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Country living, DIY, & a Dash of Fun!

DIY Rustic Pallet Wood Storage Chest

If you’re like me and are always looking for storage space, this is the project for you!!!

This handy, rustic pallet storage chest is perfect for storing all kinds of things such as pillows, blankets, toys, and the list goes on!  It’s large and spacious, and can even be used as a seat, if need be!  It’ll blow your mind on how easy this chest was to make, as I had this project started and finished in just one afternoon!

 

Dimensions:

Supplies:

  • Nineteen 1x4s at 3ft 3in long (front, back, top)
  • Twenty 1x4s at 1ft 9in long  (sides, braces for front and sides)
  • Four 1x6s at 3ft 1 1/2in long (bottom)
  • Two 1x4s OR 1x6s at 1ft 10 1/2in (bottom braces)
  • Three 1x4s at 1ft 11in angled at 45degrees on one end (top braces)
  • Two large double-sided strap hinges for attaching lid (I bought mine HERE).
  • Four roller wheels to attach to bottom of chest
  • Box of 1 1/4in wood screws
  • Box of 2 1/2in wood screws

Tools:

  • Chop saw
  • Hand drill with bits
  • Sander

First I cut all the wood and lightly sanded down any pieces that would give splinters…but don’t sand too much or you will lose that really cool old ‘rustic’ color

I actually ran out of old pallet wood halfway through this project and had to go buy new 1x4s.  Problem was, the new wood didn’t match with the old wood  🙁 …until I remembered I had done a post recently about transforming new wood to look old, problem solved!  See it HERE.

I built the sides first

Using the 1 1/4in wood screws, screw each side together using eight of the 1ft 9in 1x4s

Don’t worry about the heads of the screws showing…it’s SUPPOSED to look rustic, remember?

Now for the front and back

Lay out the 3ft 3in pieces…

Screw on the two 1ft 9in 1x4s

Now for the top

Truth is, I actually cut the three top braces too short (Oops) so I improvised and cut the ends at at 45 degree angle…it turned out looking really good!

6-5-2014 3-14-49 PM

Angling the top braces at 45 degrees

 

Screw the three 1ft 11in angled 1×4 braces together with the seven 3ft 3in long 1x4s, centering the middle brace

Now for the bottom

Evenly space out the four 3ft 1 1/2in 1x6s apart and then screw together with the two 1ft 10 1/2in braces

Assembly:

Sides are ‘sandwiched’ in or fit in-between the front and back panel, then screwed together with 2 1/2in wood screws

Decide which part of your frame will be the bottom, then center bottom panel onto frame.  Screw together

Attach wheels to each bottom corner

Flip frame right side up,  center the top, and attach with your hinges

Finished!!! Looking awesome and ready to store all sorts of things!!

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10 Comments

  1. Really nice! Those were some nice quality pallets. So many of the ones we get around here are broken or cracked.

    • Tee

      I had the same trouble and actually ran out of old wood halfway through the project, so I had to buy new wood. Problem was, the new planks didn’t match the old ones so I stained the new wood with my trusty ‘old wood stain’ out of vinegar and steel wool. It all matches now! 😉

  2. Audrey Crandall

    I like these storage boxes. They are made out of scrap pallets but really look good in the rustic finish

    • Tee

      I LOVE my pallet chest! Who would have ever thought old wood would look so good! 😉

  3. jamie

    Hi. Great storage chest. How many pallets did you use?

  4. Robert Bryce

    Thank you for the toy chest plans, I have just made my great grand son a pirates toy chest and it looks great, thank you again.
    Robert Bryce

    • Tee

      Oh I’m sure your grandson is going to love it Robert! I really like the idea of a ‘pirates’ chest!

  5. ASH Green

    Thank you so much for giving us such a detailed tutorial! I’m going to have to make this one! 🙂

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