View allAll Photos Tagged pallets
Background of colorful wooden cargo pallets
toutouke.artistwebsites.com/featured/cargo-pallets-toutou...
www.1001pallets.com/2014/01/pallets-headboard/
A cool headboard made from recycled pallets and with integrated lights!
www.1001pallets.com/2016/03/pallet-crafter-interview-10-t...
Today, we had the chance to ask some questions to Thomas Dambo, Artist & Designer from Denmark who specializes in making art pieces, sculptures, furniture and anything you can imagine out of trash, also known as recycled materials. Thomas also gives a lot of speeches about upcycling and arranges workshops for schools, companies, etc... teaching people how to build stuff from trash. If you think you deserve to be featured in the next interview, please, drop us an email.
Tell us a little more about you? Who you are? Where are you from?
My name is Thomas Dambo, I'm an artist and designer from Denmark working entirely with trash.
Why do you craft?
I want to show the world that there is so much good stuff in our trash, I do this by making big and beautifull projects of trash all around the world. And then, I just love to make my ideas come to life with my hands, it's just the best feeling.
How did you learn and how did you become an upcycled artist?
I can't walk by a container without looking into it, and I always bring some stuff back to my workshop, just to see what I can do with them. After doing this for many many years I guess I just got good at it. Now I have a big workshop filled with all different stuff I scavanged around my home town of copenhagen.
Since when are you working with junk materials and in upcycling in general? You are making a lot of installations with recycled pallets, why do you choose to work with wooden pallets?
Pallets are just so easy to get, they are all over the world and, in many places people will give them to you for free. At my last trip to Australia, a guy even offered to drive 100 miles and give me around 300 pallets just to get rid of them.
Your installations are big ones and look very complexes, how long does it take to create one?
My wooden sculptures takes me and my team of 5 guys between 4-10 days to create, but it really depends on what the basic idea is and then of cause how many beers we drink in the evening.
What are your can’t-live-without essentials?
That's my bicycle no doubt.
How would you describe your style? Are there any crafters/artists/designers that you particularly look up to?
I believe what I'm really good at, is to make it happen, I get an idea and jump right into it. I like to make big stuff, I like to do it in the streets, my art is for everybody, it's interactive, it's fun, it's easy to understand and of cause it's recycled.
How is your workspace, how do you make it inspiring?
It's bacically a big hardware store, but instead of new stuff on the shelves, I have old stuff, everything is needly organized and cateforized and I can pretty much make everything without having to buy anything.
What sorts of things are inspiring you right now? Where do you look for inspiration?
I let the things I find inspire what I make, recently a whole lot of small shopping cart wheels. Earlier, I found a lot of plywood. Then, I was thinking what can I make with this - and in this way I got the idea to make a rolling alphabet, so these days I'm building all the letters of the alphabet on separately and in 3-dimentional with wheels, in this way people will be able to push them around and write what ever they will like, it will be something like an interactive personal Hollywood sign.
When do you feel the most creative?
When there is a problem I have to solve, often a good idea comes to me when I'm under pressure. Then, I'm able to choose the best option faster, without thinking too much about it.
We live in such a mass-produced, buy-it-now society. Why should people continue to make things by hand?
If you cant create anything yourself, you will have to buy everything. If you don't create things you don't learn how things work, and you won't be able to repair your things, but will be forced to throw them away and buy new things all the time.
What is your favorite medium to work in (other than pallets)?
I really like to work with all wood, there is so much scrap wood, all over the world, and with some screws you can make the most amazing big and strong structures.
What are your tips for people who'd like to start crafting?
Look at what kind of trash you have access to, maybe your mom works in a factory where they throw out tons of small glass pieces, then go get some of those glass pieces and start a brain storm on what you can do with this glass. The world is sadly but truly filled to the top with trash - you should choose some trash just around the corner, not something you are having a hard time to find.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Instant chocklatemilk, ultimate fighting and new tools.
What is your favorite thing to do (other than crafting)?
Bicycling.
What do you recommend that most people do regarding cleaning pallets and prepping them to become something else?
My number one pallet rule is - only use trash pallets / throw away pallets, if you use pallets in a refund system like the Euro-pallet, its not recycling!! It is mass consumption and destruction of a perfectly good recycling system.
You are very productive regarding artistic installations, are you able to live from your art?
Yes I have been able to live from artistic work pretty much the last 12 years, besides from recycle art, I have made 10 hip-hop albums and played hundreds of concerts, I made several music video, worked as a grafic designer, made some recycle TV programs and even toured for some years with a human beatbox show.
Anything else you would like to tell to pallet community?
Yes, go check out my www.youtube.com/user/ThomasDambo channel, and if anybody have a tip how to get some more subscribers on it, please let me know, I really think I have some good videos, but nobody goes to see them.
Cheers pallet peoples, Thomas Dambo
Thanks Thomas for this interview :)
To find more on Thomas: website, Facebook, Linkedin, Youtube & Instagram.
Bonus: a funny video by Thomas!
Olean, NY. September 2017.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to use THIS picture in any sort of media elsewhere (such as newspaper or article), please send me a Flickrmail or send me an email at natehenderson6@gmail.com
www.1001pallets.com/2014/01/pallets-headboard/
A cool headboard made from recycled pallets and with integrated lights!
