Introduction: A Table/bookcase Made From a Pallet
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About: I work voluntarily to help develop the community where I live. I like to explore new areas and experiment with making things myself. I am extremely passionate about making the change to a future where we real…
As it's easy getting hold of pallets, I like turning them into nice furniture. I had the idea of combining a table with a bookcase itself and so planned this.
I used: One standard pallet, some venetian blind strips, four small metal brackets, thin plywood board found at the bottom of drawers, some plastic wheels that move in all directions. Some short screws (1cm) and some longer (4cm is good), a few nails (4cm).
Tools: I mostly do things manually so used a saw, screwdriver, sandpaper plus an electric drill.
I used: One standard pallet, some venetian blind strips, four small metal brackets, thin plywood board found at the bottom of drawers, some plastic wheels that move in all directions. Some short screws (1cm) and some longer (4cm is good), a few nails (4cm).
Tools: I mostly do things manually so used a saw, screwdriver, sandpaper plus an electric drill.
Step 1: Getting the Wood Ready
First, you'll need to do the plan and measurements and this will mostly depend on the width of the wood so when you put pieces together, the sides will join with the others. Therefore as this one is made up of three pieces of wood together, the width of those three need to be the same as the length of the pieces so that they will match when joining to the other sides.
Just draw out your plan, see how many pieces you'll need and cut them accordingly.
Measure the size of the books you'll want to put in there then make your dimensions fit these. I wanted four separate book sections so the depth will be a little more than two book depths and a little higher than the books are so you can get them out easily enough.
I did mine so that some side pieces would be horizontal and some vertical as you'll see later but you can do it how you like.
Then, for the table top, I used four pieces as I wanted it to be bigger than the body part so they were cut longer. You can see them at the top left of the photo.
I sanded down each piece and got the ends smooth, just with normal sandpaper wrapped around a spare piece of wood.
Just draw out your plan, see how many pieces you'll need and cut them accordingly.
Measure the size of the books you'll want to put in there then make your dimensions fit these. I wanted four separate book sections so the depth will be a little more than two book depths and a little higher than the books are so you can get them out easily enough.
I did mine so that some side pieces would be horizontal and some vertical as you'll see later but you can do it how you like.
Then, for the table top, I used four pieces as I wanted it to be bigger than the body part so they were cut longer. You can see them at the top left of the photo.
I sanded down each piece and got the ends smooth, just with normal sandpaper wrapped around a spare piece of wood.
Step 2: The Base and the Sides
I used two other pieces of wood to fix the base together. you can nail them or screw them together. I used nails. These pieces are where the wheel will go in so you'll need to drill four holes in the corners that are the width of the metal rods that are attached to the wheels then just slot them in at the end. Make sure they fit in tightly so they won't fall out.
For the sides I screwed in each piece to fit along the edge of the base. It's best to use two screws for each one so they won't twist. Don't use nails for this as there's the chance that the wood will split, being close to the edge.
Continue in this way for the opposite side but don't fit the top onto it yet.
For the sides I screwed in each piece to fit along the edge of the base. It's best to use two screws for each one so they won't twist. Don't use nails for this as there's the chance that the wood will split, being close to the edge.
Continue in this way for the opposite side but don't fit the top onto it yet.
Step 3: Dividers
This is where you'll have books on both sides so for this I used the plywood.
To hold them in place, I used some thin pieces of wood tacked in with enough space between them to slide in the plywood. I chose two pieces just so the colours would go together as the other side was white but that's up to you.
You'll need to cut the plywood so that it slots in really snugly. This way, there's no real chance of it coming out.
To hold them in place, I used some thin pieces of wood tacked in with enough space between them to slide in the plywood. I chose two pieces just so the colours would go together as the other side was white but that's up to you.
You'll need to cut the plywood so that it slots in really snugly. This way, there's no real chance of it coming out.
Step 4: Fixing the Other Panels Together
The next step was putting the top on what I'd got so far. The three pieces need to be held together again so I used the venetian blinds for this. You could also use other thin strips of wood if you have them. Basically, you don't want them to get in the way of books being put on the shelves. I used short screws to fix them in place in the position where they will go inside the sides of the the walls.
Then screw the top onto the ends on the sides and follow the same kind of pattern for the upper part.
I had the upper panels made horizontally and held them together with blind slats again as I didn't have any more thin strips of wood. You can see the dividers done like that on the photo.
Then screw the top onto the ends on the sides and follow the same kind of pattern for the upper part.
I had the upper panels made horizontally and held them together with blind slats again as I didn't have any more thin strips of wood. You can see the dividers done like that on the photo.
Step 5: The Upper Section
The upper two walls were also screwed to what is now the middle piece. I put a blind slat across the middle for the plywood to sit on although it's not really necessary. Cut some more plywood and slot it in as before.
Then, the last piece to make it the table top. I didn't want screws to be seen on the top so fixed the four metal brackets onto the corners as shown. Place them so that when you put the table top on the brackets will join to two pieces of wood on each side so the whole top will be fixed. Then, you can screw upwards with tiny screws.
For the four longer pieces that formed the table top, I again joined them together with blind slats which again, you'll need to make sure will sit inside the edges once you put it on. Then screw on the table top and it's done.
I chose some gloss varnish to finish it off and it is now a snug little table that can hold about 40 books. Ideal if you have a reading chair where you can rest your mug of warm broth and your pipe. :D
Then, the last piece to make it the table top. I didn't want screws to be seen on the top so fixed the four metal brackets onto the corners as shown. Place them so that when you put the table top on the brackets will join to two pieces of wood on each side so the whole top will be fixed. Then, you can screw upwards with tiny screws.
For the four longer pieces that formed the table top, I again joined them together with blind slats which again, you'll need to make sure will sit inside the edges once you put it on. Then screw on the table top and it's done.
I chose some gloss varnish to finish it off and it is now a snug little table that can hold about 40 books. Ideal if you have a reading chair where you can rest your mug of warm broth and your pipe. :D
