4 Ways to Recycle Wooden Shipping Pallets

Posted by Belle on September 17th, 2018

The main use of shipping pallets is to transport goods across countries and continents into warehouses, particularly large orders of heavy goods. They can be found almost anywhere; you might have seen them in your local DIY shops and supermarkets. These pallets which are made out of slatted wood, don't have to be thrown away after they have been used to transport the goods and can be re-used to make a whole range of helpful and cost-efficient items.

So what types of DIY projects can you use shipping pallets for? And can they really be up-cycled to create something new from them? Read on to find out what can be made with just a few wooden pallets and a little bit of creativity.

Fences

Shipping pallets can be effectively used for fencing panels and do not require many modifications to be used for this purpose. Of course, you may want to colour the wood with a stain and add a wood preserver to it to help make it look more presentable and professional. Next, you need to dig a shallow trench which is the same width of the shipping pallets to approximately 5 inches deep, gently slot them in, one by one and then use a drill to connect and hold the sides together. Finally, you need to insert posts through the middle of the shipping pallets and secure the stakes using a hammer. These will last for some years and save a lot of time and effort when it comes to building your own fences.

Decking

Wooden garden decking can be very expensive in addition to the fact that it is labour intensive to install and time-consuming. Wooden shipping pallets can make for ideal decking as the structure is already put together for you and lifted off of the ground. For decking, you will need double the number of pallets for the decking area as you will need to remove some of the wooden planks from the left over pallets to fill the gaps of the slats on the pallets that will be laid as decking. Once the crates are laid and the spaces are filled, sand them down with an electronic sanding machine, weather proof and varnish and you are good to go.

Tables

Another great item of furniture you can create with wooden shipping pallets is tables for use in either the garden, on the patio or indoors. Tables can be easily made with the addition of 4 wooden legs that attach to each of the corners of the pallet. You may want to use 2 pallets for making the table top so that you can fill in the gaps from the slats that are there for a smooth, more solid and clean appearance. It is recommended to paint the table with a waterproof sealant that helps protect the wood and create a smooth, polished finish. Not only can this help you save hundreds of pounds on a readymade table, but the rustic charm it offers provides unique character to wherever it is placed.

Bed Bases

For people who like something a little bit more unique, wooden shipping pallets make ideal Japanese inspired bed bases. There is minimal work required when building a bed base because the only tools you will need are paint, an electronic drill and some hinges to hold the wooden pallets together. This style of bed has an 8 – 10 inch border around the mattress that you can keep things on, eliminating the need for bed side tables etc. The space beneath the palettes also makes for perfect storage or you can insert lighting into the gaps to create ambience in the room. These are only four ways that you can up-cycle wooden pallets, but the uses are only limited by your imagination.