Like an artist pallet . My tree just started turning colors. So many great colors and textures. Kim's preset Praire, font Sarah. Its a great Friday Find!
www.1001pallets.com/2016/03/pallet-crafter-interview-9-al...
For our second interview of 2016, we had the chance to ask some questions to Alan Wood, founder of Rat and Pallet, a furniture design workshop in Brighton UK that bring innovative and creative solutions to everyday interior design briefs using industrial and reclaimed materials in unusual and unique ways. If you think you deserve to be featured in the next interview, please, drop us an email.
Tell us a little more about you? Who you are? Where are you from?
I'm Woody and I run 'Rat and Pallet', an industrial style, furniture workshop near Brighton on the South Coast of England.
Why do you craft?
My misses wanted to Ebay my tools to make more room in the garage - and as we all know, the love between a man and his power tools is a love that dare not speak it's name. I needed an excuse to keep them, so I started making furniture for the house and also rebuilt our kitchen. Once I'd exhausted that avenue I started selling furniture online. As long as I can keep making money from crafting, I get to keep my tools and workshop - that's the deal.
How did you learn?
My Dad was a builder so I grew up around cement mixers and half built houses. I went on to study architectural interior design at university. My careers path took me full circle via interior design, computer games, yacht skippering, teaching, and finally back to furniture design and interiors - so I picked up a fair amount of practical and creative skills along the way.
Since when are you working with pallets? Why do you choose to work with wooden pallets?
I started working with scaffolding and railway sleepers originally, but every builders' merchant I visited had hundreds of pallets destined for landfill. I hate seeing waste, and being a bit of an environmentalist, I began picking up a few pallets and started making things with them. It's free material and the offcuts go on my wood burner - no waste. Whats not to like about that?
What are your can’t-live-without essentials?
Yorkshire tea, BBC radio 4 and my pallet breaker.
How would you describe your style? Are there any crafters/artists/designers that you particularly look up to?
My style - Industrial Style with a Steam Punk twist! I'm more influenced by industrial landscapes and buildings than other designers - factories, electrical exchanges, hospitals, railways, boat yards etc. Having said that, seeing Ron Arrads 'Rover Chair' for the first time when I was younger was definitely an epiphanic moment.
How is your workspace, how do you make it inspiring?
Messy and busy. I converted my garage to a workshop last year and have very recently introduced Wi-fi, so I can stream radio podcasts while I work - although I still have no heating in there yet!
What sorts of things are inspiring you right now? Where do you look for inspiration?
I'm lucky enough to have a broad customer base, and I'm constantly being challenged. My current commission is for a Gin Festival. The customer wanted 16 industrial style pop-up mini-bars and 20 tables made from scaffold and pallet wood that could also be folded flat and easily transported (!) They commissioned several prototypes before settling on the final designs. I look for inspiration all over, but online I'd certainly recommend Pinterest.
When do you feel the most creative?
Funnily enough the best lightbulb moments come when I'm doing other things like running, writing or playing with my kids. I don't own a TV either, which helps prevents the brain going soggy!
We live in such a mass-produced, buy-it-now society. Why should people continue to make things by hand?
Because it's about so much more than the end product. Western society is slowly, slowly waking up to the delights of making rather than consuming. The environmental and mental health benefits merely scratch the surface of the beneficial effects and at the end of the day, no matter how crap your creation, you get to say - 'I made that!'
What is your favorite medium to work in (other than pallets)?
Scaffolding is probably my favourite medium after pallets, although recently I've been messing around with galvansied conduit and electrical fixtures and fittings.
What are your tips for people who'd like to start crafting?
Throw out your TV, dive in and go crazy.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Apart from cake I'll occasionally splash out on a totally overpriced power tool.. then wonder how I ever managed without it.
What is your favorite thing to do (other than crafting)?
I love writing. I self published a book recently under a pseudonym, satirising political correctness - 'Kill all Men' It got me banned from Facebook for a while and Amazon wouldn't let me promote it because it was.. well, politically incorrect :/.. so I guess I'll have to stick with crafting for now.
What do you recommend that most people do regarding cleaning pallets and prepping them to become something else?
Even though some pallets - particular Euro pallets - are a b*tch to break apart, it's worth doing in the long run as they can be properly dried, cleaned, sanded and prep'd. Once that's done, you can put them back together in any way you choose and make anything with them. Admittedly, you do end up with a lot of split wood, but throw it on the wood pile and nothing goes to waste!
We found you through Facebook where you are very active and through ETSY where you sell your pallet creations. Is that a full-time job and are you able to earn a decent living out of your recycled pallet works?
Absolutely, it's my full time job now and I'm making a comfortable living. I announced my plans at my local pub over a year ago, much to the amusement of my drinking buddies. Two of them occasionally work for me now and one is talking seriously about giving up his day job to go full time.
If someone want to start its own job in the pallet world, do you have any advice for him?
Don't do what I did and madly collect every free pallet going, because once you start looking, you'll find them everywhere and fill up your back yard very quickly! Plan your project and collect the appropriate amount (and type) of pallet. There's bit of a knack to breaking pallets apart properly but it's a very cathartic exercise.. particularly if you've just had a bad day at work!
Anything else you would like to tell to pallet community?
Until I started building pallet furniture, I didn't realise there even was a 'community', let alone how massive it was. Pallets are the end of line cast offs from the global haulage business - a ubiquitous free resource. Learn to swing a crow bar and a hammer in the right way and you have free, cool environmentally friendly furniture for the rest of your happy days!
