Pallet Desk
Intro: Pallet Desk
A simple way to create a desk using a pallet and some ikea table legs.
The pallet allows to double the desk surface and to get a lot of storage.
See more images on flickr
The pallet allows to double the desk surface and to get a lot of storage.
See more images on flickr
STEP 1: Material List
You need :
- 1 pallet (or 2 if you plan to make the top surface with pallet wood)
- 5 mm plywood to make the bottom surface
- wood floor board with interlock (to make the top surface)
- 4 ikea vika legs
- some nails (10mm) and screws (at least 40mm)
Usually, pallet dimensions are 120 x 80cm, so you should select plywood and floor board according to your pallet size.
I have used :
- 2 plywood boards of 60 x 80cm (perfect fit!)
- 5 wood floor board of 16cm width (another perfect fit!)
Advantages of wood floor are : cheap, robust and clean
about tools, you may need a wood saw and metal saw, a hammer with a nail puller and a screw gun
- 1 pallet (or 2 if you plan to make the top surface with pallet wood)
- 5 mm plywood to make the bottom surface
- wood floor board with interlock (to make the top surface)
- 4 ikea vika legs
- some nails (10mm) and screws (at least 40mm)
Usually, pallet dimensions are 120 x 80cm, so you should select plywood and floor board according to your pallet size.
I have used :
- 2 plywood boards of 60 x 80cm (perfect fit!)
- 5 wood floor board of 16cm width (another perfect fit!)
Advantages of wood floor are : cheap, robust and clean
about tools, you may need a wood saw and metal saw, a hammer with a nail puller and a screw gun
STEP 2: Dismantle the Pallet
there are 2 ways :
- using a nail puller, this is quite long
- using a metal saw and sawing between the 2 parts to dismantle them, faster
- using a nail puller, this is quite long
- using a metal saw and sawing between the 2 parts to dismantle them, faster
STEP 3: Assembly
Cut the floor boards (5) to fit the pallet board (2) length
Adjust the plywood boards (1) to get an overall surface equal to pallet board (2) x cross-board (4)
Now you have every parts at the right size, let's build up the desk!
- nail the plywood (1) into the 3 bottom boards (2)
- screw the pallet blocks (3) through the bottom boards (2)
- screw the pallet block (3) through the cross-boards(4)
- screw the floor board (5) into the cross-boards (4)
- screw the leg (6) into the bottom boards (2)
Adjust the plywood boards (1) to get an overall surface equal to pallet board (2) x cross-board (4)
Now you have every parts at the right size, let's build up the desk!
- nail the plywood (1) into the 3 bottom boards (2)
- screw the pallet blocks (3) through the bottom boards (2)
- screw the pallet block (3) through the cross-boards(4)
- screw the floor board (5) into the cross-boards (4)
- screw the leg (6) into the bottom boards (2)
STEP 4: Option : the Secret Access to Hidden Treasure :)
if you have chosen the floor board with interlock, you can create a secret access by sliding boards.
36 Comments
pierrevedel 11 years ago
I have designed a new version of the desk : more ergonomic, more robust and nicer http://www.flickr.com/photos/59716912@N05/sets/72157631767305051/
ME2007 4 years ago
nerocon 12 years ago
pierrevedel 12 years ago
There are 2 types of pallets, the single use ones and the returnable ones.
- The returnable ones are the property of the transporter and they definitively treated to have a long life.
- The single use ones are picked up by the trash collector, so they have no owner (once they are left in the street!). So they have a short time life and do not need to be treated for preservation.
nerocon 12 years ago
hehe, but in all seriousness, good work.. I will probably build myself a fold away shop bench using this idea.
KimberlyM187 5 years ago
Yonatan24 8 years ago
Nice, Did you sand it to remove splinters?
pierrevedel 8 years ago
hey, no I did not because I have used some nicer/smoother wooden board for the top.
For the 2nd version, I have spread a varnish to prevent splinter and have a nicer finishing
cosmicslop 8 years ago
Love pallet furniture, especially because of how simple it is. Looks awesome too
Good job on your instructions, even someone like me understood them
joverbeek1 9 years ago
thanks for the idea!! i'm going to make this. but i remove the legs and i use a half pallet for the legs. and i put a glass plate on the top. and i put my pc in the desk, under the glass. i make a picture when my desk is completed.
Echo420 9 years ago
Hi, I'm going to make one soon and I'm recovering the material.
I wondered if this ikea legs of 4cm diameter were sufficient to support the pallet, which leg you've used?
pierrevedel 9 years ago
hello
this desk has been built with previous version of these legs which were actually thicker
I have built a new one with the 4cm diameter one and it is alright. see photos :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59716912@N05/sets/721...
But you may see some deflection at the center of desk. I advise to fix a stiffening beam to prevent deflection
Echo420 9 years ago
Echo420 9 years ago
Vincent619 10 years ago
uah 9 years ago
Hi nice looking desk what is the black top made of
starwarsgeek1 9 years ago
Tuna_Hacker_101 10 years ago
Garrigus 10 years ago
pierrevedel 10 years ago
I suggest to keep the original top boards and just fix a thin plywood board on these ones : that may maintain the assembly strenght
Actually, like the new version I have designed
and maybe some shorter legs for your kid :)