Halloween Fence From Pallets

Here's another quick Instructable that will hopefully inspire you to get out and make some Halloween props/decorations for you own home haunt. This Instructable will show you how to make a pretty neat Halloween fence on a budget. Also, it is pretty darn simple to make.

I actually made this fence one week after Halloween in 2010. It just so happened that I ended up with some free time on my hands that I didn't have before the holiday. But hey, it's never too early to start a Halloween project anyway. So, I've taken some pics of the fence and I will try to explain the process as best I can. But really, it obviously can be made to your own specifications, I'm mainly sharing the idea and the materials used.

What you will need:

MATERIALS:

-6 foot fence pickets (they are usually 5 1/2 inches wide and are around $1.50 each. One board will make two six foot sections of fence.)
-A bunch of pallets (The amount of pallets needed depends on the size of the area you want to cover and how you space the pickets made from the pallets)
-Screws (you want them to be long enough to go through the pallet board and into the support board)
-Brown and gray paint (check your local hardware/home improvement store for "oops" paint. You can often get a gallon for $5 or so)
-Lastly, you will need 2 foot and/or 3 foot rebar and some black zip ties. This is what will hold your fence up.

TOOLS:
-Tape measure
-table saw or circular saw
-Tools to take apart the pallets (hammer, small crowbar, saw, etc.)
-Screwdriver (preferably a power screwdriver)
-File/dremel/hacksaw or whatever you want to use, if necessary, to get rid of the tips of the screws if they happen to stick out of the other side of the fence)
-Paint sprayer (optional, but VERY helpful)

Other Halloween projects I've submitted:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Boarded-Windows-for-Halloween/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Halloween-Door-HangWall-Vase/

Step 1: Measurements

Measure your yard or space where you want the fence. Again, when you buy your fence picket, one will cover a twelve foot section. The amount of pallets you need will vary based on the length of the fence and how you space the pallet boards. I spaced my boards at least six inches apart and also left space where a board might have fallen off because I wanted smaller children to easily see through and get a look at my tombstones and other props that will go up.

Step 2: The TOUGH Part

See the two pallets? For this project you want yours to look like the one in the back or worse. It's old, weathered, falling apart, the boards are different sizes, etc. (the more boards that look like the top one on that pallet, the better!). We want the fence look like the creepy owner just put it together with whatever wood he or she had laying around. The one in front is too perfect and, believe me, is also MUCH harder to dismantle.

*Note: There are several Instructables that explain how to take pallets apart, just do a search. However, I like to use a crowbar, hammer, and brute strength because you end up splitting the boards and making them look even worse.

*FOR SAFETY: Make sure you remove all the nails from the boards. Also, make sure you remove any large splinters/sharp pieces that could hurt anyone. If you do have an end that's maybe a little more pointed, just make sure it will be pointing toward the ground when your fence is put up. We don't want any trick-or-treaters to get injured!

Step 3: Rip and Assemble

The next thing you are going to do is cut the six foot pickets you purchased lengthwise into for equal sections. See the first photo . These are going to be your support pieces that the pallet boards will attach to.

Now, you just need to screw the pallet boards onto the support pieces. You can see how I spaced them left and right as well as in relation to the support pieces. Angle them, put broken pieces on, leave a section blank so it looks like a board fell off, etc. We want this thing to look like it's been there a long time and hasn't been maintained! However, I think I went a little too far on the section in the first photo and that's why it's facing my driveway.

*FOR SAFETY: Remember, if your screws go through both boards and out the other side, make sure you get rid of that tip so nothing will poke or scratch a passerby.

Step 4: Painting

Next, grab your brown paint and paint the entire fence. It's easiest to lay the sections on a couple drop cloths and use a sprayer. If you have many hands to make light work, consider yourself lucky and grab the old paint brushes.

When your newly assembled fence sections are dry, dry brush (remove most of the paint before brushing) various areas of the fence with the gray paint. Experiment and see what you like.

Another possibility: It's hard to see in the second pic, but the cross tombstone was painted different shades of gray and then painted white. When the white paint was getting close to being dry, I sprayed and misted it with water. This washed away and thinned the white paint which reveals some of the grays. I think you could have a nasty white picket fence if you paint the fence brown first, then applied the white paint technique. Might be worth a try.

Step 5:

Now, you are ready to erect the fence.  I used 3 foot lengths of 3/8 inch rebar.  Pound about a foot of it in the ground then zip tie the fence to the rebar as shown.  I think most of my sections were zip tied at the bottom too.  Just noticed this one wasn't.  Better get outside before this thing falls over!