15 Favorite Uses For Wood Pallets
Shabby chic and rustic charm are everywhere these days; and one of the most noticeable aspects of these themes are reclaimed wood accents. Wood shipping pallets are a cheap and easy ways to add that rustic chic charm. So here are our 15 favorite uses for wood pallets + tips & tricks for finding and disassembling them. The bleow wooden palette was photographed by Stephanie Michelle. You can see the entire feature here
tip 1 - where to find them:
Almost every store uses wood shipping pallets, so drive around & snoop out dumpster areas especially. You can find them on the sides of the road too, or sometimes people even put listings up on Craigslist because they have a bunch they need to get rid of. Always ask before taking. Business, after all, use them for work; so don't just assume they are free for the taking. See more of this Preppy Rustic Wedding here. Photographed by Jake and Necia Photography
tip 2 - safe for use:
Most pallets are stamped to show if they have been Heat Treated (HT), or Treated Chemically with Methyl Bromide (MB) When in Doubt: if a pallet is unmarked, looks really old, grimy, dark, or oily, then it's best to stay away from it. Even if it was treated safely, you don't know what may have spilled on it. You can find this cute vintage key escort card display in this Pink and Grey Vineyard Wedding here. Photographed by Austyn Elizabeth Photography
tip 3 - consider what you are making:
Keep in mind what you are using the pallets for? A good suggestion is to avoid using them for food prep surfaces. Want a fabulous place to grow your herbs this summer? Learn how to make this awesome wood pallet herb planter at Maikin Mokomin. Heads up, this site is in Finnish. Try putting the text into Google translate to learn more about this project.
tip 4 - to sand or not to sand:
Some pallets are really roughly milled, but that's what gives them their rustic beauty. However, if you are using them for something that will have cloth or skin contact, like a table or dresser, it's a really good idea to sand them down to avoid splinters. Reclaim that pallet wood and make some rad decor items for your home like this raw wood clock found at Thistle Wood Farms.
tip 5 - fewer nails to pull:
Cut the outer boards off of the baseboard. This makes your boards a few inches shorter, but in the long run, when you do this on both outer edges of the pallet, you are saving yourself 50 extra nails to yank out with your hammer. This rustic shelf can be used at your big day as well as in your home! Learn how to make it at Made With Love That Can Be Felt.
tip 6 - reverse hammer:
To get the nails out of the middles of the pallet boards, reverse hammer the boards, making the nails and top board pop off the base. Use a piece of wood in-between the pallet board and hammer to avoid extra dents in the wood. Keep your guests in the loop with this quirky painted pallet sign. You can see more of this Chic Shipyard Wedding here. Photographed by JR Magat Photography