I recently shared my secret for taking pallets apart. After taking the pallet apart, I ended up with some great pallet boards to make this DIY Pallet Tray to keep my remotes organized on the coffee table.
easy to remove pallet boards
If you’re like me, you may have too much stuff cluttering up your coffee table. I have too many remotes (this isn’t even ALL of them—some of them are hidden away on the lower shelf of the coffee table)
use caution when cutting pallet boards
This pallet had been repurposed and reused many times—it had extra nails everywhere. The extra nails had been cut off by someone else, and I had to be oh so careful using the saw.
You can see that the part of the frame on the right has been lightly sanded.
I glued and clamped my frame. After the Gorilla Glue set up, I then used a few finish nails to secure the frame boards. Do you see all the nail holes? Those are NOT mine.
I cut my pallet boards to fit the frame. After the frame (glue) set up, I did a dry fit. Uh Oh! Do you see the problem? I wanted to use the natural curve of the pallet board to make the “handle” of the tray. Doing it this way, there would be no way to attach that middle pallet board.
plan b for the pallet tray
Instead of three pallet boards, it was now going to take four pallet boards turned cross ways instead of long ways. (Yeah, very technical jargon there)
I used my Ryobi Nail Gun to shoot finish nails through the boards into the thicker pallet frame boards.
AGAIN—notice all of those nails cut off. Remember, when I dismantled this pallet, I removed all the nails that were protruding. I did not cut off a single nail.
The old (cut off) nails definitely add to the rustic(ness) of this tray. Nails on the dark pallet boards in addition to the nails on the thicker pallet frame boards.
I love that the stamp shows on the inside of the tray. It’s stamped “heat treated”, but I sort of doubt that the older pallet boards were heat treated.
This pallet tray on my coffee table is large enough to hold all my remotes and more! One small organization project checked off my list!
Click Here for more information about dismantling pallets.
Do you feel the urge to purge in the New Year? Aren't these projects awesome? Check out all of the great links below for more great ideas.
sharing here: sharing here DIY Like a Boss and Be Inspired at Elizabeth & Co. Remodelaholic's Pallets a Plenty
Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.
Tammy
What a great tray Gail...we need one of those for sure...way to many remotes in this house...
Meegan
Such a great piece for any home or style. Thanks!
Lindsay Eidahl
I love trays for so many things!!! I love this pallet tray you made! Perfect for the coffee table or for buckets of art supplies for the kiddos!
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces
Oooh...I like it, Gail! Functional, reuseable, and endless possibilities. Pinning!
Maryann @ Domestically Speaking
What a great build Gail! I need one for my coffee table.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Thanks Maryann! I love easy builds in between my big projects. š
Christy@Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer
I have two pallets in my back yard that I dragged home a couple of years ago, but never did anything with...all because it needs to be taken apart lol. This is such a fun way to keep those remotes corralled and I love the stamp showing too! XO
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Christy
be sure to check out my video of taking a pallet apart in less than five minutes!
https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/2015/12/pallet-projects-plus-tips-for-dismantling-pallets.html
Amy
What a fun tray! Love that you were able to use the curves for handles...nice save!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
thanks Amy.... I loved the idea of the handles, but for a while I didn't think it was going to work out.
ananda
hi gail! as soon as i saw that thumbnail i wanted to hop over and see this! gorgeous!! love the stamps you purposely kept too! xo
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
awww Ananda! Thank you so much for your sweet comment.
Cher @ Designs by Studio C
I love how you used the support boards (for lack of a better description!) as handles - that is genius! Love this tray, Gail!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
thank you Cher! I was really happy that it worked out in the end.
Paula@SweetPea
This is perfect for containing those pesky remotes. I get so tired of having them all over my coffee table. We've done a few pallet projects and you do have to be careful when cutting through their boards. There's a pallet behind our house right now and I want to make a tray just like yours using it.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
ohhh, I can't wait to see how your tray turns out Paula. Do you think you will paint or stain it? I couldn't make up my mind. š
Maire, The Interior Frugalista
Gail, I hear ya about all those remotes, love your rustic solution to that problem! Now I'm off to see your secret to cutting pallets because I did it once and vowed never to do it again. Maybe you can change my mind.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
I was in the same boat. I did it once, hurt my shoulder and said never again. But the deck wrecker makes it easy as pie!
remotes? ugh! remotes, phones.... stuff everywhere!
Debbie @ Refresh Restyle
Love it Gail! I must get some pallets!
Debbie
Julie @ follow your heart woodworking
I like how you made the handle, very cool!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
thanks Julie... I just took the easy way out. š It's a little large, but I think it works!
Wendi @ H2OBungalow
I love the way your mind works, you "see" things - finished projects that most of us can't:) This is smart and I'd have to believe a good part of the population needs one with how many remotes we need and use everyday!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Wendi,
Sometimes I have to practically stand on my head to "see" things.... but I do love what I do, and hate remotes! hahaha
Jeanie @ create&babble
I love the rustic look of your tray Gail. One of these days I'm going to tackle a pallet - as soon as I find one ; )
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Jeanie
thanks!
I couldn't decide whether to stain or paint it. So I thought I would just "live with it" for awhile till I decide.
gail