Wooden pallets are a DIYer’s friend and can be transformed into a range of indoor and outdoor furniture – in this instance, an Upcycled Wooden Pallet Swing.
Pallets are designed as flat transport structures, built for efficient storage of goods. Traditionally maneuvered by a forklift or pallet jack, they are a common sight in most warehouses in some form or another,
Durable and sturdy, even hard-wearing wooden pallets have a lifecycle however. Old and broken pallets are often destined for landfill and are regularly ‘offered up’ free to a good home.
When selecting an old pallet to upcycle, the odds are that there will be some decay or imperfection. There may be signs of rot, cracked or missing battens. Where possible, select a ‘donor pallet’ of a the same size enabling panels to be dismantled and refixed to make good the better pallet of the two.
Bearing in mind that most pallets have been exposed to a range of elements, both natural and chemical treatments, always use a mask to keep from breathing in particles and pollutants when cutting or sanding.
Keep health and safety in mind when rigging up a pallet swing. Ensure the rope is in good condition, knots are secure and appropriate weight bearing beams are selected to hang it.
How to make an Upcycled Wooden Pallet Swing
You’ll simply need
- Wooden pallets
- Wood drill
- Saw
- Electric sander
- 12m x 13mm hemp rope
- Duct tape
- Resene Paints
Method
Step 1: Select a hero pallet and if required, cut to your preferred size. Cutting an accurate line is assisted by creating a jig as a guide, a length of straight wood either clamped or temporarily screwed in place.
Flip the pallet over and cut the underside to match.
Replace any rotten or missing boards with wood from a donor pallet or other off-cuts. If you haven’t done this before, check out Upcycling Wooden Pallets as there are some helpful tips!
Sand all edges to remove any splinters or rough burrs until the wood is smooth to touch.
Step 2: Mark and drill holes in each of the four corners. Ensure the holes go through the entire pallet – top, centre and bottom boards. Watch for nails and adapt hole placement accordingly to avoid them.
Step 3: Before attempting to thread the rope through the hole, place a piece of duct tape over the end of a length of rope (which makes it feed through effortlessly). Tie a secure knot at the end.
Step 4: To paint, or not to paint, is completely up to you! We love fun and vibrancy, so we used Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat, and two coats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel tinted Beachcomber (for the base) and Pelorous and Atlantis (for the top slats).
As seen in NZ Lifestyle Block Magazine, written by me!
