Handy braai table made with pallets
If you need a braai table, here's a nifty way to repurpose old pallets into a practical braai table.
14/10/2018
gallo images
YOU WILL NEED:
Pallets, 2
PAR pine 32mm x 69mm x 3 metres
Caster wheels, 4
4 x 45mm chipboard screws
16mm screws
Paintbrush
Cup hooks, 3
Towel rail, 500mm
Sealer or varnish to finish
TOOLS:
Drill / Driver plus assorted bits
Jigsaw
Router plus groove bit OR sliding mitre saw
Tape measure and pencil
Clamps
HERE'S HOW:
1. Measure and mark just past the middle supporting block one pallet. Draw a line across and use this as a guide to cut along the line with your jigsaw. Turn the pallet over and repeat.
2. Measure [4] 750mm lengths on the PAR pine and use clamps to secure onto your work bench or sawhorse. Cut the lengths with a jigsaw.
3. Mark the centre - 375 mm - and draw a line on the [4] cut pieces of PAR pine. Then measure and mark at 345mm on either side of the middle line.
4. Use a router and groove bit - or set the cutting depth on a mitre saw - to cut away a 75mm wide area between the two marked lines. This will create a lap joint for joining the PAR pine planks together.
5. Position two planks over each other to create a lap joint and then screw these together with [2] 50mm screws. Repeat for the remaining two planks. This will give you two sets of cross sections for the legs.
6. Place the [2] pallets on their back edge and parallel to each other, about 600mm apart, with the tops facing the same direction. The sides (short ends) should be facing up. Put a leg cross section on top. Check that the measurement is equal to attach the cross piece onto the side edges of both pallets. For this project the distance from the cross piece is 45mm from the inside of the supporting blocks and 75mm from the top and bottom of the pallets.
7. Once you're certain the legs are evenly spaced, secure in place with 50mm screws.
8. Secure the casters to the base with 16mm screws.
9. Use 16mm screws to attach the towel rail to one side of the pallet table.
10. Screw in the cup hooks on the opposite side.
GOOD TO KNOW: If you struggle to screw in the cup hooks, drill a small pilot hole.
Finishing
If you wish, lightly sand the completed table before applying your choice of sealer or varnish.
