to serve them their oyster shells. I decided to make a pair of boxes using pallet wood for the sides, and an old 5/8" deck board from who knows where for the bottom. I used my pneumatic narrow crown stapler to construct the boxes, 1-1/4" staples.

I mounted a 2x4 on the run's wall studs and screwed the boxes onto that. Made sure it was close to horizontal with my 4 foot carpenter's level.

Now they have oyster shells, grit and water in a nicely organized setup. I set some 2x4s on top of the boxes to keep them from slinging the granules onto the floor, and to keep them from perching on the boxes. I hope it works out that way.

View attachment 3581514View attachment 3581515View attachment 3581516View attachment 3581517

View attachment 3581522View attachment 3581523

Nicely done. The chickens really seem interested in the calcium feeder. I think it's important to have calcium and grit feeders available in case the chickens need a little extra.

Excellent project to use your pneumatic stapler. I have still not used my pneumatic stapler, although I have a few pallet related projects lower on my to-do list that will it.

 

[gtaus]

Please don't joke about my chickens' nest box. They seem to like it! LOL And they don't care that it's not a craft or imported beer box. They're not snobs.

I think it's too easy to get carried away with nest boxes. The chickens really don't seem to care. I have three Dollar Tree white plastic dishpan nest boxes that sit on wooden rails. Just big enough for my chickens to sit in there and do their business. On the rare occasion that a plastic dishpan needs to be cleaned, I just remove it from the rails and wash it out.

When my chickens got bigger, I had to add a second anti-tip board underneath the dishpans and I also use one screw in each dishpan screwed into the wooden rail to stop the chickens from tipping over the nest box. Sometimes I get 2 chickens in a nest box at the same time, and the light weight of the plastic dishpan is not enough counterweight to balance it out sometimes.

 

[Smokerbill]

I think it's too easy to get carried away with nest boxes. The chickens really don't seem to care. I have three Dollar Tree white plastic dishpan nest boxes that sit on wooden rails. Just big enough for my chickens to sit in there and do their business. On the rare occasion that a plastic dishpan needs to be cleaned, I just remove it from the rails and wash it out.

When my chickens got bigger, I had to add a second anti-tip board underneath the dishpans and I also use one screw in each dishpan screwed into the wooden rail to stop the chickens from tipping over the nest box. Sometimes I get 2 chickens in a nest box at the same time, and the light weight of the plastic dishpan is not enough counterweight to balance it out sometimes.

You have time to take a picture of your nest box setup? Sounds simple and effective.

I've still been planning nest boxes that would have outside access. But that would require cutting holes through the intact 1/2" hardware cloth run walls, and I really don't want to cut up my work.

I think I'll go the route of inside-the-run nest boxes. I don't mind side stepping turd landmines. LOL

 

[fuzzi]

You have time to take a picture of your nest box setup? Sounds simple and effective.

I've still been planning nest boxes that would have outside access. But that would require cutting holes through the intact 1/2" hardware cloth run walls, and I really don't want to cut up my work.

I think I'll go the route of inside-the-run nest boxes. I don't mind side stepping turd landmines. LOL

I also was planning on nest boxes with outside access, changed my mind for the same reason.

They're not laying yet, but I have set up plastic totes that I got from Ace Hardware, the type that hold lengths of chain for sale. Total cost = $000.

Checking out the faux eggs: