Thread: Making cabinets/ cupboards/ draws from scavenged timber eg. wood pallets etc....

It depends n the finish you want and how much effort you are willing to put in. If you want it all clean and neat, use MDF or chipboard. If you've got the time, then try to recycle. Keep in mind that different timbers will expand and contract differently, and that pallet timber is often the worst timber imaginable (apart form MDF and chipboard).

You will need a router table if you want to add a t and g to the boards.

Trav

Factor into the equation that some pallets etc have so much dirt ingrained into the fibre, that you will be continuously sharpening/replacing the blades. I write from experience.

Hi Apples,
I have used crate timber before to make draw sides for deep draws it is hard to get wide thin boards for draw sides 200mm+ x 12mm thick(instead of gluing up lining board or thinning down 19mm boards) . I used to get machinery crates the timber was usually clean and you often get usable timber from them. We are currently building a cubby house for the grandchildren out of crates from a mower shop he gets all his mowers in crates and they are first in gets the lot.
Regards Rod.

Here is an adandrak chair I made out of pallets . I have also done other patio chairs, 3 T & G toy boxes out of pallets and a tool cupboard for the daughters garage you do as other member have posted pick you timbers, as you are getting them free that isn't a problem.

Regards
Harold

You may be interested in the 'Create from a Crate' competition being run by the Victorian Woodworkers Assoc. I think registration closes very soon, but check it out.

Hi

I have made a few simple things like attached. My workshop is my garage and it's too cold at the moment but will do more come spring. i.e. be more adventurous. As indicated by others, a lot of the wood is rubbish and frustrating. Bill

SORRY, THE BROWN TABLE IS NOT ACTUALLY THE ONE I MADE, BUT I COPIED IT AND WAS BASICALLY IDENTICAL
lClock (1 of 1).jpgKACY'S EXAMPLE COFEEE TABLE.jpgWine Rack (2 of 3).jpguntitled (3 of 4).jpg

Apples,

Recycling timber requires a few tools that you wouldn't think of quickly.

Standard break down tools. Lump & sledge hammer. A variety of nail extract devices, large and small pry bars.

High pressure washer helps remove crud (stones, dirt and in some cases paint).

And last of all before any piece of timber gets near a machine a good quality metal detector.

I use to score very large custom build pallets (some sort of pine) from a company near where I worked.

Build my work bench out of that recycled timber.

Im another recycled pallet timber fan. Sorry no photos. All of the above caveats on dirt, metal etc apply. You get what you pay for....

That said if you can find a machinery or paper importer they have the best stuff. Its often in good lengths and if its been in a container it can be quite clean as well. Ive scored European Spruce and Osage Orange that way. Dont bother with the stuff outside the Chep depot, it really only is for firewood.

A good source of acceptable packing case timber in the past was Glass crates used for the import of sheets of Glass for the Glass trade ( building), particular for products imported from USA.
It may be worth investigating if timber crates for this industry are still being used.
Cheers,
Mac