How to Build Wooden Pallets

 

Guide to Building Wooden Pallets

A wooden pallet is a flat transport structure that is used to support and move goods in a stable manner. Pallets are commonly used in the transportation and storage of materials and goods in industries such as manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution. They are also frequently used in home DIY projects, as they are relatively inexpensive and easy to work with. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to build your own wooden pallets.

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    Step by Step Guide to Building Wooden Pallets

     

     

    1. Gather materials and tools Before you start building your wooden pallets, you will need to gather all the necessary materials and tools. The materials you will need include:
    • Wooden boards: You will need a number of wooden boards to construct the pallet. These can be made from any type of wood, but pine is a popular and inexpensive choice. You will need enough boards to form the top and bottom decks of the pallet, as well as the supporting slats that run between them.
    • Nails: You will need nails to secure the wooden boards together and form the pallet. You can use either regular nails or special pallet nails, which are thicker and stronger.
    • Hammer: You will need a hammer to drive the nails into the wood.
    • Saw: You may need a saw to cut the wooden boards to the right size and shape.
    1. Cut the wooden boards to size The first step in building your wooden pallets is to cut the wooden boards to the right size and shape. The exact dimensions of the pallet will depend on your specific needs, but a common size is 1200mm x 1000mm (48 inches x 40 inches). You will need to cut enough boards to form the top and bottom decks of the pallet, as well as the supporting slats that run between them.

    To cut the boards to the right size, you can use a saw or a power saw. Make sure to measure carefully and mark the boards before cutting to ensure that they are the correct size. You may need to cut some of the boards at an angle to form the beveled edges of the pallet.

    1. Assemble the top and bottom decks Once you have cut all the wooden boards to size, you can start assembling the top and bottom decks of the pallet. To do this, lay out the boards on a flat surface and arrange them in the desired pattern. You will need to make sure that the boards are spaced evenly and aligned correctly.

    Once you are happy with the layout of the boards, you can start securing them together using nails. To do this, place a nail at each end of the boards, making sure to drive the nail in straight and at a slight angle. This will help to hold the boards together and prevent them from slipping. Continue until all the boards have been secured together.

    1. Add the supporting slats Once the top and bottom decks are assembled, you can add the supporting slats that run between them. These slats provide additional support and help to distribute the weight of the goods placed on the pallet.

    To add the supporting slats, lay the pallet on its side and position the slats evenly across the width of the pallet. You can use a nail gun or a hammer and nails to secure the slats in place. Make sure to place the nails at an angle, as this will help to hold the slats securely in place.

    1. Finish and seal the pallet Once the pallet is fully assembled, you can give it a final finish and seal it to protect it from the elements. To do this, you can apply a wood sealer or varnish to the surface of the pallet using a paint

    What are benefits of using wooden pallets

    Historically, skids can be traced back to the 1st millennium B.C. in Ancient Egypt and Ancient Mesopotamia. Pallets were extensively used during World War II due to the development of the forklift and the demands of logistics operations. More info on history of the pallet 

    Pallets used in the early modern era are few and far between, with only a few patents demonstrating their development. In the late 1930s, pallets became more commonplace with the newer forklift types.

    The earliest known example is Howard T. Hallowell’s “Lift Truck Platform” patent from 1924. A pallet designed to complement a new pallet jack design was patented in 1937 by George G. Raymond and William C. House. [27] Both features are still in common use today. Pallets with steel stringers are shown in a 1939 patent from Carl Clark.

    As a result, inventions developed during World War II were often patented after the battle, like the four-way pallet patented by Robert Braun in 1945 and the disposable pallet patented by Norman Cahners in 1949. As described by Darling Graeme in 1949, the four-way pallet is a modern innovation.