Thanks Alan for this interview :)
www.1001pallets.com/2016/07/private-pallet-garden/
You can build your own Private Pallet Garden with some free time, some free pallets, and a bit of creativity. New neighbors moved in, and we no longer had privacy! We needed a semi-permanent, private garden, but we couldn't have any posts or cement. We also didn't want to plant directly in the ground. We're in our 60's, and eventually plan to downsize in a few years. This means that everything we add must be removed for the sale of the home.
How we built our own Private Pallet Garden:
We started by adding brightly painted pallets attached to the edge of the existing veranda using metal plates screwed on to secure them in place. We chose several cheerful colors as the backdrop for potted plants and some of my art pieces (like plants in chairs, decorated pavers, and river stones).
Then came the exciting bit! We made a temporary floor by leveling the ground and then leveling the pallets on top. I made picket fences from pallets, sanded them and varnished to seal. My husband helped me realized my garden project by acting as my engineer. For some added whimsy, I drilled holes into the pickets and inserted blue glass pebbles to catch the sun. Our neighbors gave us a set of 100-year-old gates from their old sugar farm, and they add a beautiful rustic touch.
I fashioned a shelf from more pallet wood. I used two fascia boards to hide the pallet straps and the wood holding up the fence. I covered the area below the shelf with more pallet wood for a finished look. I varnished it all to protect it from the weather. I'm not done yet; I have more ideas and this is a work in progress, but we're very happy with our new Private Pallet Garden.
www.1001pallets.com/2016/12/paint-pallets-flour-paint-sim...
What if I told you that you could paint your pallet projects with FLOUR PAINT? Would you think I’ve lost my mind? I may have, but that’s a different story altogether. Follow me, and I’ll explain...
Flour Paint – An old recipe:
YES! There is a long-lasting, ecologically friendlier, and durable paint for vertical wood surfaces. Save money and make it at home! Although it sounds crazy, it IS and has origins in Sweden.
This old recipe is sometimes called "Swedish paint," but it is also known as "wheat paint," "ochre paint," and more.
The primary ingredients include water, clear dish soap, linseed oil, powdered pigments, iron sulfate (a common food additive), and flour. It has great results, is low-maintenance, and lasts up to TEN years! Everything is available through sites like amazon.com, of course, but you can get the supplies between your local art supply and hardware stores.
Flour Paint - A heavy-metal history:
Swedish Paint is well-known for a very distinctive color component called Falu red. This pigment came from the Great Copper Mountain of Falun (in Sweden). It has high levels of copper, zinc, and lead, which makes the paint very durable, bactericidal, and antifungal... but if you didn’t pay attention to that last ingredient – also made it toxic!
So, to make it safer, Flour Paint is colored with natural pigments, such as ochre to replace the heavy-metal-laden Falu Red. However, you’re not stuck with only one color. It can be colored with iron oxides, and many other pigments to give you more than just one or two tones. The most common natural pigments are going to be in the earth-tone range (ranging from yellows, browns, reds, and to dark charcoals and black tones).
The revitalization of using Flour Paint must be credited to the Association Terre et Couleur, which is a French, non-profit organization that promotes the use of natural pigments, including ochre and other earth-toned pigments. They’ve been actively supporting this alternative to industrial-made paints since 1995.
Why make your own Flour Paint? Manufacturers have been making paint commercially available for years!
True, but I guess the more important question would be, “What’s in that industrial paint?” Do YOU know what you’re using when you’re painting a fence, barn, or garage? Wouldn’t you want to try something with a tried-and-true track record – that can last ten years? And the bonus is that you can actually pronounce all of the ingredients AND know what they are!
Flour Paint – a healthier alternative:
Flour Paint is a viable alternative for those who have health and/or environmental concerns. Same for anyone worried about using industrial paints. It’s cheaper, and it doesn’t emit any VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).
Flour Paint is even a good alternative to the “ecological” paints that are now commercially made. Particularly when we’re charged MORE for an ecologically friendlier product with simpler ingredients. Seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it? If it’s better ecologically, wouldn’t companies be willing to sacrifice a bit of their bottom line for the greater good? What do YOU think?
The Benefits of Flour Paint:
Flour Paint also offers an excellent UV protection. Especially when you use a pigment like ochre because it’s very opaque. If light can’t get through, it won’t gray the wood.
Once you have the surface painted, you don’t have to do a lot to it.
You can clean it with soapy water.
If you want to freshen up the color with another coat, you don’t have to do any prep – NO stripping, no sanding, etc. You only have to clean it and repaint it.
It’s ideal for exterior surfaces! Yup – IDEAL.
Flour Paint LOVES soft woods – and will work beautifully with pine!
That alone should get your attention!
But there’s a catch. Isn’t there always? There are few to be aware of when making your own Flour Paint:
You make it yourself, and it needs to be cooked for about an hour. Since it’s made from simple ingredients and we’re not adding a lot of stabilizers and preservatives to it, flour paint won’t store as long as industrial paints. Eventually, flour and water starts fermenting. If it’s warmer, the shelf life is shorter. If you store it in a cool room in a sealed container, you may be able to store it up for six months, but results will vary.
