Wood pallets are found around many industrial sites. Pallets are platforms made of two layers of wood slats used to help transfer heavy amounts of products and materials: a forklift inserts its two teeth through the pallet and lifts it and whatever else is on top of it up to bring it elsewhere. Pallets weaken and break after many uses and are left out or given away. New pallets can be bought at hardware stores. Even if you don't have a fork lift, you can use wood pallets in a number of DIY projects.
Shelves
Old and new pallets alike make useful shelves. Stack them upright against a wall and tack or nail them into the wall to provide stability. The boards of the pallet become shelf boards. Set books on them or other interesting knickknacks like old pipes, flatware, and memorabilia. You can place one pallet on top of another or nail one to a wall like a picture frame. Check that your nails pierce a stud in the wall to ensure the pallet does not fall away from wall.
Table or Desk
If you have a few wood pallets, stack them on top of each other and place a glass top over them to make a low table. The rustic style fits a cabin house or a bachelor pad. If you have some carpentry skills, nail legs onto the corners of a pallet to make a standing table. The pallet's floor dimensions -- usually 48 inches by 40 inches in the US -- may make it too small for a dining room table, but it could be placed on a large patio or in the living room as a desk.
Bike Rack
The channels between each wooden slat on the floor of the pallet are wide enough to fit a bicycle tire, even wide tires like those used on mountain bikes. Place a pallet outside, in the garage, or wherever else you wish to store and park your and your friends' bicycles. Simply lift the handlebars of the bicycle and nestle the front tire in a channel. The tire is secured by the two slats on either side of it, automatically keeping the entire bicycle upright.
Spare supplies
Old pallets can be broken down for the wood and nails. If you want to use the wood for a fire, rip the slats apart at the joints with the crow side of a hammer. The spare wood can also be used to repair other wood pallets or for other DIY projects, such as a dog house or fence. Because the slats may have cracks and fraying fibers, avoid using it for fine projects or as structural supports. Store the spare wooden slats in a dry, rain-protected area. The wood of a pallet can also be turned into chips and mixed with other materials for playground or doghouse bedding.
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