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Thread: First project

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
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    Hamilton
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    Question First project

    Hi guys this will be my first project I'm looking at building a big toy box for my son I'm thinking about using the timber from some old pallets and crates I have lying around they have writing stamped into them and I thought it might look good . But they are pretty rough I'm thinking a good sanding with a light sandpaper would do the trick would I be right in thinking that ?

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
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    You could easily clean up the timber using sandpaper, or a plane using any other mechanism. You don't say what type of timber it is, not how old it may be, so you will discover its working properties when you start work on it. There is one potential issue to consider, that off the dryness of the timber. Unless it is dried to a percentage of moisture appropriate for cabinet work you might find it shrinks once you clean it up and start work on it. Anyway, good luck and have fun with it.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
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    Depends what finish you want. Some of those pallet timbers are very rough and it may take a fair bit of sanding to get a nice finish. I suppose you could just try sanding and see if you're happy with the result. Don't be afraid to go back to something like 60 or 80 grit and then work through the grits one at a time until you're happy with it.

    Otherwise a plane may be a better alternative as you can remove more material more quickly. Whatever you decide, get into it and enjoy it, that's the main thing.

    Peter S
    The time we enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Bathurst NSW
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tregs View Post
    Hi guys this will be my first project I'm looking at building a big toy box for my son I'm thinking about using the timber from some old pallets and crates I have lying around they have writing stamped into them and I thought it might look good . But they are pretty rough I'm thinking a good sanding with a light sandpaper would do the trick would I be right in thinking that ?
    I do a fair bit of work using recycled timber from pallets, and find that about 60% of the recovered wood is useable. I prepare all in the same way, on the planer then the thicknesser, if for nought else than to get a good surface. If the timber comes ouit of that with a fair surface I'm happy. But, there is still some that doesn;t make the grade. Ifd you don't have a planer/thicknesser maybe you could go to a local mens shed and join to get the use of their equipment.

    Sanding alone will give you a reasonable surface, but by itself is difficult to get level. Hand planing too will improve the job over sandpaper.

    The quality of what you start with and how you prepare it will determine the final result.

    Good luck

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    NUBEENA TASMANIA AUSTRALIA
    Age
    70
    Posts
    548

    Default

    Hi Tregs.

    One of the major projects for our Men's Shed, is building large fire wood boxes.
    We only reuse pallet timber for these boxes. We do however need to constantly find large pallets, such as plaster sheet etc is delivered on.
    Nor mally these boxes retain their original rough finish, which suits their purpose and we label them, "rustic".

    We have just been asked to build one as a toy box.
    After much searching and sorting, we had enough timber to build the required box.
    We then put it through the thicknesser and it came up pretty well. Only Pinus Crapiata ofcourse.

    We have not finished this box yet, but one suggested idea was to drill out the nail holes and glue in dowels, just to improve the finish and the dots would add a "feature".

    Paul.
    TasmanMensShed Inc.
    I FISH THEREFORE I AM.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Hamilton
    Posts
    4

    Default

    Tanks for all the reply's guys I think I will invest in some more tools I will make a trip to bunnings on my days off to see what they have . I'm in no rush to build the toybox so I'll get all the tools I will need first .

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Albury Well Just Outside
    Posts
    13,315

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    Would suggest to determine how you might want to build it, then determine the tools needed.

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