Wood Pallet Storage Shelving CHEAP!

Intro: Wood Pallet Storage Shelving CHEAP!

So I got this idea from another persons instructable and decided to do one of my own. His is here https://www.instructables.com/id/Pallet-shelves/ . I liked his but had never made an instructable and decided to give it a try. I needed to organize the camping and boy scout stuff that basically accumulates in my basement so these seemed like a great option. At $8 Each these are excellent. 

STEP 1:

FIrst off, you need to find wooden pallets and free is best! I got mine from a local roofing company. most of the big name stores wont give theirs away or use the new plastic ones that they have to send back on their trucks. Also you need a box of 3 or 4 inch screws and 4 six foot 2x4's per shelving unit.

STEP 2:

The Pallets will have to be trimmed until the edges are flush with the middle 2x4's so the vertical 2x4's can attach evenly later.

STEP 3:

You will need to also cut the pallets in half making two shelves from each pallet. I had to remove one board from each pallet to get my jigsaw to fit the area to cut. In this picture the center board was removed and the pallet was cut. my shelves all worked out to be 18in deep by about 42in wide. just make sure that you use pallets that match and your shelves will easily be the same size when you cut them.

STEP 4:

this is how I layed out mine when I assembled them. I put the bottom shelf starting at 20in from the floor and the middle shelf starting at 43in from the floor. The top shelf I made flush with the top of the 6ft vertical 2x4's.

STEP 5:

Each unit holds a decent amount of storage. They do rock left to right a very small amount so I anchored mine to the walls since I do not have a finished basement. This also keeps them from falling forward if climbed on by young'ns!

Comments

[sjeverett75]

i left my pallets whole and used 2x2's as cleats to help support the additional weight. also, I used pallets on the bottom so that if my shop did spring a leak, my stuff was up off the floor. stapling cardboard to the pallets will also help with smaller items falling thru and keep boxes from catching on the slats. might not be an issue if your shelves are 18"and not 40" like mine.

[katerlyn]

Love them all, thanks everyone. I was looking to make pallet racks and this might help the process.

[HagridsMom]

looks good - thanks! Nice tut - seems much easier process than some shelves I had made previously.

[Jdohl69]

Thanks. I can see no reason at all not to go this route in my basement. Thanks for taking the time and putting this up here.

[blackghost]

great idea ! but u should have cut them the other way so the 2x3's , on edge, would be taking the weight , not the thing boards on top. depends on the load u expect to be putting on selves i guess.

[Tgauchsin]

You are probably right on that. next time i build them i will try that. I think i did them this way due to the shelf width vs length...

[pamd]

Very nice idea. Love the difference to your garage! Nice work!

[Lorddrake]

if you are getting sway in your finished shelves you can also add a diagonal cross brace to the unit. That should take away most in not all of the movement for you.

[Tgauchsin]

I actually anchored them to the vertical beams on my walls. The walls in that room are framed but not dry walled and I don't intend on putting up dry wall. it will remain a storage room.

[Tupulov]

Excellent idea. Well done!