To get the long-term durability, you’ll need to recoat it in about a year. But again, you only have to wash the vertical surface, get the big chunks off, let it dry, and then slap on another coat. No, another prep is needed. After that, you’re good to go for up to 10 years. Sorry, Southern part of U.S.A. (Southern portions of CA, AZ, TX, LA, FL, etc.) – you may be on the lower end of the recoating time, but still – eight years?!? That’s awesome!
It’s not recommended for horizontal (flat) surfaces like benches, chairs, decks, etc., as it’ll wash out and wear too quickly. It’s best for fences, vertical borders/planters, etc. Any surface where the water won’t pool on it.
Only use Flour Paint on wood. It can be old, new, or somewhere in between.
It needs to be dry, brushed or sanded, dusted and stripped of any previous paint or varnish that will prevent the new paint to penetrate the wood fibers. You can still leave the wood “rustic,” which we Pallet Crafters love, but you’ve got to remove previous coatings.
You cannot use it on drywall or metal. It just won’t work right.
If you use it on some woods like oak (the darker woods), the wood may darken or blacken over time. This isn’t a problem if you’re going for a deeper tone anyways, but if you choose a light earth tone in the yellow range, it’ll change and won’t look as great over time. This is because of the tannins in the wood.
Wait ... May flour paint darken or blacken oak? EW!
Now don’t riot, Pallet Crafters! I understand that a lot of pallets are oak. But not all of them by a large measure. How many pine pallets do you find? Pine is one of the most popular materials used in the U.S. What about poplar, ash or maple? There are more types, but those are some of the popular ones in the U.S.
Flour Paint – a simple recipe – give it a try!
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make 10 liters (+/- 2.5 gals.) of Flour Paint, which will cover approximately 35 square meters (375 square feet) per coat. You can adjust the quantity according to your needs. Measurements are provided in both metric and US system for your convenience:
8 liters of Water (8.5 qt)
650g of White Flour (23 oz.)
2.5kg of earth pigments or iron oxides (5.5 lbs.) (FYI both www.artdec.ca and http://www.naturalearthpaint.com/products/bulk-earth-oil-paint sell natural pigments by the pound – about 12 to 50 dollars /pound on average)
250g of Iron Sulfate (9 oz.)
1 liter of Double-Boiled Linseed Oil (1 qt)
100ml of black soap or colorless dishwashing soap (3.4 Fl.oz.)
Although it’s in French, the short video below provided by Mr. Claude Lacasse will give you a general idea about making and using your homemade Flour Paint.
Preparation
In a large metal stock pot (find an old one – use it for outdoor projects like this), bring 7 liters (7 qt) of water to a boil.
At the same time, mix the flour in 1 liter of water (1.5 qt). Pour the mix in the boiling water and let cook for 15 minutes while stirring.
Add the coloring pigments as well as the Iron Sulfate, and keep stirring for 15 minutes.
Then add the double boiled Linseed Oil, and stir for another 15 minutes.
Add the liquid soap, stir, remove from the heat source and let the mix cool down.
The paint is ready to use. If you think it seems too thick or viscous, dilute it with water until you get the desired viscosity.
Application
Do not apply while the surface is exposed directly to the sun, or on wood, that is wet/humid. The temperature must be higher than 5°C (41°F). You want it to be able to soak in and not evaporate. Ensure the wood is dry - if it's too wet, it won't absorb the Flour Paint.
With new wood, it is recommended to use a primer, made from the paint diluted with 15-25% water.
Use a paint brush to apply. Apply a first coat, which will dry under an hour.
Wait at least 24 hours to apply a final coat.
Tips
It is strongly recommended to apply an additional coat approximately 1-2 years after the first application. This is to make sure the paint will last about a decade.
You can use a mechanical mixer during the preparation to obtain a more uniform body (like the paint stirring sticks you hook to a drill).
Clean the tools with soap and water, but be prepared to do a little scrubbing.
The darker the pigment, the longer the paint will last.
After 8 to 10 years, clean the surface with soapy water and apply two new coats.
Even though it smells good and is non-toxic, the folks at Artdec.ca would advise against recycling the leftover paint in cocktails or fancy colored pancakes...
If you’re the curious type and would like to learn more about Flour Paint, look at this documentary to witness what can a 40-member team do with this paint in an entire village! The results are quite impressive!
PS – I’ve gotta give credit where it’s due. I didn’t invent it. I’m thankful for the people who hunted this down and shared it with the universe. Thanks to http://www.off-grid.net/forums/topic/flour-paint-an-easy-to-prepare-non-toxic-long-lasting-and-dirt-cheap-exter/ for making a concise forum posting about this. As always, if you build it (or make & paint it), we’ll post it! We welcome your comments and for you to share your experiences. Happy Palleting! – HeatherStiletto
Porch swing my husband made from pallets! Didn't use instructions, just came up with it in his head. :)
www.1001pallets.com/2013/07/pallet-picnic-table/
Here are a couple of great uses of pallets turned into Children's Picnic Tables.
More information at website !
Idea sent by Aaric Geihl !
www.1001pallets.com/2016/01/pallet-crafter-interview-8-ma...
For our first interview of 2016, we had the chance to ask some questions to Marc Anthony called "Pallet Man", founder of The Green Palette, a New-York based company that represents the art in reclaimed pallet furniture and the design in resourcing recyclable materials. If you think you deserve to be featured in the next interview, please, drop us an email.
Tell us a little more about you? Who you are? Where are you from?
