Here I’d like to tell you about pretty much everything you should know before you start your fun with pallets :)I’ll be writing about tools, materials and all the necessary stuff you’ll need, to make your working with pallets quick, effective and most importantly safe.

So first things first…

A workplace or space

Ideally a garage or a garden or a shed(?) Anywhere with an electricity supply and good ventilation. If you have a workbench that’s fantastic, but you could easily be doing everything on the ground. I guarantee you’ll have a nice leg workout doing sanding on the ground :)

Well, I’ve had, better than the gym ;) Anyway if you think that’s too much for your back, etc. you can build your workbench from….. yes you’re right PALLETS ;)

And moving on to…

Tools and materials

I’m just gonna list all the stuff you’ll need eventually with some nice pictures. Just in case if you are a beginner and don’t know much about pliers or crowbars or saws :)

So there you go…

Hand and power tools:

Hammers

Pliers

Crowbars

Screwdrivers or an electric drill or drill/driver

Saw ( handsaw, circular saw, jigsaw, reciprocating saw – Sawzall, band saw, scroll saw)

Sander – you can use sand block, but I think it’s just too much work for big projects (orbital sander, random orbital sander, belt sander)

Sharp knife the kind you use to cut carpets

Stapler and staples, no, not what you use in an office kind ;)

Clamps

Level

Other materials and accessories:

Paint, varnish, wood stain

Nails, screws

Assorted paintbrushes

White spirit for diluting paint, cleaning paintbrushes, etc.

Measuring tape

Sandpaper – a selection of grits

Workbench or anything you can use to put in the ground like tarpaulin

Face masks

Safety goggles

Noise-canceling headphones or earplugs

Old, used clothes to wear

Material clothes/old rugs

Gloves

Ufff… you’re probably thought that list will never end ;) Believe me this can go and on and on. There’s always going to be something else making the job easier and quicker :)

That may seem like a lot of stuff but if you’re keen DIY-er like me you probably have most of them collected over time. If you just starting your adventure with DIY and have a small budget, begin with the easy project.

Use simple tools like a handsaw, a hammer or a sanding block. However, I don’t recommend saving on safety equipment like goggles, gloves or masks. You don’t have to splash a lot of cash on them. The basic ones bought in any hardware store are better than none.

So before you start you should have a rough idea of what you want to create. Have a look in the INSPIRATIONS section or browse through the blog. That will help you visualize, what it is you want and how it should look like. You can design your project on paper or computer. Whatever flows your boat :)



Don't know which pallets are safe to use? Check Preparing Pallets for Upcycling article.

Make sure you do the measuring before, especially for more complicated projects. Knowing your pallet size and type will give you the idea of what you can use it for in a particular design. More on pallet types and sizes here.

Then you just go with the flow. You’ll see that some projects will require more pallets to be used (dismantled) to get nice, quality planks.

It depends on if you’re working with new or used pallets. New ones are easier to work with. I mean they don’t need so much preparation. The downside is they’re pretty hard to come by unless you are willing to pay for them.

Used ones need to be prepared before they look nice. You have to make sure they are dry, with no sign of spillage and sanded in the process. I personally prefer used pallets, because the finished look has more character,

like this

If you think I should mention something else please leave a comment and I surely look into it :)