| Project by The Head Charles | posted 700 days ago | 4565 views | 6 times favorited | 19 comments |  |
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This project was dual purpose, 1-make a coffee table for my grandma-in-law, 2-enter in the glue only contest. I also like to reuse wood, so I found a nice pine pallet up the road (about a 5’x12’ pallet). There was a lot of work and some new trial and errors I had to go through. Every piece of wood had to be planed and jointed. I also attempted and succeeded in mortise and tenon joinery (first time ever trying this joinery). The table is 54”x21”. It stands at 19” tall. The mortise and tenons were quite tricky. I made the mortise a little too deep I believe, but everything fits like a glove. I used gorilla glue for the whole project including joining the table top together, the aprons into the legs, and setting the table top onto the dowels to give it a rock solid finish. I also was amazed at how much more sturdier this joinery is compared to just butt joints. My table top is held on by dowel joinery. That was also a challenge matching up the holes, but it worked out. Any input is much appreciated. Thanks for looking.
Picture 1-the original pallet (heavy as can be)
Picture 2-pallet cut up
Picture 3-table top pieces getting some GORILLA WOOD GLUE put on
Picture 4-Dry fit of the table top pieces before the glue was put on
Picture 5- THE OUTCOME!!!!
I had lots of fun with this project and learned quite a bit. Again, thank you for looking.
-- Tim- http://www.asliceofwoodworkshop.com; Twitter-@asliceofwood; Facebook-http://www.facebook.com/asliceofwood
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19 comments so far
Elizabeth
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639 posts in 1311 days
#1 posted 700 days ago
Wow, nice! Maybe I ought to take some of those Craigslist pallets I keep seeing. The one that some of my machinery was delivered on was terrible wood; I was put off of using them.
PurpLev
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7741 posts in 1816 days
#2 posted 700 days ago
very cool and great use of recycled material!
-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
skippyland
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158 posts in 859 days
#3 posted 700 days ago
Nice job, Tim. I can appreciate the time you spent rehabbing that pallet wood. In my day job, I see a lot of pallets, most of which I wouldn’t let near my blades. I’m sure that as you go on, you’ll learn to appreciate mortice & tennon joinery even more. Thanks for sharing.
-- Skip from Batavia, purveyor of fine and exotic sawdust & chips.
NaFianna
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351 posts in 1194 days
#4 posted 700 days ago
Nicely done
-- Cad a dheanfaimid feasta gan adhmad.......?
Sodabowski
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1806 posts in 1001 days
#5 posted 700 days ago
Another very decent pallet table :)
-- Thomas - There is no such thing as a problem, there only are solutions.
FlairWoodworks
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71 posts in 707 days
#6 posted 700 days ago
There is no harm in making a mortise too deep unless it weakens the wall. Good use of a pallet – pine, nail holes, and country furniture all go together. Pallets are a great source of material if you have the time to pull them apart. Scan them carefully for metal and beware of rocks and sand. The most beautiful piece of wood I’ve ever seen came from a pallet.
-- Chris Wong -- http://flairwoodworks.wordpress.com --
Brett
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16 posts in 744 days
#7 posted 700 days ago
I see I am not the only one who likes that pallet wood! LOL. Nice job, looks great!
-- Brett --- HOLY MOLY!
matt garcia
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1736 posts in 1840 days
#8 posted 700 days ago
Very nice!!!
-- Matt Garcia Wannabe Period Furniture Maker, Houston TX
Roger
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#9 posted 699 days ago
great re-cycle project. very nice
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net
mafe
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8055 posts in 1257 days
#10 posted 699 days ago
Super cool pallet project.
I do have a soft spot for recycle.
Hope grand ma will be happy.
Best thoughts,
Mads
-- Mad F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect. Democraticwoodworking.
itsmic
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1423 posts in 1286 days
#11 posted 699 days ago
Sharp looking table, great job using pallets, mortise and tenon is the way to go on this type of project, You have done a great job, thanks for sharing
ps. Wonderful gesture to Your Grandma-in-Law
-- It's Mic Keep working and sharing
Beginningwoodworker
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13225 posts in 1841 days
#12 posted 699 days ago
Thats a nice looking coffee table, great use for and old pallet.
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
The Head Charles
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769 posts in 1341 days
#13 posted 699 days ago
Thanks everyone for the comments.
@flairwoodworks I almost made the mortises to close together and thought about them weakening the leg so I went and offset them a bit. The longer aprons set back 1/2” while the side aprons sit back 1 1/8”.
@brett I love get really good pallets. I use them around the yard for shade as a cheap Pergola for the dog lot. I even built a dog house for my brother-in-law out of pallets.
@itsmic I did find out that this is the best joinery (as right now) for this type of project. I have built two other 4’x8’ tables and used butt joint with corner braces and this is a lot stronger.
Like I said, thank all of you for the really nice comments.
-- Tim- http://www.asliceofwoodworkshop.com; Twitter-@asliceofwood; Facebook-http://www.facebook.com/asliceofwood
jackthelab
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233 posts in 861 days
#14 posted 699 days ago
Hey – nice job. I really like the idea of reusing wood. So many times so many people pass it by as useless. Keep up the good work!
-- Dave in Minnesota - If it ain't broke, improve it!
Woodwrecker
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3005 posts in 1743 days
#15 posted 691 days ago
Pallet wood, shipping crates & cabinet shop scrap bin finds are all I use.
You did a very nice job and I bet your Grandma-in-law loves it.
-- Eric
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