My name is Marc Anthony I'm from New Paltz NY, I went to FIT for sustainable design and was a sales designer for Crate & Barrel & Restoration Hardware & Environment Furniture. In 2008 I decided to go at it on my own and after a failed attempt with a store in the East Village I went at it again in 2010 with The Green Palette in New Paltz, NY.
Why do you craft?
In 2008 I was importing from Indonesia and sending my auto-cad drawings there and went to visit the factory in Jakarta. I lived with a family for a month assisting them with my order and it was there I began to learn about woodworking and using salvaged materials to make furniture from. They were using reclaimed teak and carving into it making beautiful cabinetry.
Since when are you working with pallets? Why do you choose to work with wooden pallets?
Then in 2010 After the collapse of the economy I found it hypocritical to charge such high prices for reclaimed/recycled furnishings. So I thought about other ways to make furniture inexpensive yet recycled. I saw some pallets at a hardware store by my home and thought this could make some cool furniture. I taught myself the tricks and trades to building furniture with pallets there were some painful lessons in the beginning.
What are your can’t-live-without essentials?
I can't live without my sawzall I use it to take every pallet apart so I can use every square inch of the pallet to make something from. The demo blades last about 30-40 pallets before changing them.
How would you describe your style? Are there any crafters/artists/designers that you particularly look up to?
I love Tom Bina he designed for Environment Furniture years ago and now designs for Four Hands Furniture. He has a Franklin Lloyd Wright design sense to him where he adds the natural element of nature into his design aesthetic.
How is your workspace, how do you make it inspiring?
Our space is set up like an art studio we feel we are not a furniture factory, we are artists collaborating together making unique pieces everytime we build something. We hear our clients needs and we begin painting the scene they wish to envision their furnishing in.
What sorts of things are inspiring you right now? Where do you look for inspiration?
Anything with plumbing pipe is inspiring me these days, it adds an industrial element to the pallet and gives the pallet a more aesthetic design to it. I love going to Brimfield antique show in MA to get my inspiration and other antique trade market shows.
When do you feel the most creative?
Whenever I see garbage on the side of the road I begin rambling in my head thinking what can I make out of that.
We live in such a mass-produced, buy-it-now society. Why should people continue to make things by hand?
We have show people that a hand in waste is a hand in our future. The more we show what we can do with pallets the more conscious people become allowing their homes to be furnished in the wastes we failed to consume.
What is your favorite medium to work in (other than pallets)?
That would be plumbing pipes or scrap metals.
What are your tips for people who'd like to start crafting?
Find shared spaces that allow you to work their so you don't have to invest in all the tools right away. We have a work with us program letting people come to our facility for the day and work on their own designs. We show them how to use certain tools and then let them go about making their own masterpiece.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Burning and carving wood to make it look a 100 years old I'm getting better at it, they say ;)
What is your favorite thing to do (other than crafting)?
I write alot of Eco-poetry talking about connecting ourselves with nature and the environment. My IG marco_poetically has over 365 posts dealing with the daily struggles of mans greed and pollutants.
What do you recommend that most people do in terms of cleaning pallets and prepping them to become something else?
Whenever I take in pallets I sand them down first with an 80 grit paper. Then I wash them off in case anything is there that could be harmful. Then sawzall time its faster and salvages the wood the most. Using the crow bar cracks or splits the wood and sadly leaves you using maybe 30% of the wood the pallet has to offer.
We found you through Instagram where you are very active and through ETSY where you sell your pallet creations. Is that a full-time job and are you able to earn a decent living out of your recycled pallet works?
I run The Green Palette on Instagram & Etsy its a Corporation and we sell at markets in NYC 77th and Columbus and Brooklyn Artists & Fleas. We custom design for stores and restaurants and the trade as well. We staff right now 5-6 employees full time including myself. I have yet to make a salary from the business but I hope this will be a break out year for us and help me make a living too.
If someone want to start its own job in the pallet world, do you have any advice for him?
Yes start in your garage build crates and simple things watch your time and try to add your own artistic flair to it. Stand out from the rest don't just copy Pinterest designs.
Anything else you would like to tell to pallet community?
We need better press about THT and heat treated pallets so many people fear pallets are unsafe around their children or used for tables and beds. I try to assure them IKEA MDF and veneers are 10-times worse pollutants than a pallet could ever be.
Thanks Marc for this interview :)
To find more on The Green Palette: website, Instagram, Facebook & ETSY.
My wife and I went to see the movie "Bumblebee" today, and we enjoyed it.
It's not our usual fare, but our favorite film critic, Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle, gave it a good review. Also, my friend Doug Scroggins' company provided a couple of the helicopters used as props in the movie.
On our way out of the theater, we saw this pallet of incoming supplies. One can only speculate about the profit margin on that stuff...
www.1001pallets.com/2017/01/farmhouse-style-french-bakery...
I wanted to create something a little different, so I made these Farmhouse-Style French Bakery Motif Pallet Wall Bins. They were easy but time-consuming with the aging processes involved.
French Bakery Motif Pallet Wall Bins:
Take four boards from your pallet, clean well and sand. Cut one board into three equally-sized pieces.Lay the three boards on your work surface, measure in thirds and screw or nail your three cross boards to secure all boards together. Next, take your bread pans and screw them into your cross boards.
