Wood Pallet Projects E-Book

Chris Gleason

• Herausgeber: Fox Chapel Publishing
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 101

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2013

Beschreibung

Wood Pallet Projects shows how anyone can upcycle salvaged pallet wood to create truly one-of-a-kind furniture and accessories. Maverick craftsman Chris Gleason combines sound woodworking techniques with a hip designer's sensibility to unleash the limitless possibilities of the common skid. Inside you'll find inspired projects for rescuing and repurposing pallets. Some of his pieces celebrate the rough, edgy character of the material, while others are crafted as fine furniture. He shows how to construct both indoor and outdoor furniture in a variety of styles, along with other useful items such as a birdhouse, a toolbox, and even a ukulele. .

Leseprobe

© 2013 by Chris Gleason and Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc., East Petersburg, PA.

Wood Pallet Projects is an original work, first published in 2013 by Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc. The patterns contained herein are copyrighted by the author. Readers may make copies of these patterns for personal use. The patterns themselves, however, are not to be duplicated for resale or distribution under any circumstances. Any such copying is a violation of copyright law.

eISBN:978-1-60765-089-8

ISBN: 978-1-56523-544-1

Cover photography:

Left: Trevor Elliott of Magnetic Grain, www.magneticgrain.com.

Upper right: Author Chris Gleason.

Bottom right: David Grant of Crate & Pallet, www.crateandpallet.blogspot.com.

Special thanks to Dana Awtry of Good Earth Furniture (www.goodearthfurniture.com), Dustin and Whitney Barrington of The Rooster and the Hen (www.theroosterandthehen.com), Joanna Billigmeier of Waiting for Two (www.craftynester.com), Amanda Carver of Amanda Carver Designs (www.amandacarverdesigns.com), Laura Distin of The Ironstone Nest (www.theironstonenest.com), Kristi Dominguez of I Should Be Mopping the Floor (www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com), Trevor Elliott of Magnetic Grain (www.magneticgrain.com), Stacy K. Ercan and Danielle Wieland of Stacy K Floral (www.stacykfloral.com), David Grant of Crate & Pallet (www.crateandpallet.blogspot.com), Kat Hertzler of Maple Leaves & Sycamore Trees (www.mapleleavessycamoretrees.com), Rogier Jaarsma (www.rogierjaarsma.nl), Jonas Merian of Jonas’ Design (www.jonasdesign.net), Mom and Her Drill (www.momandherdrill.blogspot.com), Emilie Perez of Crème Anglaise (www.cremeanglaiseuk.canalblog.com), Amber Puzey of Pineplace (www.pineplace.com), Sheryl Salisbury of Sheryl Salisbury Photography (www.sherylsalisburyphotography.com), Nathan and Katie Streu of If I Weren’t So Lazy… (www.ifiwerentsolazy.blogspot.com), Kierste Wade of Brown Paper Packages (www.brownpaper--packages.com), Jenna Wilson of Wilsons & Pugs (www.wilsonsandpugs.blogspot.com), and Lori Danelle Wilson of Lori Danelle (www.loridanelle.com) for their kind contributions to the gallery.

The photos from Leonora Enking and various brennemans on pages 24 and 30 have been used under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0) license. The photo from eren (sea + prairie) on page 26 has been used under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) license. The photo from ann-dabney on page 30 has been used under the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-ND 2.0) license. To learn more, visit www.creativecommons.org/lecrnses.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gleason, Chris, 1973-

    Wood pallet projects / Chris Gleason.

        pages cm

    Includes index.

    Summary: “Lumber prices are soaring, and deforestation is a rising concern. Yet millions of pounds of perfectly usable wood are dumped in landfills every year. Wood Pallet Projects shows how anyone can upcycle salvaged pallet wood to create truly one-of-a-kind projects. Maverick craftsman Chris Gleason combines sound woodworking techniques with a hip designer’s sensibility to unleash the limitless possibilities of the common skid. Inside you’ll find 15 of his inspired projects for rescuing and repurposing pallets. Some of his pieces celebrate the rough, edgy character of the material, while others are crafted as fine furniture. He shows how to construct both indoor and outdoor furniture in a variety of styles, along with other useful items such as a birdhouse, a toolbox, and even a ukulele. There’s plenty of nitty gritty here on working with pallets, including where to find them, how to process them into usable lumber, fasteners, sanding, and the best finishes (if any) to use. The author provides important advice on how to make sure that your pallets are safe, and not sprayed with harmful chemicals. A colorful gallery of finished work provides further inspiration for green crafting”-- Provided by publisher.

