Easy & Elegant Pallet Wood Portable Picnic/Garden/Beach Furniture

The idea behind this project was to make a portable, elegant picnic set from pallet wood comprising two stools and a picnic table. We wanted the seats and table to match, so the design can be made from just one free untreated pallet. We chose a light coloured pine (the older seat is in a honey colour) but pallets can be found in other woods, such as oak and teak, these would both also make a great looking set. The total cost of the two seats and table was 2 Euros so around 2 Dollars or Pounds and I hope you'll agree that the end result belies the price ticket!

The part of the pallet from which the slatted top is cut is called a stringer. Stringers are obtained from one of the most common pallets used in transporting goods, frequently referred to as a standard North American pallet aka Grocery Manufacturers' Association (GMA) pallet. The rest of the project was made both from stringers and top deckboards. These pallets are also very common in Europe. There is also included on this Instructable my film on three ways to dismantle pallets for maximum usable carpentry wood. Also available on my blog (link at end) are articles on untreated pallet identification and hints and tips on where and how to find them.

This is an easy project and relatively speedy to construct as long as you keep in mind that stopping and checking for square at all stages of construction is key for the design to work.

DIMENSIONS

Table working height:

24¾"

625mm

Table top:

183/8" x 29½"

465mm x 755mm

Table - Cut & Planed Dimensions:

Laths

1½" x 5/16" x 29½"

37mm x 8mm x 755mm

Cross pieces

15/16" x 7/8" x 183/8"

30mm x 24mm x 465mm

Legs

13/16" x 1" x 32½"

30mm x 25mm x 820mm

Cross struts

1½" x 5/8" x 17¾"

35mm x 15mm x 450mm

Stool working height:

18¼"

460mm

Stool top:

17¾" x 157/8"

450mm x 400mm

Stool - Cut & Planed Dimensions:

Laths

1½" x 5/16" x 157/8"

37mm x 8mm x 400mm

Cross pieces

15/16" x 7/8" x 17¾"

30mm x 24mm x 450mm

Legs

13/16" x 1" x 213/8"

30mm x 25mm x 545mm

Cross struts

1½" x 5/8" x 17¾"

35mm x 15mm x 450mm

Dowel diameter:

3/8"

10mm

CONSTRUCTION

Watch the film, it's all in there and I included everything as it happened in the workshop, so as to give a comprehensive 'how to'.......

Here is another film on three ways to dismantle a pallet to get maximum carpentry wood and there is a written version link below.

Link to my pallet articles on my blog for 3 ways to dismantle a pallet and identification of pallet codes etc.,.