I had some pallets laying around so i decided to make a small piece to test finishing techniques for some bigger projects i have planned.

Step 1: Cut Wood and Sand

I started with disassembling the pallet and taking the nails out, etc

I made my cuts with the miter saw, then made a few cuts with the jig saw.

Found an old broom stick and cut a chunk off to use as a towel holder.

Then did a lot of work with my sander to smooth out the boards.

Step 2: Assemble

I started with glue and nails and assembled the piece.

This gave me a chance to make a few pocket holes to test out my newly acquired Kreg Jig.

After assembly i decided to rough up the piece and distress it a bit to make it look rustic.

Step 3: Age the Wood

I did some research and found a few ways to age the wood.

I went with the vinegar and steel wool solution and brushed it on.

It worked very quick and very well

Step 4: Stain and Finish

I then applied some dark walnut stain.

The stain looks much darker after having aged the wood. I really like it.

I applied one coat of polyurethane and left it at that. I usually do 2 or 3 coats but this piece looked pretty good after one coat