Q and A

 

So I thought I'd answer a few questions that I frequently receive:

Where do you find pallets?  I see them outside of businesses and stop and go in and ask for them.  Look for plumbing places, flooring stores, etc.

What kind of pallets do you look for?  I look for pallets that are stamped with HT meaning they are heat treated rather than chemically treated.  .  I look at the pallets somewhat carefully, seeing what kind of shape the wood is in.  I don't mind if it is rough, but many pieces are cracked and I don't want that.  I look for pallets with as many useable pieces of wood as possible.

How do you take pallets apart?  In the beginning I was using a jigsaw to cut the pieces off, but this leaves you with only short pieces.  I looked at several videos on You Tube--um, I think those people pounding those things apart are related to Hercules.  So I bought a sawsall.  I had a cordless one but the battery died too quickly.  It is easiest to have two people to do it--one to hold and one to cut.

Where do you get the longer pieces or 2x4's you use for legs. etc. ?  These usually come off of the pallets too.  They are often a little rough and out of shape so you have to work and cut them in the right places to get straight pieces.  I have even found some loose ones in the pallet piles.

What tools do you use the most? (Besides the sawsall for the pallets) I would say my drill (my new one now!) is used the most.  But,  I love and use frequently, especially with all of these pallet projects, my sliding compound miter saw.  I got a new one for Christmas--cuts like butter!  I also love my air compressor and nail gun--okay, well I have a love/hate relationship with it, but use it frequently.  Come to think of it, that was a gift too several years ago :).

What color did you use on...?  Honestly, as I said in my distressed painting tute I shared a few weeks ago, I mix and match, use a little of  this, a little of that, dump colors together.  Go to the paint store and look at the chips or to the craft store and look for inexpensive bottles of craft paint.  When you find a color you love, take it to the paint store to get a can of it.  

Okay, that is all for now--I teach preschool, I answer a lot of questions every day.  Tune in tonight for the Under $100 Linky Party!