   ISBN 978-1-56523-544-1 (pbk.)

 1. Woodwork--Patterns. 2. Pallets (Shipping, storage, etc.) 3. Salvage (Waste, etc.) I. Title.

  TT180.G545 2013

  684’.08--dc23

          2012028942

To learn more about the other great books from Fox Chapel Publishing, or to find a retailer near you, call toll-free 800-457-9112 or visit us at www.FoxChapelPublishing.com.

Note to Authors: We are always looking for talented authors to write new books. Please send a brief letter describing your idea to Acquisition Editor, 1970 Broad Street, East Petersburg, PA 17520.

eBook version 1.0

Because working with pallets and other materials inherently includes the risk of injury and damage, this book cannot guarantee that creating the projects in this book is safe for everyone. For this reason, this book is sold without warranties or guarantees of any kind, expressed or implied, and the publisher and the author disclaim any liability for any injuries, losses, or damages caused in any way by the content of this book or the reader’s use of the tools needed to complete the projects presented here. The publisher and the author urge all readers to thoroughly review each project and to understand the use of all tools before beginning any project.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chris Gleason is the author of several books for the DIY market, including Building Projects for Backyard Farmers and Home Gardeners, Art of the Chicken Coop, Built-In Furniture for the Home, The Complete Kitchen Makeover, Complete Custom Closet, Old-School Workshop Accessories, and Building Real Furniture for Everyday Life. Gleason grew up on a farm in upstate New York and has been raising chickens in his Salt Lake City backyard for more than six years. He currently builds and sells chicken coops. He has owned Gleason Woodworking Studios for more than thirteen years.

CONTENTS

ABOUT WOOD PALLET PROJECTS

BREAKING IT DOWN

PALLETPALOOZA

Easy Home Accessories

TEA LIGHT HOLDERS

MIRROR OR PICTURE FRAME

BASIC BOX

MAGAZINE DISPLAY BOX

Furniture, Indoors and Out

ENTRY CADDY

CHAIR

COFFEE TABLE

OUTDOOR LOVESEAT

Fun & Functional Projects

BIRDHOUSE

TOOLBOX

WORKBENCH

UKULELE

INDEX

TRANSFORMED

From Skid Row to Sturdy & Stylish

Start with a pallet. Add some time and carpentry techniques. Finish with these!

Easy Home Accessories

Tea Light Holders: A Group of Rugged Optimists. Page 46.

Basic Box: Have It, Hold It, Keep It Real. Page 55.

Magazine Display Box: Show Your Rustic Stuff. Page 60.

Mirror or Picture Frame: Glimpse of Past and Future Glory. Page 49.

Furniture, Indoors and Out

Entry Caddy: Friendly and Reliable. Page 66.

Chair: Simple Meets Sophisticated. Page 71.

Outdoor Loveseat: Life of the Lawn Party. Page 85.

Coffee Table: Robust and Refined. Page 77.

Fun & Functional Projects

Birdhouse: A Homey and Hospitable Haven. Page 92.

Workbench: Doing a Job Well. Page 103.

Toolbox: Cool, Collected, Capable. Page 97.

Ukulele: Music in the Key of ‘Pallet’. Page 109.

ABOUT WOOD PALLET PROJECTS

Wood pallets have long been vital to shipping processes. Much more recently, they have become popular for home and outdoor projects. It’s not hard to see why. Pallet wood is cheap (often free for the taking), and using it is a form of recycling.

Perhaps more important than that, though, is its character. All wood is unique, with its own organic characteristics, but pallets add to that a patina, if you will, of experience. They are weathered; they are distressed; they are aged. They have served a purpose, and are ready for more. They are beautiful in a way that shiny new things can never be.

