Another use for simple pallets
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340019)
Rockingham, Australia
January 31, 2022 3:30am CST
We stopped at a café, The Crooked Carrot, on our way to Bunbury in Western Australia. I’ve written about it before. It’s in the middle of a huge vegetable growing area. Wooden pallets are utilised a lot when transporting produce from the region.
When we lived in Donnybrook, we pulled apart similar pallets and used the timber for other purposes. At this roadside café, they have made seating from the pallets although they don’t look very comfortable. It was too hot in the sun for anyone to be using them but perhaps they put cushions on them at other times.
Pallets are made from very inferior wood but then they can be used to create other items. Sometimes, it seems everything has more than one use in its lifetime.
26 people like this
27 responses
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
31 Jan 22
I wouldn't want to risk sitting on those. Pallets always have splinters just looking for someone to poke and I like my... fundament... without extra holes in it. 
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
31 Jan 22
@JudyEv True and they might be comfortable with enough sanding first, too.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Jan 22
@DaddyEvil Yes, that's right but they certainly have a lot of splinters if left 'undressed'.
2 people like this
@Fleura (30392)
• United Kingdom
31 Jan 22
We mostly just use them for stacking our firewood off the ground, but they are popular for making compost heaps and such. Recently there has been a trend to re-purpose them into indoor furniture such as coffee tables and beds! (I imagine a lot of planing and sandpapering would be needed as they're usually pretty rough).
Gallery of the best pallet furniture ideas, plus tips for choosing and using patio furniture in your home. Check out these great ideas!
2 people like this
No-one could have afforded us. @JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Jan 22
We had a thicknesser (which should have been called a thinnerer!) and would put them through that till all the rough stuff disappeared.
There are some great ideas in the link. We made a ramp to get the sheep up into the trailer. The sides of our bar were rough wood but from an old dressage arena rather than from pallets. We didn't try to make them smooth. We just used them as they were.
I miss having somewhere to put some 'good junk' in case we need to make something. 
Here's the bar. The top was a jarrah slab that we had dressed.
Here's the bar. The top was a jarrah slab that we had dressed.2 people like this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
1 Feb 22
It's just a matter of being creative to be able to re-use things that we usually think of throwing away. That cafe indeed has done its share of saving our planet by recycling.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Feb 22
Yes, you just need a bit of imagination and the cafe is doing a great job.
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Feb 22
@sunrisefan I can believe that. Some people have quite miserable lives.
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
3 Feb 22
@JudyEv Here in our country, those pallets would well serve as dwelling for poor people when they use those to construct makeshift tiny little homes.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Feb 22
@FayeHazel Is it? I don't really keep up with what's in style and what isn't. 
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
7 Feb 22
@JudyEv And that rustic/rugged look is all the rage
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180703)
• United States
1 Feb 22
They should spruce those up a bit, and make them a bit more attractive and inviting. Someone around here makes 4th of July decorations from them, painting them red, white and blue, and turning them into a flag design. They are really gorgeous. Reusing and repurposing things like that, is great to do!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180703)
• United States
1 Feb 22
@JudyEv They are really great looking.
1 person likes this
@sweetashoney (3597)
• United States
1 Feb 22
Years ago someone framed up my pump house using pallet boards and then we put siding on it. It lasted for around 20 years before I had to replace it.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112878)
• El Paso, Texas
1 Feb 22
Most of the pallets that might have been available goes to the Mexicans who come here to retrieve them and then they burn them to try to keep warm. Juarez gets many out of control fires in winter because the really poor people use them to either try to keep warm or cook with.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (106271)
• Marion, Ohio
31 Jan 22
I love using pallets. But those dont look comfortable
1 person likes this
@sharonelton (28846)
• Lichfield, England
1 Feb 22
That's a good way to use old pallets.
1 person likes this
@sharonelton (28846)
• Lichfield, England
1 Feb 22
@JudyEv Yes, that's true. It would be a waste to burn them.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
1 Feb 22
yes and even the wire cable round spool. We used one as a table at one time too. I see there.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Feb 22
Here, they are mostly made of reject pine but they still have splinters. Fleur gave a link for the top 25 items that you can make with packing pallets. I guess you could make just about anything from them. We made small boxes and photos frames.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Feb 22
I doubt it. I didn't look closely. I think maybe on busy days they'd put a long cushion on them. If we go there again, I'll check it out.
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Feb 22
I like stuff like this too. I'm always happy if I can make something from nothing.
@qianamalayeka (84)
• Indonesia
1 Feb 22
it seems uncomfortable to sit there, should add a cushions ^^
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Feb 22
Yes, cushions would make them much more comfortable.
