After stumbling upon some pallet furniture ideas (as seen in my blog post here) on Pinterest, I completely changed my mind about what I was looking for in a coffee table. I recruited my husband to help me make a new coffee table out of shipping pallets (I am 9 months pregnant so Nate stepped in to make my idea come to life). He had a few extra half pallets down at his office that would be a perfect size. We wanted something smaller than what we had so that we could actually walk around it to get to the couch. We snagged the 2 that were the closest in size (which was still a few inches off). I love that these things are just thrown together with staples, screws, and nails. The wood is all different and I don't think they really care if they line up or not (I guess they don't need to because they are for shipping...not coffe tables).
Pallet Coffee Table - Tutorial
1) Using shipping pallets, align a few of them in order to get the look and height you want. We ended up cutting about an inch off of one of them in order for them to be closer in size (but not perfect... their shipping pallets for goodness sakes!)
NOTE: ***Before selecting your pallet, make sure that you are aware of how the pallet was treated in order to make sure it is safe for your house. All pallets should be marked with a code that lets you know how it has been treated.
-Heat treatment (HT) (SAFEST OPTION FOR USE IN YOUR HOME)-Methyl bromide fumigation (MB) -Chemical pressure impregnation (CPI)It is also very important to make sure that the pallet is free of insects. Make sure the wood is in good condition and does not splinter easy
-Heat treatment (HT) (SAFEST OPTION FOR USE IN YOUR HOME)-Methyl bromide fumigation (MB) -Chemical pressure impregnation (CPI)It is also very important to make sure that the pallet is free of insects. Make sure the wood is in good condition and does not splinter easy
4) Stain both pallets with your desired stain color. Keep in mind that most pallets are made with a variety of wood. The stain will look different on each piece and each pallet. Make sure to wipe off the extra stain in order for it to dry.
5) Let the pallets dry overnight. Using a spray polyurethane, spray a few coats to protect the stain. Make sure to follow the directions on the can. We did multiple light coats with more than 4 hours to dry in between. After 3 coats, the table was a little tacky to the touch. We used 220 grain sand paper and did a very light sanding over the 2 surfaces to take away the tacky feel.
6) Using wood screws, attach the pallets together.
***Before we attached the pallets together, we decided that we wanted the table to be a little higher. We took some left over 2x4s, stained them, and placed them at the base of all 5 support beams. This rased the table 4 inches but did not alter the look. ***
7) Using your choice of casters (we used 2in swivel plate casters), attach the wheels to the base of the table.
8) Enjoy your new table!
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If you like this, you might also like the pallet wine rack!
Wow! This is awesome - nice work! I love it! You really took "nesting" to a whole new level :) Can't wait to see everything in person!
ReplyDeletehey so awesome and simply amazing having a pallets coffee table. i just loved the idea.
ReplyDeleteWow! This is great looking. We are in need of a new coffee table and I wish I had the skill to do this! I am impressed!!!
ReplyDelete~ Meredith From A Mother Seeking Come Fine me on: A Mother Seeking...
So great! I want one! I'd love for you to link up to my new linky party - Creative Genius @ http://www.thecreativepaige.com!
ReplyDeletehow big is your table?
ReplyDeleteHi! The table is 39in x 25in and 16in tall (including the casters). :) I was afraid it was going to be too short, but has actually been the perfect height.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.....love the rustic look.
ReplyDeleteWow love this!
ReplyDeleteI am so doing this, my husband and I could pull this off. Do you have any ideas on how to make matching end tables?
ReplyDelete@DMT,
ReplyDeleteEnd tables... AWESOME IDEA! You could cut the pallets in half (basically cut on one side of the middle brace leaving a brace on each side) then stack the halves as high as you want your end tables to be. You would have plenty of useful shelves that way. We might just have to give this a try! I also think that a stump for a side table would look really neat with the pallet look. Good luck and make sure to share a photo with me when you make yours!
~Jenna
coool :-)
ReplyDeleteI was wondering why the top pallet didnt have any gaps between the boards. The bottom one does did you just place them closer together before staining? I am going to attempt this project hopefully it looks even half as good as yours! =]
ReplyDeleteThanks Senad!
ReplyDelete@Sbwhited: We never took apart any of the pallets, they just came that way. I actually liked the wood on the bottom pallet better but the spaces made it hard to set things on it so we decided to go with the other one for the top. If I were you, I would just be picky as to what pallet you use. When I have taken apart pallets in the past, I often destroy a few boards in the process. I hope this helps! I would love to see a picture of yours when you are done!
~Jenna
I found this on pinterest and I am in love! I can't wait to finish my own.
ReplyDeleteMy husband has orders to bring home pallets from work asap ;) Can't wait to try this out!!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is using pallets to make my son a little playhouse. I've instructed him to make me this coffee table next! Awesome idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jamie! Send me a photo once he is done. I would love to see it!
DeleteDO YOU THINK IT IS STRON ENOUGH TO HOLD A BIG SCREEN TV? I NEED SOMETHING TO PUT IT ON AND SAW THIS. SO I WONDER IF I ADD MORE 2X4 OR SX6 ON TOP?