My goal in this book is to show just how versatile pallet wood can be, and to demonstrate how thoughtful craftspeople can use it to build functional objects in a broad range of styles. I enjoy showcasing both the sleek and the rough, on various levels, and I found creating these projects very satisfying.

Start with “Breaking It Down,” which offers guidelines for selecting and salvaging pallets. Browse “Palletpalooza,” a gathering of innovative pallet constructions from all over, for inspiration. Then, move on to the projects section, which offers step-by-step instructions for constructing everything from a simple tea light holder to an outdoor loveseat to a ukulele. Create one or more of those twelve projects for your home, yard, or shop, or simply read through the instructions as primers for how to effectively work with pallet wood.

Finally, check out the interesting and informative tidbits scattered throughout the pages. I guarantee you’ll learn something!

Fact

An inch of wood is fifteen times more efficient as an insulator than an inch of concrete.

BREAKING IT DOWN

How to be an Effective Scavenger

Pallets offer a great opportunity to obtain free materials for little or (usually) no money, and this fact alone makes them worth considering as a resource. However, not all pallets are created equal or are suitable for your project. Here are my tricks of the pallet-scavenging trade.

Permission: Always Get It

It’s the golden rule of scavenging pallets: Always ask permission first.

Many businesses that use pallets actually recycle them. They may use the pallets repeatedly, or the supplier might pick up the pallets and reimburse them for returning them. So before you help yourself to what you think may be free, remember that if you don’t have permission it could also be viewed as theft. Just ask. Some businesses will be delighted to have you take extra pallets off their hands.

BEWARE BACTERIA

Even if a pallet was clean and dry and safe on the day it was manufactured, it could have been exposed to undesirable bacteria sometime during its lifetime. To play it safe, scrub the wood with bleach and soapy water. Rinse well, and allow to completely dry. Remember, wood is porous, so there’s a chance the bacteria is embedded. Don’t use pallet wood for food-related items, children’s toys, or children’s play furniture. It just isn’t worth the risk.

This stack might contain some great projects.

Fact

Many companies are going green by reusing their own pallets.

Safety: Know Which Pallets to Use and Which to Avoid

Most pallets are perfectly fine to work with, but some aren’t. Chances are that the pallet you’re working with is safe, but what if it was treated with some kind of chemical earlier in its life? I’ve also been emailed with a story in which someone got a nasty sliver from a pallet that introduced infection, requiring hospitalization.

So, just be picky. Always wear gloves and choose wisely. When in doubt, leave it out. But how can you tell?

Fortunately, it is straightforward. My goal is to provide facts, not cause unnecessary concern. Common sense is your best starting point. Skip any that:

• Are unusually heavy

• Are wet

• Appear greasy

• Have stains

• Smell

• Display too many twisted nails

• Otherwise look unsavory

Beyond that, what else can you look for? Many pallets are stamped “HT” for heat-treated, which is a good sign that the pallet is newer and was kiln-dried to remove moisture, which could otherwise turn into a problem. Remember, if a pallet isn’t dry, it’ll be a pain to work with, and it could harbor bacteria, so give it a pass.

Some pallets are even stamped with a 1-800 phone number or website that lets you know about the pallet’s origins. You probably don’t need to get on the phone or fire up a web browser: the mere presence of an indicator like this is a very good sign that the pallet was produced as carefully as possible. These pallets are probably good candidates for your projects, provided they meet your other basic criteria (i.e., clean, dry, good condition, etc.).

LabelMeaningHTHeat-treatedKDKiln DriedMBMethyl bromide treatedDBDebarkedS-P-FContains spruce, pine, or fir components

The stamp indicates that this pallet was kiln dried (a.k.a. heat-treated) and is made of spruce, pine, or fir components (S-P-F). This pallet went onto my “keeper” pile.

Pedigree stamps are a good sign, often indicating that a responsible company has produced the pallet to be as safe as possible. If you want more detailed information, call or check the website on the stamp, in this case www.palletid.info. International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) stamps indicate the pallet has been treated to prevent the transportation of pests between countries. IPPC stamps list the country of origin, the facility number, and the method of treatment.

Suitability: Is It A Good Match For Your Project?