Fun With Pallets and Shipping Crates

[DoghouseForge]

I needed a media storage system for the shop..

I listen to mostly records and use the aux jack for streamig pandora so it really only needed spaces for the Techniques, records, and the reciever....

I hate buying wood! well at least pine... Its everywhere and is wasted constantly, plus even pine is expensive when your talking about this size project.

So I scavenge pallets and shipping crates from the dumpster areas of my shops warehouse (im not stealing them just FYI, the carpet company next door has given me permission to take anything they leave by the dumpster)
Most of the time the wood is crappy and not worth dissasembly but occasionally youll find some really decent wood and Ive actually got a growing collection of pallets with Oak braces...

So Here is something I made from repurposing a shipping crate and some pallet wood...





This shipping crate needed to be tightend up a bit, but some nails and bracing and its good to go...the shelves inside were assembled from ripping pallets in half just behind the center support...ready made shelf...
These particuar shelves came from pallets that had tightly spaces top boards and are, in my opinion, far superior to the regular slotted style..

I used a palm sander and spent a hour or so working from 40grit up to 220... its the most time consuming part but believe it or not there is some nice wood in there

sanded and ready to stain


I used a oil base stain and a combination of rag and brush to apply it.. Basicly brush it on and wipe it off.. The undersides are tricky because the satin runs away from the brush head and makes coverage a *****...Any tips on that would be apprecited as it drove me nuts... but for at least this attempt perserverence prevailed and it all got stained... afterwards I used the rag and applied additional stain to some areas to distress and add depth to the outside shell...



let it dry, added some wheels, and drilled 3" holes behind the reciever and turntable for power/audio cord and speaker wire access...

Add classic vinly, turtable, reciever, and let the tunage begin..




So would I put it in my living room? of course I would... but would my wife put it in our living room? NO! but that is exactly why I have a shop! Alot of guys dont like the rough and repurposed look but it pretty darn nice considering it was only 24hours out of the trash...

JP

 

[DesertSparky57]

Sweet! Records rule!

My wife has a massive collection. Breaks my heart to know that there are people out there somewhere that will live their whole life never to hear the textured sound of a good record.

I personally think that a tune called 'almost cut my hair' from a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album, Déjà Vu, is just the most amazing thing I've ever heard come from a speaker. It's way before my time but damn if it don't sound like those guys are sitting in the living room when that record is going.

That shelf fits perfect right where you got it. No way would I let the wife take a shelf like that inside!

 

[nine4gmc]

I like that a lot. I have been eying the pallet stack at the shop ever since I got my planer working. Good stuff

 

[DanCo]

Nice!!

Dan

 

[Sureshot]

Hot tub pallets are a fave of mine. Over sized and make great temporary benches etc, just set them on sawhorses.

 

[softailgarage]

Nice, I like it. The whole pallet thing is "in fashion" now, there are companies making "pallet furniture" along with other things, it's part of the "industrial fashion" kick and they're getting big bucks for it. There is a small industrial complex a couple of blocks away from me. About every other month one company in particular sets out on the curb anywhere from 12-25 shipping containers of different sizes , all free for the taking. I probably have 7-10 boxes that I use for anything from storage to a paint booth. 2 years ago they set out half a dozen 4'x8' workbenches, sturdy with 1" plywood tops and bottom shelf. I grabbed one and it sits in the backyard now, real handy.

http://pinterest.com/101woonideeen/101-diy-pallet-furniture/

 

[aggierailroad]

Not too shabby!

Do you want my smart-a!$ tip for staining the bottom of stuff? Turn it over!

But really, the thing looks almost too big to be flipping around by yourself. I typically only use a rag to apply stain. I don't know of a clever way to brush it on upside down besides maybe using the gel type stains... Which I hate...

Come on down and make me one next!

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

I use to use the jet ski pallets, they are real long for housing for my pigs. still sitting out there after about 10 years.

 

[DoghouseForge]

Sweet! Records rule!

My wife has a massive collection. Breaks my heart to know that there are people out there somewhere that will live their whole life never to hear the textured sound of a good record.

I personally think that a tune called 'almost cut my hair' from a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album, Déjà Vu, is just the most amazing thing I've ever heard come from a speaker. It's way before my time but damn if it don't sound like those guys are sitting in the living room when that record is going.

That shelf fits perfect right where you got it. No way would I let the wife take a shelf like that inside!

