Introduction: How to Make a Sledge Out of Wooden Palette

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About: Digital Producer, that enjoys making stuff

The whole of England was blanketed with snow and living right by Hampstead Heath I jumped onto the opportunity to go sledging, after I'd finished all of my work for the day.

I didn't want to fork out on a new one, but I wanted something a little more substantial than a dinner tray. So I decided to build one.

Fortunately I stumbled across a wooden palette resting against a skip next door.

Tools required:
> Saw
> Claw hammer
> Chisel
> Sledgehammer
> Nails (I reused the nails from the palette)

Step 1: Separating the Palette

Saw the three struts that hold all of the top boards.

Separating the wood is quite difficult, as the nails are usually quite long and wood is quite soft.

I used the chisel and sledgehammer to separate the wood and then used the hammer to leverage them away.

You'll now have a platform for the sledge.

Separate three boards, to be used as the rails.

Step 2: Curving the Rails

On each of the rails, simply saw at an angle at one end to form a curve.

I'll add a better photo later

Step 3: Putting It All Together

Line up the rails on the underside and nail them to the platform.

I attached an ethernet cable, to help pull it around

I'll add a better photo later

Step 4: There You Go

And there you go. Simple, cheap, effective and fast!

Step 5: Improvements

If I'd had a bit more time to spend on it, I would have:
> made the platform narrower. It would have reduced the resistance when sledging
> smoothed out the rails more
> coated the rails in a finish