We used Spax screws because they work for any type of material. If you don't have old bread pans you can buy some cheap ones at a discount or used store and use white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, & table salt to make them rusty. There are a lot of tutorials on the net on how to do this but I just basically dump a bit of each into a tub.
Editor's note: We include a link to an Instructables article on how to produce a rich patina using vinegar, peroxide, and salt.
French Bakery Motif Pallet Wall Bins - The Fun Part:
Now you can paint or stain or whatever you want to the wood (it is a lot easier to do if you do it before you put it all together, particularly with painting on images). I decided to wait until mine was put together, I'll get to why here in a moment...
I chose a couple of graphics from the Graphics Fairy and chose to do the Mod Podge Transfer method. Next, I glued my graphic to my boards and let it dry overnight. I then wet the paper and started rubbing it off. Continue to gently rub until it appears that the paper is all gone and you can see the image you transferred.
French Bakery Motif Pallet Wall Bins - My Own Take On A Technique:
Now this is where I go a little bit of a different way. I get the paper to the point that it is almost completely gone, but just a tad still remains and then I use Saman Interior Water Based Stain for Fine Wood, in color Iron Earth. With the bits of paper, the stain soaks into it and gives it sort of a "dirty" look which I think adds to the distressed/antiqued look of the piece. I love it! I always try to use water-based products and environmentally friendly products whenever possible.
French Bakery Motif Pallet Wall Bins - Finishing:
My next step is to rub the whole thing down with coconut oil...yes I said coconut oil! It conditions the wood and gives it a lovely deep rich tone. Plus your hands will love it! You can, of course, decide to use your own favorite finish, but I personally would try to keep it in a matte finish, any shine kind of ruins the "old dirty" look of it.
Something like this doesn't HAVE to be just for the kitchen or baking stuff!
Ideas for use:
Farm fresh eggs!
Dish towels or cloths or In the bathroom for hand towels & wash cloths (looks cute rolled up)
Utensils
Baking supplies
Flatware
Salt & Pepper/Spices
Condiments
Napkins
Makeup & toiletries, bubble bath & salts, etc.
In the office for office supplies
Craft/art/yarn/sewing supplies
TV remotes, game controllers, etc.
Laundry supplies
Mudroom/ Entryway, hats, gloves, keys, etc.
Toys or classroom stuff
Garden tools
Jewelry & Accessories
That's it! I hope you found this a helpful, fun and useful post.
Thank you for sharing this fun post! Here's more inspiration for you!
www.1001pallets.com/2013/01/pallets-sphere/
This enormous sphere was done with pallets, it didn't roll, you couldn't climb into it, in fact there is no real use for this sphere, but it looks very impressive.
The Pallet House Project aids in the revitalization of local economies by providing training in construction and by purchasing locally available pallets, insulating, cladding and other materials to incorporate into the homes. It addresses the lack of funding and support available for transitional housing and the unmet demand for used or recycled wooden pallets.
www.1001pallets.com/2013/04/experimental-pallet-chair/
Established in 2010 in Kwun Tong industrial district, The Cave is a new upcoming team of design and creatives in Hong Kong. The team is formed by seven young local design professions, ranging from graphic design, interior design and fashion design. The team has been courageous since the start and is known for their handmade experimental reclaimed wood furniture by using abandon pallet wood and many were later exhibited in numbers of exhibitions.
++ More information at the cave creative workshop website !
Idea sent by Eqqus Lee !
Seen in southern Renton, Washington in December 2022. I saw this car a few times that month.
The car is on the wrong side of the street.
Reused materials:
Pallet wood, pallet nails, leather from sandal (non-dog chewed one), Guinness can for pinhole, Ball lid shutter, Grover 5x7 film back
Pallets in Hamilton Lake (Lake Rotoroa)
If you look closely you can see some of the bread trails from people feeding the ducks... floating into my shot
Nikon D90 - 34mm - 139 sec - F/16 - 10 stop ND filter
www.1001pallets.com/2016/09/pallet-crafter-interview-12-t...
Today, we had the chance to ask some questions to Tim Steller, Crafter from Sarasota in Florida (USA) who specializes in making all kind of beautiful Artworks mainly from recycled wooden pallets; you can follow the work of Tim on its website: Steller Artworks. If you think you deserve to be featured in the next interview, please, drop us an email.
Tell us a little more about you? Who you are? Where are you from?
My name is Tim Steller and I am a 36-year-old pallet artist that lives in sunny Sarasota Florida. I enjoy my beach-style life with my lovely wife Ashley and my almost 3-year-old boy Camden. Along with our knucklehead dogs Angus & Maverick. They’re goofy and lovable. Or for short we call them Gus and Rick.
Why do you craft?
I craft because, like most of us, I have an appreciation for wood and the characteristics it has and what it becomes. I love being able to look past pallet wood’s original purpose and recreate something new. I also try to express myself with art into everything I make just to give it a new feel.
How did you learn to do wood crafts?
I learned to do wood crafts with a lot of trial and error techniques. Actually, oddly enough, I got inspired from pumpkin carving. It’s one of my favorite things. Then I remember, a long time ago, borrowing a friend’s jigsaw and really got to know that machine so I went and bought my own and got to carving.
How long have you been working with pallets?
I've been working with pallets for about 2 years now and love them. They have the coolest, roughed-up look I can never recreate with chains or hammers. And when I find one by a dumpster it's even better because I know I'm giving it a better purpose.