ReplyDeleteWow! you are a very talented lady. Am definately gonna use some of these ideas for my home makeover
ReplyDeleteThanks! We have a lot of fun. I have a great post of a sign my husband made for me. Check back in a few days... I just need to take one more photo of it!
DeleteHow did you put the bottom and top together? Glue?
ReplyDeleteHi! We actually used wood screws (predrilled before we put them in). We started by screwing the 2x4's into the base of the top pallet (to give it more height), then screwed the bottom pallet to the 2x4's and added more 2x4's to the bottom to add a few more inches to the height. We had to do a few of them at some weird angles, but they worked and hold it together quite well. It's tricky because every pallet is different so you'll have to just figure out what will work best for the pallets you find. Hope that helps!
DeleteThank you very much!!
Deletehow did you attach the pallets together? we are doing something very similar but having a hard time reaching in with the drill to screw them together. did you just nail it in by hand?
ReplyDeleteHi! In our specific case, our pallets did not line up exactly so we had a bit of a lip to use when attaching them (we flipped them over and attached them from the bottom). If yours line up exactly, I would screw them in at an angle. All pallets are different, so it really depends on your project. I hope this helps... good luck and I would love to see a photo when you are done!
Deletewe made one very similar, thanks to your blog!! I can't wait till the stain dries and we can put it to use. we cut down two large pallets and made a coffee table for the balcony.
ReplyDeleteThat is great! I would love to see a photo of what you came up with. We continue to love ours (especially because it is on wheels and we can move it around). =)
DeleteCan you tell me the height of yours? I did the same one following your directions but it's stil way to short for our living room. I don't want to alter the look to much with big boards on the bottom. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteHI! Ours is 16 inches. As we put the 2 crates together, we noticed that ours was going to be quite short. We added the 2x4s in 2 places which helped to raise it 4 inches. Did you do that? You could add 4x4's if you want to make it even taller. Just distress them before you put them on and then stain them with the matching stain. I often find scrap wood near the cutting station in Home Depot. I hope that helps!
DeleteWhere did you find your pallets? We have been around trying to find some, but are not having any luck. Did you get them for free or are you able to buy pallets? I love y'alls crafts and can't wait to try making a table like this with my husband.
ReplyDeleteHi Dani! We find our pallets all over! The first few we found at my husband's work. Now that our friends know we are looking for them, they let us know about piles of them all over. Once you get the word out, you'll be shocked how many pallets are out there (free, too!). You could also put an add on Craigs List but make sure to put your desired size. Pallets come in all sizes! Hope this helps! Let me know if you make one. I would love to see it!
Deletewhat color is your stain?
ReplyDeleteI would like to know whAT color the stain is as well. It kindA of looks black-brown.
ReplyDeleteI found this on Pinterest as well. I love the pallet coffee table. You are very creative. I also have to make one.Thanks so much for sharing your measurements.I have 3 different size pallets sitting in the bed of my truck, and was wondering what else I could possibly make, and happened to see your table. I know I'm a little late in the game, but could you please share the color of your stain? I have a golden oak, red oak, and mahogany. None of which look like yours.Craft on, my friend.
ReplyDeleteHi Jay! We LOVE our table. It looks awesome in the photos but I think it looks even better in person! I am quite obsessed with Jacobean stain from Miniwax and we use that on almost everything ;) . Let me know if you have any further questions. Best of luck with your table!!
Delete~Jenna
Thank you for the tutorial! Came in very handy when making ours. I love your stain, but our room desperately needed a pop of color. Take a look! http://kimbaland.tumblr.com/post/28946195264/id-call-this-project-a-huge-success-the
ReplyDeleteAwesome Kimberly! I love it! Are you having glass cut for it? That's a great idea. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteI just sent you an email of the finished table that I created!!! Thank you so much for your ideas!!!!
ReplyDeleteHello, just pinned your coffee Table and wine rack, thanks and love them.
ReplyDeleteThis was a helpful post and you presented it well.We can now try to make pallet coffee table. Thanks to you.
ReplyDeleteWow!!! it looks awesome. I'll try to make pallet coffee table like this.
ReplyDeletewhat's the inner dimension between the top and bottom? Trying to make 2 for Christmas for my daughters.
ReplyDeleteHi, I was wondering what size wood screws/Nails you used to go through the different size boards. I was thinking 3" for most but am unsure. Also was wondering if you started from the bottom up or top down?
ReplyDeletethanks
Hi! I am SO sorry this has taken me FOREVER to respond... I just now saw this. I hope you have created your wonderful table already but if not..yes, I used 3 in wood screws on the entire thing...just to be safe. It has held up great! Again, sorry about the VERY late reply...!
DeleteHello! I simply love this table. How much did the whole thing cost you to make?
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to let you know that this person has been selling your coffee table. By that I mean using your photos to sell his own work.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.etsy.com/shop/Oldbitsofwood?ref=seller_info
I found him because he is also using photos from my original pallet coffee table project. I decided to find all of the other sources of his stolen photos and let the creators know so that they can file a complaint with Etsy.
xo Dana
Dana - Interesting... I have had this problem before with the same Etsy shop owner and my wine rack. I really appreciate you telling me. Thank you!!
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Where does your creativity come from? This is amazing!
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