Ideas for repurposing pallets

[Life is Good!]

I used pallets to build our compost bins - takes 4 pallets for a single bin or 7 pallets for a double bin.

Single bin: Use 3 pallets roughly the same size - stand them so the horizontal center brace is vertical. Create a "U" shape out of the three standing pallets. Screw together at corner with 3" or greater screws - make sure screws are fully in the wood. If you don't wish to use a screw, can also use old hangers as wire and wire the pallets together. Lay fourth pallet across the 'front' opening as a 'door' so you can pull your wheelbarrow right into it without having to heave over the height of the pallet.

Double bin: Stand pallet on end as above (horizontal center brace is vertical) - find a match to that and screw together to make one long pallet - that's the back. Using three pallets, create equally spaced bins (pallet, space, pallet, space, pallet) and screw together. Brace two pallet across the openings as 'doors' and viola! Done.

We've now used these bins for at least 9years if not a touch more. Yes, they're beginning to rot out...so I'm beginning to scour for freebie pallets.

Good luck! There's lots of ideas out there. I think I got the above from a Mother Earth News way back in the day.....don't hold me to that....but I think so.

 

[politicalcenter]

Once you take them apart you can use the wood for almost anything. Some of the finer oak and poplar can be used for fine furniture if you have the knack. It is a good idea to put them back together with good decking screws. Some of the wood is very hard to drive a nail through if you don't first drill a pilot hole.

 

[RichnSteph]

I brought home 11 more oak pallets today so we now have about 20 of them outside. I'll be building an upright spice planter out of one for my wife and breaking down the rest to use as a picket type fence for around our duck pond/AP water source. There is a place near my grandmothers house that leaves hundreds of pallets out every week that are free for the taking so I load a trailer full of them every chance I get.

 

[MossyCreek]

I used pallets to build our compost bins - takes 4 pallets for a single bin or 7 pallets for a double bin. 

Single bin:  Use 3 pallets roughly the same size - stand them so the horizontal center brace is vertical.  Create a "U" shape out of the three standing pallets.  Screw together at corner with 3" or greater screws - make sure screws are fully in the wood.  If you don't wish to use a screw, can also use old hangers as wire and wire the pallets together.  Lay fourth pallet across the 'front' opening as a 'door' so you can pull your wheelbarrow right into it without having to heave over the height of the pallet. 

Double bin:  Stand pallet on end as above (horizontal center brace is vertical) - find a match to that and screw together to make one long pallet - that's the back.  Using three pallets, create equally spaced bins (pallet, space, pallet, space, pallet) and screw together.  Brace two pallet across the openings as 'doors' and viola!  Done.

We've now used these bins for at least 9years if not a touch more.  Yes, they're beginning to rot out...so I'm beginning to scour for freebie pallets. 

Good luck!  There's lots of ideas out there.  I think I got the above from a Mother Earth News way back in the day.....don't hold me to that....but I think so. 

Great idea! I think I will do that...I have been needing. Good composting area. Do you have a pic you could post?

 

[MossyCreek]

I brought home 11 more oak pallets today so we now have about 20 of them outside. I'll be building an upright spice planter out of one for my wife and breaking down the rest to use as a picket type fence for around our duck pond/AP water source. There is a place near my grandmothers house that leaves hundreds of pallets out every week that are free for the taking so I load a trailer full of them every chance I get.

Lucky! Most of the places around here only want to sell the pallets. Do you have a picture of the spice planter idea?

 

[politicalcenter]

I brought home 11 more oak pallets today so we now have about 20 of them outside. I'll be building an upright spice planter out of one for my wife and breaking down the rest to use as a picket type fence for around our duck pond/AP water source. There is a place near my grandmothers house that leaves hundreds of pallets out every week that are free for the taking so I load a trailer full of them every chance I get.

That's great! And with that many for free you could also use them to heat your house,barn or whatever.

 

[RichnSteph]

Lucky! Most of the places around here only want to sell the pallets. Do you have a picture of the spice planter idea?

I don't have a picture (we first saw it on Pintrest) but if I can get it finished tomorrow I'll snap one and post it up here if you want.

 

[RichnSteph]

That's great! And with that many for free you could also use them to heat your house,barn or whatever.

That is also a great option! We currently are sitting on an acre that is heavily wooded with oak and walnut and I plan to take many of them down and cut them into fire wood. Two months ago we used the fire place exclusively to heat the house and our electric bill was tiny. Last month I didn't get any wood cut and using the central heat pushed our bill way up where I never want it to be again.

 

[politicalcenter]

That is also a great option! We currently are sitting on an acre that is heavily wooded with oak and walnut and I plan to take many of them down and cut them into fire wood. Two months ago we used the fire place exclusively to heat the house and our electric bill was tiny. Last month I didn't get any wood cut and using the central heat pushed our bill way up where I never want it to be again.

I would do a little research on the price of walnut.

Last time I checked walnut brought a real good price as lumber...enough to heat the house with electricity for quite a while.

 

[MossyCreek]

I would do a little research on the price of walnut.

Last time I checked walnut brought a real good price as lumber...enough to heat the house with electricity for quite a while.

I agree!