Devil's Work for Idle Hands

[j44ke]

I am going to make a version of the Rietveld Crate chair. Not sure if this is true or not, but story is that this was Rietveld's solution to the question, "What to do with all these pallets?" Wood used corresponds in sizing to the boards used in a pallet - two end cross boards are usually 1x6 and then boards between are 1x3 or 1x4. Takes roughly two pallets to make a chair, though that depends on the pallet design. Anyway, I have some rotting pallets I'll try to get some good wood out of, but the rest will be store bought pine. Haven't decided if I'll paint them or not. They'll be put somewhere out on the property where sitting is appealing. A low chair. Good for sitting in and stretching out your legs.





Projects?

[ides1056]

I need some chairs. This should be easy.

[j44ke]

I need some chairs. This should be easy.

Miter saw + flip down stops would make it really easy. Here's a sketch with metric measurements. All but two of the wider boards (horizontal side) are the same size. Narrower board lengths are armrest>seat>back (65cm>50cm>45cm.) So if you are cutting up pallets, figure out what's usable and work from there. Old oak pallets would be great raw material.

24549384884_7457c3843d_o.jpg

I'm using 1x6 and 1x4, but there are only 3 different lengths to cut - 45cm, 50cm and 65cm.

I'm thinking now I am just going to coat them in house paint and let them age gracefully.

[seanile]

make sure you verify that your pallets were not chemically treated before cutting them up and using them. this is of course most important for those who intend to burn em, but careful with the dust from cutting.

https://earth911.com/health/how-to-s...e-pallet-wood/

[Clyde]

In a few weeks I'm gonna turn this into a low table for our patio. Cedar, smells great, and with some spar varnish should be weatherproof.65393932341__27A1C8F6-1AB4-4C3A-8E57-93CB04ABA778 by Clyde the Pointer, on Flickr

[bigbill]

We have a pallet dump out front for damaged pallets we aren't sending back to the vendor. A dozen or so go out each shift. Around here, folks burn them in the winter but I've seen plenty of pallet projects at off-gridders I see on my MTB rides.

[sk_tle]

You can do a lot of things out of pallets. Like some neighbors hace used them to make the sidewalk their own and making flower pots around their "terrasse".

I built my living room table out of pallets as well as a table and a sofa for my rooftop.

[J_B]

I’ll have to try my hand at this sometime. Admittedly I don’t yet have a project, so I’ll happily follow everyone else’s here until I get the inspiration to liberate my hands. Praise the devil.

[echappist]

Neat.

I really wish we had time to visit the Rietveld House in Utrecht. Instead, i foolishly crammed Den Haag and Utrecht into one day, which meant that we saw the 2D Neoplasticism art in Den Haag but didnt get a chance to experience the 3D stuff.

[Diablo de Acero]

Can you post some pics when you're done. I am really curious to see them. Good luck!

[Mabouya]

Haven't decided if I'll paint them or not.

I'd definitely sand them, and if they're going to be outside 24/7/365 I'd also finish them. Not necessarily paint, but something to protect the wood.

Consider doing it before the planks are cut - it should be a lot easier than when the chairs are assembled.

[j44ke]

make sure you verify that your pallets were not chemically treated before cutting them up and using them. this is of course most important for those who intend to burn em, but careful with the dust from cutting.

https://earth911.com/health/how-to-s...e-pallet-wood/

Thanks for the heads up - looks like most of mine are HT. And I can't see any markings on the other ones, but they are pretty broken up so likely won't use them. They all came to the house with either birch ply or concrete board on them. One says property of Coca-Cola. Who knows what else was in their history.

[rwsaunders]

Jorn…if you make one, then you need to make six, as you’ll become a lean, mean, production machine

[j44ke]

I'd definitely sand them, and if they're going to be outside 24/7/365 I'd also finish them. Not necessarily paint, but something to protect the wood.

Consider doing it before the planks are cut - it should be a lot easier than when the chairs are assembled.

I thought about coating them with deck stain, but I actually kind of don't want them to be too well preserved. I'll sand and paint the boards with an exterior house latex and then cut and assemble and repaint. Then periodically I'll go out into the woods and give them another coat, sand a bit, put a new leg on, etc. If I really wanted them to last I would make them out of pressure treated, which I might do at some point. And stain them orange for locating easily. For now, I just want something to leave out in the woods for momentary rest or spontaneous thermos coffee and that isn't the normal chair.

[j44ke]

Jorn…if you make one, then you need to make six, as you’ll become a lean, mean, production machine

I know. Last time I made chairs, I ended up making 12 I think (see below for example of two - not all were orange.) I don't remember getting to keep any of them. Not sure how that happened. I think it involved my sister-in-law.

But I need a miter saw for mass production. I've already been pricing them.

[Mabouya]

Here's something else that isn't a "normal" chair:

[rwsaunders]

A mix of some new and some scrap lumber, a bunch of galvanized bolts, a need to move the firewood to an unobtrusive place where it could season and the desire to hold more than a face cord, but we don’t heat with wood so no need for a monster crib. Essentially (3) 4”x6” posts bolted to a 2”x6” “bridge. Roof to be installed in the next week or so after I run to Home Depot, so the artist’s rendering will have to do for now.

[72gmc]

But I need a miter saw for mass production. I've already been pricing them.

New tools! The real reason I “need” to make something, most of the time …

I recently came into possession of a stack of pallets, but they’re built with many narrow boards rather than few wide ones.

[72gmc]

Fuel for a wood fired pizza oven, rw?

[j44ke]

My firewood racks got depressed when I showed them RW's work.