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stand from pallets?


Stish

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Has anyone tried this? Whether it be just using the distressed board as a surfacing or making the entire stand I'd like to see some if you've done it. Thinking of ways to do it for my 20 gallon high.

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I'd just build a normal wood frame and skin it with pallets. 2x4's are so cheap, it's not really worth building the whole structure from pallets.


I don't understand the current fascination everyone has with making everything out of pallets.

Pallet furniture it pretty cool when it's done nicely. My latest obsession is making stuff from copper pipe.

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I built my stand with 2x4 then skinned with poplar (many pallets are made from) and now am trimming with reclaimed fence boards that will be stained. I went to a custom furniture shop and he showed me what he makes with pallets and fence boards. Pretty cool if done right

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I wouldn't recommend building the structural frame from pallets. They aren't designed for that and as such use cheap left over wood. Skinning with the thin top panels would be nice because you can find some that use white oak as the top paneling. Gets that distressed wood look. Nice whitewash would really bring out the rustic style. But definitely don't use the pallet for structural parts of the stand. That's just asking for trouble.

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A buddy and I made this stand for my 20h, it's not perfect by any means but it came out ok for just winging the whole thing. The frame is 2x4s and the exterior is pieces we cut from pallets. He also used some paint to go over it lightly to blend a little better. Hope this helps. I Will also add that this was built out of stuff laying around the shop and only money I spent was on the knobs. I agree about what was posted above people do get a little obsessed with pallets.. We can thank Pinterest for that.

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Thanks, the hinges stick out like a sore thumb but again we just used what we could find that worked. Im also no Bob Villa lol.

 

The hinges go well with the rustic look. The knob is what is out of place there.

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For the structure, whose primary purpose it is to support the weight of the tank full of water and rock, you want strong and stable. Its a lot easier to assure that integrity with 2x4s. You can just box out the basic cube frame with 2x4s, then use the smaller 1xWhatever from the pallets as a finish and also make doors out of them. Pallet wood should be strong enough to act as a shear stabilizer so no need to put ply along say the back for structural reasons. Functionally though, it may help to organize your equipment if you have a sheet of ply in the back to screw things into.

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That's a great looking stand! I think skinning it is a great idea, have been thinking of doing that myself, I just made a bunch of Xmas tree's out of pallets and that pallet wood is like iron.

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2x4 frame, pallet skin. The stand I just built is a built like a tank and is out of 2x4 ($12) and 1x8 poplar which is what many pallets are made out of (but only 1x4 usually). As what hazmat said, some pallets are made out of cool woods like white and red oak, birch etc. 2x4 are much easier to work with IMO since you don't need pocket holes to connect them.

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I'd just build a normal wood frame and skin it with pallets. 2x4's are so cheap, it's not really worth building the whole structure from pallets.

Pallet furniture it pretty cool when it's done nicely. My latest obsession is making stuff from copper pipe.

I agree. I'd be concerned of the longevity of pallet-based framing, and considering 2x4s are so dang cheap, I'd use 2x4s for the frame and pallet wood for the outer design. I'd really like to to a galvanized pipe frame, as that stuff is STRONG. But it's way more $$$ than 2x4s.

 

Copper pipe? Damn man, you are either a thief or a millionaire. That stuff is $$$

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the stand Urbanek made for his latest tank uses reclaimed wood from a barn. Old oak with all of the weathering. You should look it up on here and take a look. Might give some inspiration. I have been seeing furniture made using reclaimed wood from old railcars. That wood looks awesome. All of the scars and weathering from carrying cargo. I might use reclaimed wood for my next tank.

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The pallets on mine have no structural purpose, but I did go a little overboard on the 2x4 frame. It's strong enough to hold anything you could fit on it. I couldn't find my pic of just the frame. As for the pallets I just attached them with finishing nails, you have to be careful that wood splits easy. There are a lot of materials including metal siding with wood trim that I think would look cool, depending on where it's going of course.

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Yeah I have definitely been thinking of using the pallets as the skin over 2x4 framing. I have found some good designs on Google so hopefully I can come up with something nice. Busy at work for about the next week so it will be a bit until it's done. I will for sure post pics though when I do it. Of course the timeframe is all dependent on how long it takes to find pieces I like.

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I am swimming in pallets. Please come take them from me. The ghetto pallet pickers haven't been by in a while.

 

Snow weathering thrown in at no charge.

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  • 3 weeks later...

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Made this for my frog vivarium. 2x4 frame - skinned with pallet wood. Going for the outhouse look. That's a 40 breeder converted to a vertical tank with a front opening door BTW.

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NorthGaHillbilly

Just as a disclaimer to anyone considering using reclaimed wood, if its from an old barn, or fence, I can guarantee its saturated with some nasty insecticides/ preservatives. My great grandpa used the old motor oil on our barns.

 

When we get reclaimed wood in the shop we suit up when processing it, as you almost always find something nasty. Some pallets have been treated similarly, tho the risk isnt anything like using wood from old fences/ barns.

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It's not too expensive. It's like $16 for a 10 foot piece of 3/4".

 

I built this for lik $25 including fittings

 

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Pick up a swaging kit and cut town those fitting costs!
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