The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Techniques and skills => Topic started by: langdon on March 31, 2010, 10:33:22 am

Title: wooden pallets
Post by: langdon on March 31, 2010, 10:33:22 am
i remember there was a post on ere about bale twine ' farmers freind ' as some of us might call it.
people gave their ideas as what they use it for, i thougt it was a great topic as i love the stuff.
i was thinking then of wooden pallets again another thing trhat can come in handy
around the place for so many things.
how do you use yours ?
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: Hellybee on March 31, 2010, 11:00:00 am
Hiya Langdon, sorry we been mega busy  :wave:

Thought of more things since last time....Tying hurdles, safety ties for tying up ponies, mending haynets, tying up gates, (every horse field we have is tied both ends) tying up rugs, (for ponies that will insist on undoing belly straps  ::) )   as belts, for cutting through other bale strings when knife is no to hand, as of last night tying down chicken enclosures, for attaching lightng boards to trailers, as a sweat scraper when bathing ponies :D  Always got some in pocket :D

As for pallets have been known to take off the bottom bits of it (the blocks and timber that runs along the blocks) leaving just the top, filled in gaps with 2 be 1( or similar)  for stable wall panels and door for Shettie :D
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: gavo on March 31, 2010, 12:12:01 pm
Makeshift temporary pig housing
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: Hermit on March 31, 2010, 01:31:39 pm
we make duck houses out of them, the solid ones get used as raised areas in the dog kennel. But mainly firewood, we get a curtain sided waggon load delivered for free.Chop them up on a huge table saw we got from a croft sale for twenty quid and cosey toes then.
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: Lavinia on March 31, 2010, 02:34:53 pm
Hi Langdon

We use loads of pallets for everything, we bought a book on amazon called "build it .... With Palllets" it is written by Joe Jacobs only cost us a few quid, but the ideas we got from it have saved us a fortune.............. he also wrote another book called "build it" its about DIY projects for farmers, smallholdrs and gardeners... Hope this is of help

Lavinia
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: langdon on March 31, 2010, 09:30:15 pm
i like the sound of a door ummm
we need a door for a goat shed, i wonder could i come up with something from pallets?
glad to know things are ok with ye guys ;) what do you think of the weather >:( im wading all over the place!
do you still fancy meeting up in summer, beth my wife thinks its a great idea ;D
how is all your animals?
langdon
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: langdon on March 31, 2010, 09:31:10 pm
well done mate ;)  :pig: will keep that in mind
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: langdon on March 31, 2010, 09:33:57 pm
FIREWOOD  >:( !!!!!
this was the last idea i was hoping to see on ere, thats thats awfull  ;D only joking man!
everyone to their own needs, cant beat warm toes ;)
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: langdon on March 31, 2010, 09:39:02 pm
got that one ' build it projects' what a guy!!!
im jealous of these kinda guys who make things look so simple.
if you dont mind me asking what kind of things are in the other book.
did see it online and thought gosh i gota get that, now that you reminded me,
guess what? i am going toi get it!!!!
then we can keep each other up todate with what we are making!!
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: garden cottage on March 31, 2010, 11:10:45 pm
we get freeby pallets from work ,apart from thousands of nails in the woodburner the corner blocks and slats make super firewood, also use them to make lambing pens and its all free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ::) ::)
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: trefnantbach on April 01, 2010, 12:03:45 am
So far built a goose house and clad it with overlapping feather-edged board and topped it with a felt sloping roof also a crate to go on open trailer to collect weaners - bolt the sides and top together and hold it down on trailer with one of those luggage webbing with camming devices. Worked a treat when collecting piglet from Doncaster to Wales.
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: Hermit on April 01, 2010, 12:08:01 am
There is a bloke up here that woodturns the corner blocks into candle holders then sells them at the farmers markets. Racks of compost heaps are easily made from pallets as well.
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: carl on April 01, 2010, 09:48:53 am
Goose/duck shelters, fencing, gates, hurdles for steering pigs into trailer, compost bins, racks for seasoning firewood, temporary scaffold towers and when they have become trashed, firewood (especially good for kindling). i even use them as pallets, for keeping stuff off the floor. I get loads of pallets free, from work and they are a vital source of cheap/free wood. I just get fed up of all the bent nails.
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: shetlandpaul on April 01, 2010, 06:00:16 pm
FIREWOOD  >:( !!!!!
this was the last idea i was hoping to see on ere, thats thats awfull  ;D only joking man!
everyone to their own needs, cant beat warm toes ;)
£6 for a bag of softwood logs. a pallet lasts us about a week as kindling and the odd hot fire. hermit burns peat and you need a good hot fire to start. i saw some intresting projects on a us web site may try some. we urgently need to build a good peat store and some more chicken houses. so i think we will hire or borrow a van and get a load.
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: Paul Sill on April 07, 2010, 09:46:15 pm
I have made several planters, 1 for strawberrys, 1 for carrots and beetroot for salads, 2 small ones 1 for herbs and the other for salad leaves. My raised beds are also made from pallet wood.
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: Sharondp on April 07, 2010, 09:47:33 pm
Compost bins!
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: Lavinia on April 08, 2010, 05:57:08 pm
hi Sorry taken me so long to reply we have made coops, troughs, covers for troughs to keep feed dry in wet weather, a bag storage thing, nesting boxes and bathing area for the chucks when it is really wet. Have saved a fortune and Kevin (oldest son) loves just creating something from nothing... We got the books on Amazon..

Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: little blue on April 08, 2010, 07:19:02 pm
goat pen, pig pen, gates, repairs, picket-style fence, planters, firewood for chimnea/bbq ...
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: brocks yard on April 11, 2010, 12:52:48 pm
We're currently using pallets to make 'hot boxes' - insulated compost bins that make compost quicker. We get offcuts of insulation from a building site and ram or place them in the gaps.  Weedstop material is stapled into the inside of the pallet to hold the insulaiton in and give a better look from the outside. Great stuff!   :D
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: doganjo on April 11, 2010, 01:57:08 pm
Hi Brocks yard, introduce yourself on the introduction threads.  And welcome to the forum from warm adn sunny Clackmannanshire. So warm that I am inside for a short break! ::) ;D
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: Muc on May 10, 2010, 10:25:49 pm
Bicycle stand. Fixed to a wall with the gaps vertical. Three bikes to a pallet.
Title: Yard Drag
Post by: Carolinajim on May 13, 2010, 11:37:42 am
I chained a large one up to may lawn tractor.  The wide one I used makes a great yard leveler and even road leveler for sand or very small gravel.
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: oink on May 13, 2010, 02:54:41 pm
Just used a load from a friendly neighbour for somewhere to store wood for the fire. 
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: langdon on May 13, 2010, 08:30:54 pm
flipping heck that is the real deal, well done
is it really strong and sturdy.
please forgive me for asking cos that looks looks like something you could put
chucks or goats even into.
if so im copying it!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: oink on May 13, 2010, 08:41:40 pm
Thanks Langdon,

You're more than welcome to copy ;D  It is very sturdy, especially after I put the corrugated plastic roof sheets on, but to be honest I've heard some horror stories about goats destroying their houses!  Maybe build it for chucks and then see how it goes!
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: valr on June 13, 2010, 10:36:37 pm
greehouse staging (is that what you call it?) To sit pots on ... :farmer: ;D
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: Muc on June 20, 2010, 12:41:17 pm
A base for a haystack. I cut the grass with the lawnmower, let it dry and build a haystack in a draughty shed. Makes good hay for henhouses, mulchinig, pig bedding and even for feeding to cows.
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: langdon on June 25, 2010, 09:39:19 pm
love that idea!
do you keep packing on the grass in your shed till you have a huge pile that is worth using then
or do you use it bit by bit?
hope you understand ;D
Title: Re: wooden pallets
Post by: Muc on June 25, 2010, 11:41:08 pm
I use it faster than I can save it. But if I can save it, I try and dry it first or it will compost and begin to rot. I can dry small amounts in my polytunnel but in this weather it drys easily outdoors with a bit of turning.