I believe this is the album your remembering,,, definitly a classic...personally the live ''4 Way Street'' double album is worth a listen if you liked deja vu...
"southern Man" kinda goes off...



Thanks

JP

 

[DoghouseForge]

I use to use the jet ski pallets, they are real long for housing for my pigs. still sitting out there after about 10 years.

I believe the long pallets make excellent work benches..

This was one of the first things to be built in the shop...I am affraid its a lot fuller now...



Thanks

JP

 

[OccupantRJ]

I like that a lot. I have been eying the pallet stack at the shop ever since I got my planer working. Good stuff

Problem is the dirt on them will eat planer blades. However, I have wire brushed some, used air to blow off, then planed them. I use a metal detector to check for metal.

 

[nine4gmc]

I thought about the metal detector already but didn't know about the dirt, thanks! Anyone use the wood for fine wood working? I have seen a few butcher blocks on line that came out well.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Pretty cool build. Pallets around our office complex tend to multiply like rabbits and often I will break them apart for little projects too, most of them are oak. One tenant also ends up with a bunch of short 4x6's that are bolted to the bottom of gun safes for shipping. I've managed to re-purpose those too quite a bit... lol.

At HD/Lowes they used to give you scraps or really warped boards, but now even those they want to charge you for! So I'll take free any day of the week.

 

[Duct Tape Man]

Nice! I was wondering what I can do with these pallets I see around town, most places around here stack em up and chuck them out. Lotsa good wood in pallets...

 

[zkling]

Problem is the dirt on them will eat planer blades. However, I have wire brushed some, used air to blow off, then planed them. I use a metal detector to check for metal.

Yep, as well as the hidden nails and staples. Back in high school some friends and I use to reclaim lumber, mostly pallets and barn wood. Ended up purchasing a surface grinder for ~$200. It was well worth the savings it cost to be able to sharpen the blades ourselves. Paid for itself many a time over. The real scary issues is when you would hit the nails/etc with the RAS. Almost shat myself a few times from that.

I thought about the metal detector already but didn't know about the dirt, thanks! Anyone use the wood for fine wood working? I have seen a few butcher blocks on line that came out well.

O yea, you can make some nice stuff from pallet wood, fence wood, barn wood, etc. Try and look for older, dry, large pallets made out of oak. Usually you are limited on project size, especially if you care about nail holes. Most pallets I have come across are laden with nail holes. Sometimes I think the worker was board and just threw in a few extra that day.

Back when we had our little wood shop a guy had us mill a bunch of pieces of old pallets to use as flooring in his new house. It looked REALLY good when finished and cost a fraction of what typical hard wood flooring would cost.

 

[Thumper68]

I have made tons of stuff out of old pallets and shipping containers.

If you look you can find containers from south America, Many of these are made from very expensive hard woods. I made a dining table from a crate that I found, the support braces 10/4 x 8" x 16 ft were Mahogany.

Let the COO bashing begin.

 

[zkling]

Let the COO bashing begin.

Well, at least it wasn't a China crate.

16' support brace, WTF did that thing transport?

 

[OccupantRJ]

We get our screw machine metal stock in 12 foot long crates made from 4 pcs of 1x6. I take them apart and stock them at home for various projects. I have had enough over the years to fill up a shipping container with individual boards. My kitchen cabinet face frames are made from these boards, as well as a multitude over other items made from them over the years. They make great free concrete forms.

 

[03protege]

I came across this the other day, decided I'd give it a shot next time I find some pallets.

 

[67 Steed]

Think American SCRAP = PROFITS!!!!

There's red pallets, there's blue pallets, now why not just paint a white pallet? HOMERUN!!!! PATRIOTIC PALLET FURNISHINGS?

 

[cole_CT]

Nice work with that media center. If anyone wants more ideas for using up these wasted resources (pallets) then check out Steve Ramsey on YouTube. I'm subbed to him there and he's quite the character.

 

[grego]

That is one good looking media storage. Nice and heavy so the record player is on solid ground. Do me a favor and at least say that you are going to make several doors to protect the records from flying debris hot or cold. I mention this only because of the band saw next to it. Find some scrap plexiglass so you can still see the records and your workmanship.

 

[DoghouseForge]

That is one good looking media storage. Nice and heavy so the record player is on solid ground. Do me a favor and at least say that you are going to make several doors to protect the records fom flying debris hot or cold. I mention this only because of the band saw next to it. Find some scrap plexiglass so you can still see the records and your workmanship.

