Rustic Table Made Out of a Wooden Shipping Pallet

by sternsam000 in Workshop > Pallets

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Rustic Table Made Out of a Wooden Shipping Pallet

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This is an instruction guide for making your own burnished pallet table.  I made this table as a school project that required using recycled materials to create something entirely new.   I may have gone a little overboard on this project, but because of that, I received a 39/35 on it!

What did you make?

I made a table using an old wooden pallet, scrap metal, and other small metal findings!

How did you make it?

This was a bit of a process.  I started by sanding the pallet and cleaning the gunk off of it that had conglomerated over the past few years of its nesting in my garage.  Then I sketched the burnished design on to it.  I used a wood burnisher and dremel to burnish the design on to the table top, then I attached the legs using a drill!  I also stained the table with wood stain, and put felt on the bottom of the legs so that they wouldn't scratch any floors.

Where did you make it?

This was made at home, primarily in the garage.

What did you learn?

I learned a few things.  First, don't try to make a table when you only have 1 day to complete the project.  Second, don't try to attach the legs while leaning the table against a wall, you might drop it on your head and get a concussion.  Third, burnishing a design takes time and it smells, so work in a properly ventilated area. 
Even though there were a few mistakes, I loved this project, and I think it makes a great addition to our outdoor furniture.  I can see it being used for a long time!

Materials

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You need a few different things.

Sandpaper
Wooden Pallet
Metal Tubes for legs
Electrical Junction Boxes (to attach legs to table top)
Wood Burnisher
Dremel
Wood Stain (optional)

Sorry I don't have images from my making this, I didn't think to photograph the process!

Designing the Table Top

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For this, I began by sanding the pallet and washing the spider webs off of it.

Then, I sketched out an Art Deco inspired design, and used a ruler and measuring tape to draw it onto the table using a pencil.

After that, I used a dremel to etch the design into the table, then a wood burnisher to get the burnt look I was going for.

I then stained the table top with wood stain.

Attaching Legs

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For the legs, I used spare metal tubes found in my garage.  They were luckily all the same length, so I didn't have to do anything! I would probably shorten them though, if I had time. 

My dad suggested using electrical junction boxes to attach them to the table, because these boxes would hold the legs in place.

We used a drill to attack those, and the legs screwed in from there.

Final Touches!

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After that, the table was complete. I presented it to my class, and they were all very impressed!  We used the table to present all the other projects created, and it was a great display.  When I brought it back home, I accentuated its rustic qualities with a lace napkin and daffodils in an antique pitcher!