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28th June 2013, 11:09 PM #1Senior Member
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Making cabinets/ cupboards/ draws from scavenged timber eg. wood pallets etc....
So I have been thinking that owning a jointer and thicknesser could be a good idea. I could round up some free timber, be it fence palings or old timber pallets and run them through the machines to clean them up.
Then using this "free' timber I was hoping I could fit out a nice set of cupboards, drawers, shelves etc in the shed. The whole point of the exercise is being to do it as cheap as possible. I figure buying a jointer and thicknesser will still cost money, but at the end of the day I will still have those tools after the job is finished. Compared to just buying the new timber like plywood, mdf, pine frame etc would probable cost as much as buying those two machines, but going this way I would not end up owning those machines which I could use for later projects.
I have this train of thought that I can take all the timber pallets and clean up the individual planks. Once clean would it be possible to tongue and groove the edges so that I can make them into doors for cupboards, and floors in drawers etc.
The actual colour of the timber does not matter, as long as I could join them all up with tongue and groove (only say that because this might be the best/strongest joint, but the planks might be too thin? How small a router bit set can you get for t&g? I guess what I am asking is what is the smallest thickness planks you can use? 10mm 8mm etc). If this idea works then I could just paint all the timber with white paint.
Would my cheapo way work out? I'm a metal fabricator not a wood man. In my head it looks to me that logically it would work.
What are everyone's thoughts on this?
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28th June 2013 11:09 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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29th June 2013, 01:18 AM #2
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.
TravSome days we are the flies; some days we are the windscreen
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29th June 2013, 01:44 AM #3GOLD MEMBER
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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.
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29th June 2013, 08:55 AM #4GOLD MEMBER
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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.
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29th June 2013, 09:25 AM #5
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
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.
Albert Einstein
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29th June 2013, 10:42 AM #6
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.
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4th July 2013, 12:51 AM #7Novice
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Hi Apples
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).jpgLast edited by BillSullivan; 4th July 2013 at 12:53 AM. Reason: Correction
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4th July 2013, 11:01 AM #8Awaiting Email Confirmation
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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.
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4th July 2013, 12:42 PM #9
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."We must never become callous. When we experience the conflicts ever more deeply we are living in truth. The quiet conscience is an invention of the devil." - Albert Schweizer
My blog. http://theupanddownblog.blogspot.com
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5th July 2013, 10:53 AM #10Senior Member
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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
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