Lol. The band saw actually is located at the other end of the shop. Its on wheels and I store it there sometimes . I agree and have plan to make some doors with glass centers.. ill use the pallets to frame them but I'm waiting for time to go pick up the glass panels from my friends garage.

Its definitely heavy and that particular record player is about as solid as it gets... those records and that techniques made it through college , a lengthy progressive house phase, and 5 years of storage so while all the "thump thump thump" vinyl has moved on the classic records will always have a safe place

JP

 

[muibubbles]

i love it. very western to me. even though i dont think its classified as a western style lol

 

[sxk122]

Here's my 1st pallet project. Combination of pallet wood and lumber from the $.50 to $1 cull lumber section at Home Depot. Less than $10 in materials. Trimed the 2x 4 edges down and then the tabletop was made from those trimmings.

 

[Responder]

Here's my 1st pallet project. Combination of pallet wood and lumber from the $.50 to $1 cull lumber section at Home Depot. Less than $10 in materials. Trimed the 2x 4 edges down and then the tabletop was made from those trimmings.

Nice re-purpose! Looks great

 

[DoghouseForge]

Nice re-purpose! Looks great

Our shop is lacking in the seating section...I just keep looking for old chairs and stools...All this time I could have made 10 of those chairs you made with the pallets we have stackd up...

Thanks for the idea!

Nice work!!

JP

 

[zkling]

Our shop is lacking in the seating section

You have room for seating in your shop? I don't think you are doing it right.

 

[Steevo]

I think your re-purposed pallet and crate wood shelving unit is really nice and well done. Nice work!

I am appalled by the way you have treated that vinyl collection. Those jackets look like they've been dragged behind a truck, and I can't imagine keeping them in a work area like that.

Sorry, but I worship vintage vinyl, and that includes the jackets, liners and records.

 

[DoghouseForge]

You have room for seating in your shop? I don't think you are doing it right.

There is an "office" section built into the front of the ware house..Its A.C.'d and has 3 rooms and a small kitchen area.. There are currently 2! folding chairs and a couple upside down 5 gallon buckets for tables..

I think the "office" needs a bit of an upgrade...

As far as sitting "in" the shop... why are you in the shop if your not working? The belt sander and band saw do have salvaged stools at them... to be completly honest.

 

[54FordPanel]

Nice work JP. And Responder.

 

[DoghouseForge]

I think your re-purposed pallet and crate wood shelving unit is really nice and well done. Nice work!

I am appalled by the way you have treated that vinyl collection. Those jackets look like they've been dragged behind a truck, and I can't imagine keeping them in a work area like that.

Sorry, but I worship vintage vinyl, and that includes the jackets, liners and records.

Oh hell, If I had new clean stuff to start with I might think that that a climate controlled clean enviroment was needed, but half of these came "used!" from the 70's. My parents were not! mellow folks so Im lucky the records survived in the first place. Not to mention they made it through my 20's as well... I cant remember how many mornings Ive woken up to the record still spinning with the needle in the catch groove... I dont remeber listening to the whole europe 72 album the night before but I guarentee I had a blast!!

So while what i have just typed sounds like abuse... Its the glass half full aspect that needs to be recognized... The Techniques 1200 has spun more hours than I will ever know the total of and its still flawless! The vinyl has all been played and enjoyed repeatedly. The records themselves barely have any scratches even after TWO! generations of enjoyment...

If they can withstand the test of all that time, and still be in great shape providing me with endless hours of listening enjoyment and satisfaction then I could care less if Neil Youngs head has a scratch on it. Thats probably the least of Neil youngs head damage at this point... So what if the Beatles White album is randomly placed between Amahd Jamal and Leon Redbone... maybe paul and leon are digg'n it?

Im sure ol' Jim doesnt even realize he hasnt seen the platter in 15 years; because hes to busy ******* the microphone. The talking heads have been sitting next to Little Feat in the frequently played section for so long they are working on a joint album.

These records are loved and cared for...so much that they get used! Used to the point that one day my daughter will have a party and blow out my speakers rocking Led Zepplin III. But even after shes done being grounded they will still be there ready for another generation to find the amazing joy of vinly... Oh wait... i think you were the one in love with your vinly.. for a second I thought i was...

JP