Why did you choose to work with pallets instead of purchased wood?
I prefer working with pallets for many reasons, but mostly because they already have wear and tear, and natural knots missing. Imperfections are perfect for me. I always try and keep the nail heads in my artwork to give it that raw look.
What are your can’t-live-without essentials?
There's not a lot in my workshop I can't truly live without. My essentials list is short just because I hate being "attached" to any materials. But as far as for my work I can't go without my saws, power drill, hammer, crow bar, blowtorch, and sander. They’re my hard workers. I also can't work without my wireless speaker. That's a must. But more importantly, my family keeps me going every day. They are my world.
Are there any brands that are your favorites?
For tool brands I love DeWalt, Rockwell and Black & Decker. For my wireless speaker, it's the JBL Flip. It’s the best out there.
How would you describe your crafting style?
My crafting style would have to be an "Island Lifestyle". I live by the beach and most of my artwork is sea life inspired. I have also done many custom pieces with other subject matter or styles, but I prefer the tropics.
Are there any crafters/artists/designers that you particularly look up to?
There are so many crafters out there that all inspire me to challenge myself and think outside the box and try to see things from different views. Too many artists to list but Dali has always been my artist I grew up studying and many tattoo artists that work with 3-D effects. It’s amazing what they can do with a needle. Detail is the key to finer artwork.
Where do you do your wood crafts? How would you describe your workspace? How did you make your workspace more functional and/or inspiring?
I do all my wood crafting at my house. I converted my garage into my art gallery where I paint/stain and next to my garage is my car port that I use for my wood working. My workspace is not that typical as you will see everything from fine art to skulls on shelves and everything between. My work space is art to me. Organized confusion is the best way to describe it. I thrive on creative chaos. This makes everything so much easier, because everything I do is from my home. When I want to have family time, I just shut the garage doors, sweep up the car port, dust myself off and I rejoin my normal life.
What types of things inspire you?
Living down here in Southwest Florida, there is inspiration everywhere you look. You just have to be able to stop and look at it and appreciate it without feeling the necessity of taking a selfie to post up. It's just the lifestyle down here that I find inspiring. But I do also get inspired every time somebody says, “Wow, did you cut that out with a laser cutter?” Nope! Just my jigsaw and my hands made that piece.
Where do you look for inspiration for a new woodcraft?
I look at all kinds of artwork all the time and I get inspired from ideas and try to blend them. Also, a lot of times my clients from that past will order a new piece with a theme in mind and that will get me inspired/excited to try something new. Change is always fun.
When do you feel the most creative?
I guess I feel most creative late night, after the little one is down for the day. It’s quiet, and I’m at peace. My toughest critic (besides myself) is my wife, but I’m glad of her input. It’ll get me thinking of ideas – or rethinking them - and then the chemistry starts. I’ll get the music playing and that’s the perfect setting for creativity.
We live in such a mass-produced, buy-it-now society. Why should people continue to make things by hand?
One of my biggest selling features is that every piece is one-of-a-kind and can't be duplicated. But that's mostly because of the wood. They absorb differently and each has its own characteristics and that makes it unique. Just to know it was handpicked, broken apart, sanded, etc., is such a quality in itself. In other words you won't find my artwork on Amazon anytime soon.
What is your favorite medium to work in (other than pallets)?
I also love to work with other related arts such as sketching and painting but I I’m also a bartender at a busy marina where I get to be creative and use local ingredients to make some of the best cocktails in the SW Florida. This is a craft that is taking off around the world and I love being a part of that scene.
What are your tips for people who'd like to start crafting? What are your most important safety tips when woodworking?
Tips for beginners: Try to have fun and don't get discouraged with your first attempts. That's how you learn and the next will be that much better. Also try to make a work space outside, not on your patio. The wood and tools will add up quickly and then your patio is a cluttered workshop with dust everywhere. Your other half won't be thrilled. Lastly be careful. Tearing apart a pallet is tough and dangerous, especially if you’re using saws. Also, know your tools. Practice on something easy first. Pallets have split boards with sharp ends, large nails waiting to pierce you and they're heavy. If you can get that pallet home, then you’re half way there. You can take apart an entire pallet with just a hammer. I've done that. But you can also learn dismantling techniques with saws, but once again, be CAREFUL! Watch some YouTube first.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Guilty pleasures would have to be collecting abstract art, my weird skull collection fascination, Halloween, horror films (old and new), Tattoos, loud music, Jeeps, boating, big dogs, and a few others.
What are some of your other hobbies or favorite things to do (other than crafting)?
A few hobbies I like to do are going to a certain beach with the family and collecting driftwood. I'm working on some cool table tops with using driftwood as the base. Other hobbies would include football, basketball, and soccer to stay active.
What are some of your best tips for breaking down, prepping, and cleaning pallets before you build with them?
The first thing you need to know is if the pallet you found is free for the taking, or does the company recycle them? If they do, you can't take that pallet. But there are plenty more around you can take. Next, make sure there are no chemical spills on it, like from a construction site. You don't want those. Once you break it apart you can either remove the nails by hammering them out in reverse or cut them off with a bolt cutter. Then it's time to sand. 80 grit works to get it down to smooth but finish with a 220.
Have you designed any special tools or jigs for wood crafts?
