DIY Computer Desk made from Pallet Wood?

[JDub]

Hey everyone, I work in a warehouse and can get free pallets that look pretty good. I'm tempted to make a butcher block style desk with iron pipe legs like this (the shelves): http://imgur.com/gallery/8hVHw

Anyone done much like this? My main concerns are:

1. The pallet tops are pretty thin, and will likely need to be planed down to ensure smooth contact for the glue. How much do wood processing places typically charge to push through.. 8(?) pallets worth of top planks so that they are even?

2. Price I'm ok with the elbow grease involved and have most of the tools, but how much is it going to cost me in glue using those thin pallet tops? Any cheaper way to get the Iron pipe stuff? Most people who make desk legs say it cost $200-260 fml.

3. If anyone knows of a really solid somewhat heavy desk that's ideal for computer use and reasonably priced please post it. Ikea kinda stuff turns me off because of its fragile and easily destroyed nature. ATM I use an Ikea Tromso style bed with the under desk and its driving me nuts for gaming. I just want a solid *** desk thats the right height for gaming. Those 1950's style drafting desks are too much of a pain to move and wont be suitable till i own a home.

Anything else I'm not considering?

 

[tarbellb]

Pallet wood is not better, and often worse then just plain pine or fir lumber at your local hardware store. So if you are using it simply for the free factor then you are going to be way ahead buying 2x4 or even 1x4 lumber vs paying to have PW planned down.

Also, most serious wood shops wont touch pallet wood with a planner due unknown foreign objects ie nails and ****. Chip a blade, they'll want $60+.

As for table legs, black (iron) pipe is certainly a decent method to getting some heavy duty metal legs. Its pretty hip right now as well, and not terrible on price.

All in all, I think you are on the right track w/ the black pipe for legs. The cost shouldnt be more then ~$60-75? But the pallet wood is only good if you are going for that "look", you might be surprised what other wood you can find reclaimed if you start looking around.

 

[JDub]

Naw I'm not in it for the look of pallet wood, thats why I was thinking of taking all the skinny boards and making them thick by flipping them. I do like the butcher block look but its not a requirement. I knew lumber wasn't *too* expensive but it seemed like an interesting way to save $50-$120 on lumber. I'll look into buying it the legit way

 

[bsaint]

Most pallets are treated with insecticide. Look for an "HT" (heat treated) stamping only. If it says "HT" and "MB" or just "MB" avoid it as it has Methyl Bromide in it. If their unmarked, they are unregulated and could contain anything.

 

[McLean]

3. If anyone knows of a really solid somewhat heavy desk that's ideal for computer use and reasonably priced please post it. Ikea kinda stuff turns me off because of its fragile and easily destroyed nature. ATM I use an Ikea Tromso style bed with the under desk and its driving me nuts for gaming. I just want a solid *** desk thats the right height for gaming. Those 1950's style drafting desks are too much of a pain to move and wont be suitable till i own a home.

Anything else I'm not considering?

I dont have any input on the pallet idea, but I recently picked up a gladiator workbench for use as a computer desk. Added some rolling file cabinets to stow underneath. It's adjustable height, super beefy, reasonably priced (compared to legit desks) and looks pretty cool IMO.

 

[ilovevocs]

Could look on craigslist for a tanker desk and do anything from a light refurb to total custom on it. If you can snag one with a chair it would be slick. They are growing in popularity and as such demanding more.

Price really depends on how many hipsters live in your area.

 

[dogdog]

most of those pallet woods are rough surfaces, how are you going to sand them smooth?

sanding would take some time, not sure if it is worth it unless it's a wow factor or customize features....

I think those pallet woods would be hard on the planner blades...... especially if they contains nails or staples, some metal pieces that you didn't remove. Planner blades are expensive last time I checked.

If you have ikea access they sell solid wood table tops for about $80 just add your own legs, I think it's 1" thick.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50106773/

 

[racingtadpole]

If you want to use pallets there's a couple of ways you can surface the timber depending on what tools you have available or are looking for an excuse to purchase. If you have a table saw, skim cut it. If you have a router, build a sled for it. If you have an electric plane, plug and play (make sure you have a good hold, power planes and nails usually ends badly for the plane). If you have a manual plane, roll your sleeves up and get on with it (it doesnt actually take as long as you might think). You can of course buy your own thicknesser too.
If you just want to build a desk, then go to your local timber supply and pick some DAR (dressed all round) that you like the look of and post pictures here when its done

 

[Larry_AZ]

Be careful using pallet wood.

They are used to move everything in the world, and they are reused a lot!
Produce -- top ice, pesticides, veggie juice
Chemicals -- bleach, vinegar, pesticides
Just to name a few.
Usually made the cheapest material the builder can find.

On your next trip to IKEA, look in the scratch and dent room (usually by the registers).
Last time I was there, they had a butcher block table top (desk sized) for $50
They also have a cart full of wood for around $20

Look on Craigslist ... I found these tonight, and there are more:
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/5685122823.html
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/5713282211.html
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/5680121886.html

Good luck

 

[upndown]

Check with the local postal service. The cluster boxes come on new pallets, no chemicals or paint. Delivered and installed that's it. Not reused! I have a ton of it for projects at my cabin, but I enjoy the whole process and what's not used makes great firepit wood.

 

[archirelic]

You can also check around with your local printing supply stores...that's where I source all of my pallets from. The pallets are usually heavy-duty and have no chemicals, etc. on them since they're shipping large rolls of plotter paper in on them.

I've got one contact here in town that whenever they accumulate a good amount of pallets, they call me and let me come sift through them and select out the best ones. The boards are always typically straight, have very few nail holes since they're not used over and over again like most pallets, and require very little prep work / refinishing in order for me to get good, usable material from them.

 

[FullRaceMerc]

What species of wood? I've seen heavy duty pallets made from white oak, which was quite a surprise.

Pallets are slid across rough ground during normal use & can pick up all sorts of tiny pebbles which are embedded into the surface of the wood. And passed on to the tops of other pallets when stacked. Pebbles are bad for woodworking tools. Plus the pallets can be built from wood with lots of warp & wind, which makes the wood less desirable for finer woodworking without a lot of prep. And many are made from cheap materials.

If you are paying someone to prep the wood, it is probably more cost effective to buy better wood to start with. If have more time than money & can do your own prep, & can find pallets made from better some species of wood, you can come up with some workable material. But it's usually a lot of work to remove the junk, get below to a good surface, square it up, & have enough material left to use.