Pallet Folding Table

Intro: Pallet Folding Table

My wife needed a folding table for a sales event.

One day I passed by the garbage can, and I saw a folding plastic table with only half of the plastic surface on it.

The iron frame seemed complete to me so I took the table and started thinking about how to make a new surface for it.

I decided to build the new surfaces using dismantled planks from old wooden pallets.

At the end of the process, a folding table was reborn with a beautiful wooden surface, much heavier than the original but with lots of character.

STEP 1: Checking the Table

I've Dismantled the old plastic from the iron structure.

I checked that the iron structure was straight and steady.

At this specific table, as soon as the plastic surface is removed, the iron profiles are separated, the iron bars are only held together by the plastic surface, so I tied them together with a white String (Video 3:15), that way I could work comfortably without the table breaking down all the time.

STEP 2: Preparing the Wood

I measured the wood panels before cutting and added another 5 cm to each side so the table would have more space.

I sawed the wooden planks to the chosen size, first smoothed them with an angle grinder, And then I used rough sandpaper on Orbit Sander and last finishing touches with a fine sandpaper.

STEP 3: Shades

I began to arrange the wooden planks on the workbench and see what surface I would get, noticed that there were different shades of wood and tried a number of options to arrange them.

Finally I decided that the guiding principle would be to arrange the planks according to their color, Bright to dark.

STEP 4: Structural Strength

I cut wood profiles for the bottom of the table, which would connect the planks together and give it the structural strength. I put them together with glue and wooden screws.

I made sure to drill preliminary drills to prevent cracks in the wood while screwing the screws. (Video 1:23)

STEP 5: Assembly

I placed the plates upside down on the workbench and pressed them against each other.

I placed the iron structure on top of it and connected it with wooden screws to the surfaces.

I used the original holes in the same way that the plastic surface was connected originally. (Video 4:22)

STEP 6: Important Tip I Learned

When you have to saw a piece of wood and you do not have a table saw, only have a circular saw... you can connect the piece of wood with screws to the workbench or stand and make sure that they go in deep enough so that the saw does not hit them while cutting, marking the wood, cutting it accurately and without fear.

(See Video in 0:42)

STEP 7: Dimensions

STEP 8: List of Tools & Materials

1. Drill-impact driver: https://amzn.to/2W1IJHZ

2. Orbit Sander: https://amzn.to/2VXk9rS

3. Angle grinder: https://amzn.to/2T2P3x7

4. Circular saw: https://amzn.to/2FbnCxo

5. L-Square

6. Pencil

7. Tape meter

8. Drill 3 mm

9. Drill 12 mm

10. Protective glasses

11. Gloves

12. Breathing mask

13. Ear protectors

14. Go-pro session: https://amzn.to/2XQ8nS2

15. Tripod

16. Drill driver

Materials:

17. Wood glue

18. Wood screws M4x30 approximately 130

19. Clear varnish

20. Painting Sponge

21. String

22. approximately 2 wooden pallets (1.20x0.80 meter)

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STEP 9: Sale Event

Comments

[Eh Lie Us!]

That is flipping perfect. Thanks for sharing.

[Omer O]

:-) Thanks !!

[rmumma]

That is really cool - great idea! I use folding tables a lot around my house and I hate the surface on the newer plastic ones, they are so cheap! The ones I have always tend to sag in the middle of the table and then there is a rise or ridge at the center seam. This gives me some excellent guidance in how to improve them and lengthen their lifespan. Thanks!

[Omer O]

Glad you liked the idea, if you need further guidance in the future I would be happy to help you.

[thesnowtheriver]

nice! I like that you arranged the wood colors from light to dark-----a creative choice! kind of an ombre. ; )

[Omer O]

Thank you very much for the warm words, it really paid off to invest extra time and thought in choosing the order of shades , I like the result . :-)

[Dwargh]

Great i'ble!!

Especially step 8 shows all the gear used in this project so non-pros can see what each tool looks like! I like that kind of way!

[Omer O]

Thanks a lot for the comment I appreciate it :-)

[jon_chalk]

Wonderful instructable. Well laid out. I love the way you show the list of tools needed visually.

[Omer O]

Thank you very much for the comment , Glad you liked it .

[David R]

This is a terricif job. You were lucky to find a hinged table since it fits in cars better. I am always watching for discarded folding tables. The tops nearly always fail before the legs do. It is possible to purchase folding table legs if you can’t find used ones. There are some other interesting instructables on building folding tables by making legs from metal conduit pipe , I think the title of one is craft fair table. This table looks great, far better than one from the factory and all it cost was some time.

[Omer O]

Thanks David, recently I found another table exactly like this in the trash , I suppose it's a matter of luck. I like the attitude of doing it yourself :-)

[Kink Jarfold]

Omer, great job. I'm a fan of pallet wood, too. Ingenious fix it! KJ

[Omer O]

Hello Kink Thank you very much for the comment, working with wood pallet is a great fun !