I don't have any hand-made tools I use but I have a variety of tools I use. I do like using my paints and stains for my projects and I make a lot of my own color combinations along with stain to give it a unique look. I try to imitate wood aging like barn wood or petrified wood. I've used all kinds of brushes that I've made; even using an old sock!
What are some wood working skills you really want to learn?
There are endless skills you can use in wood crafting. This has been going on since the dawn of time, haha! I would like to start working with bamboo soon but that's an entirely different operation I need to learn.
What is the one project you’re the proudest of so far?
I guess the piece I'm most proud of is my first one I ever made, which I still have. I have made many pieces that are hanging in million dollar homes as well as high-end restaurants and businesses and some of my favorites are the hammerhead shark, the hog fish, mermaid and the Marlin but my first one is my favorite. It's a very simple piece made of 7 boards with a song quote on it. I still think it’s very cool.
What else would you like to share with the pallet community?
The one thing I can share is to keep thinking of the possibilities. Take a pallet and turn it around. You have a 6 shelf herb garden you can throw up on a wall outside. You don't need to hammer a thing. Just try looking at things from a different view. Pallets are adult-sized Legos for us to build with. The online fascination is growing each day and now people appreciate it because there's a story behind each one. Let's keep this movement going!
If you’re ever in the Sarasota FL area, I am at the Siesta Key Farmers Market on Sundays displaying my art, and I would love to talk to you.
Editor’s note: Thank you for your time and for sharing your story with us, and with our fellow Crafters. Your work is beautiful and inspiring to all of us, and we truly look forward to more from you in the future! Keep those gorgeous pieces coming!
Thanks Tim for this interview :)
To find more on Tim: Steller Artworks website.
A Seddon Atkinson truck leaves a yard at Woburn Sands with a rather lager load of pallets.5th May 1999.
Diana 151 (original), Kodak E160T (expired 2005), cross-processed. 24 March 2012.
uploading some older photos i missed the first time around.
21 pallets on a Vrachtfiets Pick-Up, no problem. This bike is a prototype. Production models have stronger, single-sided front wheels with big disk brakes.
furniture made from reclaimed pallet wood
Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.
The first recorded use of the term upcycling was by Reiner Pilz of Pilz GmbH in an interview by Thornton Kay of Salvo in 1994.[1]
We talked about the impending EU Demolition Waste Streams directive. "Recycling," he said, "I call it downcycling. They smash bricks, they smash everything. What we need is upcycling where old products are given more value not less." He despairs of the German situation and recalls the supply of a large quantity of reclaimed woodblock from an English supplier for a contract in Nuremberg while just down the road a load of similar blocks was scrapped. In the road outside his premises, was the result of the Germans' demolition waste recycling. It was a pinky looking aggregate with pieces of handmade brick, old tiles and discernible parts of useful old items mixed with crushed concrete. Is this the future for Europe?
Single canon speedlite with 49 inch reflector umbrella off camera left simulating window position
Model: Melissa Hartford
www.1001pallets.com/2016/09/pallet-punisher-chair/
I made this Pallet Punisher Chair using only pallet wood. This build was completed in about a week. It was a challenge to find the right measures and proportions, so the skull looked right. I’m very happy with the finished project, though!
A little about my Pallet Punisher Chair:
The chair build is fairly easy. The skull part? That’ll be more challenging. . . To begin, I created the seat by taking a pallet and cutting it in half vertically, just past the center stringer. I replaced the nails with screws to give it an edgier look. Next were the front two legs. I used more thick stringer boards as the sturdy legs, cut down to the height I found comfortable for an arm rest. Then I cut the rear legs longer so that they could form part of the backrest frame. I used stronger pieces to create the cross-braces for the backrest and secured everything with screws.
The armrests were two deck boards, trimmed a bit narrower towards the seatback. This was strictly for aesthetics; it serves no functional purpose. I had fun with the front ends of the armrest boards. I purposely cut them long (approx. 3-4”) so that I could carve bone shapes into the ends of them.
Pallet Punisher Chair – the skull backrest:
Aah, here was the challenge. I built the backrest frame tall enough to support larger, cut-out shape of the skull, and to give the “teeth” enough stretch so that it would be identifiable. I had to temporarily clamp the frame a few times until I got it so that the boards wouldn’t be in front of the open eye holes, etc. First, I laid out several deck boards and figured out how far I wanted them spaced out before they looked too wide. Once I was happy with the spacing between the slats, I then sketched out the shape on them, keeping them in place with clamps temporarily.
I cut the outsides and dry-fit to ensure everything would line up the way I wanted. Finally, I cut out the remaining boards. One consideration was proper support for the smaller boards. I had to ensure the layout would provide support for the little pieces. Also, the lower rear support board had to have a bit carved out so that there was the light shining through the sinus opening. Finishing up assembly, I secured everything with screws.
Pallet Punisher Chair – finishing it off:
I applied a dark tone of paint to the chair to make the skull back become the major focus. I used a semi-gloss paint so it would be shiny without being too shiny. After the paint was dry, I roughed up the edges a bit with sandpaper to give it a bit of wear. I painted the back as well, and unfortunately the photos don’t show the color as intensely as it is in person. I think this would be a fun project for Halloween. Can you imagine this sitting on the front porch? It would be great!
inspired by Knock-OffWood!
link to my blog post:
www.saltwater-kids.com/2010/05/from-a-pallet-to-a-book-sh...