Pallet Table

Takes awhile, but you have some nice furniture!

Crafty idea from Tory Van Wie at www.etsy.com/shop/VDWantiques

Constructed with a lot of help from Stacy Gresell (of https://www.etsy.com/shop/VerdantDesigns)

Pallet table: pallet --(easy to find: home construction sites, landscapers--best place for free pallets--found 3 in a trash pile at home constuction site--I did ask permission first though!). These things are heavy and have splinters sometimes, so prepare. You probably want to pressure wash & let it dry if you are using your pallet indoors.

What you need to purchase/find: furniture legs(4) (lowes, home depot), two sided screws (4)--to connect furniture legs to table, 2 pieces crown moulding. 7' is typical length. (save receipt, depending on your cuts, you may only need 1). Wood putty, wood filler, sprat foam insulation, grout- unsanded is probably best here (you can stain grout with wood stain, so color is up to you), 1 can wood stain (oil based) polyurethane (also oil based) & nice brush so it goes on smoothly with no bristles lost (mineral spirits for cleaning brush), mortar (small bucket of premixed works great--Lowes home depot again), plywood-one sheet or scraps, as this will be "floor" for the openings in pallet. 2x4 scrap (provide pressure under plywood floor, will be glued too), tile, glass, or whatever you want to embed in channels. Liner tiles work well if you want a sleek look, as they are slim and easy to fit.I used about three 1' sheets of glass liner tile. Tools: sander, miter saw, table saw, rubber mallet/hammer.

Stage 1. (most tools are used in stage 1) prep pallet (pressure wash it) & let drycreate floor for spaces between boards (will be channel for tiles)cut crown and nail to sides, install legs.

Stage 2. lots of sanding of surface, fill in crevices that do not have floor (spray insulation, then wood filler), vacuum up all dust.

Stage 3. stain then polyurethane, 3-4 coats--use oil-based products for both.

Stage 4. dry fit tiles (widen channels with Dremel or similar if needed)* I recommend you move project indoors at this point, unless you have wide doors--you dont want to risk banging this around too much right after tiles are in. It will be wider than most doorways, so you will need to carry it in on its side (get help). Use wide painters tape to cover stained/polyurethaned wood slats on top (prevent mortar/grout adhesion)

Stage 5. apply mortar & set your tiles (keep level and space evenly--I used some sea glass between uneven liner tiles). I used a popsicle stick to apply mortar, as most other tools were too wide to fit the channels.

Stage 6. 48 hr later: grout (use heavy duty ziploc with tip cut out )& lots of wiping off with wet sponge.

Stage 7. Polish and seal grout.

Stage 8. Revel in your craftiness.