Pallet World Map
by
Chris Heider
3 Materials
4 Hours
Easy
You like free stuff, right? Well, if you can get your hands on an old pallet and can borrow an computer projector, this tutorial will show you how to make free wall art that looks better than what you can buy at a craft store! You can use this technique to create murals directly on your walls too.
This is the original wall art that I saw at a craft store for $79.99! The only thing I didn't like about it, besides the price tag, was that it looked too perfect. Clearly it wasn't made from real wood; it was only veneer on particle board.
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Watch the above video to see the entire step-by-step process of creating this project. And be sure to subscribe!
The easiest way to disassemble a pallet is to cut the ends with a circular saw (I find they split if I try to remove the nails from the ends). Using two ripping bars behind the board, I find the slats are easily removed from the middle stringer without damage.
I keep a supply of pallet boards on hand and picked a random lot for this project. I did no sanding or straightening, and I intentionally left them different lengths to keep it rustic.
I used a finish nailer to attach two backer boards, but you could use screws or nail it by hand.
I attached a hanger to each of the backer boards, which were purposely left short enough so the hangers wouldn't be visible from the front.
I clamped the pallet assembly upright so I could easily project the image. Otherwise the image might be distorted.
I projected the image of the world map onto the wood using a computer projector from work. I used shims, a weight and a clamp to hold the projector steady while I painted.
I use a small artist brush to outline the continents, then used a wider brush to fill them in. I used leftover black chalk paint from a recent furniture makeover project.
After the paint dried, I scraped it with a paint scraper to distress it.
Then I put on a clear coat to seal the wood and make it easier to keep clean. Rough wood gathers a lot of dust if you don't coat it.
Here the finished product is installed above my son's bed. The piece goes perfectly against the black wall and wood headboard in his bedroom.
Comments
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2 of 3 comments
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Terrific.. looks great!
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Thank you for putting Alaska where it belongs on the world map!!!!
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