Pallets! Some could call them the tofu of woodwork! They are simple in their form and functionality yet can become ANYTHING you set your imagination to!

They are cheap and easy to acquire, sturdy and can be disassembled for reclaimed wood!

Now recently, I tore down my kids’ wooden jungle gym play set. I saved all the wood and all the hardware for a future use. I believe this is that future. I combined some pallets with some of the hardware and lumber to make a pallet pool station to contain all my swimming pool accessories.

This is how I did it!

Step 1: Materials

I had almost all the materials left over from the old play set, but in case you don’t have one laying around here is what I used:

Wood

3 – standard wooden pallets
2 – 2x4’s at leaset 6 feet in length each

Hardware

16 – 3 ½ inch lag screws
4 – 3 inch carriage bolts with nuts
20 – washers that will fit over both the lag screws and the carriage bolts
2 – angle brackets
2 – handles

Accessories

1 – screw in bicycle hook
1 – screw in tool hook
2 – bungee cords
2 – wire baskets
4 – coat hooks
1 – door mat

Tools

Drill with bit large enough for carriage bolts and bit small enough for lag screws
Wrench or ratchet for the bolts
Hammer
Saw

Step 2: Insert Tab a Into Slot B

You rounded up all your materials, now it is time to create!

First, lay one pallet flat. Depending on the spacing of the slats, you may need to remove one or two slats near the end.
Next, stand another pallet up on the flat pallet. Fit it into the open area with the missing slat.
Then, slide the 2X4’s down the inside of the upright pallet against the side. Insert it all the way to the ground.
Finally, remove a couple of slats from the third pallet for later use. With the hammer try to keep the nails used to hold the slats to the stringers. They will also be reused.

Step 3: Aw, Nuts and Bolts!

The pallets are prepped, now it is time to assemble the structure. So simplicity everywhere in this step I talk about using a lag screw, include a washer with every one.

Near the bottom of the upright pallet, use the drill and smaller bit to drill a pilot hole into the 2X4 and the stringer board of the pallet.
With the ratchet, insert a lag screw into the hole securing the 2X4 to the stringer.
Repeat for the other side.
This time, near the top of the upright pallet, make another pilot hole into the 2X4 and the stringer.
As before, with the ratchet, use a lag screw to secure the 2X4 to the stringer.
Repeat for the other side.
Now, make another pilot hole on the outside of the flat pallet's stringer where the 2X4 sits behind.
Again, secure the stringer to the inner 2X4 with a lag screw.
Repeat for the other side.
Next, drill a hole on the outside of the upright pallet's stringer just above the flat pallet.
Screw the stringer to the inner 2X4 with a lag screw.
Repeat for the other side.
Lay out the angle brackets at the corners where the two pallets meet. Line up the holes with the stringers.
Once again, the drill pilot holes in the upright pallet's stringers and the flat pallet's stringers.
Use two lag screws to secure each of the two angle brackets.

Step 4: Finishing Touches!

You have a sturdy wooden structure, so now it is time to add all the functional finishing touches.

First, on the sides near the top of the upright pallet, attach the screw-in tool holder and the screw-in bike hanger to the stringers.
Next, attach the handles on the front of the upright pallet near the top using lag screws. This time, washers will not be necessary.
About 15 inches from the top of the upright pallet, attach one of the removed slats from step 1 with the saved nails.
With the saw, cut the overhang off the slat and the excess 2X4 above the slat.
Measure one of the extra slats from step 1 to be the same width as the wire baskets.
Cut them to that length.
Line a wire basket along the slat from sub-step 3 with the cut slat inside.
This time, with the larger bit, drill through both stacked slats.
Use the carriage bolts, washers and nuts to sandwich the baskets between the slats.
Repeat for the other basket.
Finally, secure the coat hooks with the included screws to the front of the upright pallet near the top. Space them out evenly.

Step 5: Use It!!

It is time to put it to good use! Time to go for a swim!!!

The tool hook and bicycle hanger are used to hold your pool skimmer and net.
The handles and bungee cords are used to secure any inflatable tubes or floats to the station so they will not blow away.
The baskets are used to hold goggles, diving rings and any other small toys so they can dry.
The coat hooks will hold towels and clothing items while swimming.
Long pool noodles can store upright behind the pallet between the frame boards. This too, prevents them from being blown away.
I added a door mat so bare feet do not get splinters on the pallet.

There you have it! A functional pool station made from pallets and leftover hardware. This is a design that works great for my needs, but it can be modified or altered to fit yours! As a matter of fact, please do make changes and let me know how it looks!

And as always, thank you for checking out my Instructable!