Asked on Mar 22, 2014

Help! Beauty in Pallet Wood #2- What to Do?

Redeemwood
by Redeemwood
I found this awesome pallet in Home Depot and they let me take it right off the shelf. It has the coolest "Tree in a Tree" grain in it! I have never seen this before and once I sand them down and clean them up I need a special project to do with them. Any fantastic ideas that will keep the "Fossil" look??
These were the two end slats on the pallet.
Amazing how this actually looks like a leaf coming off the branch!
Its obvious that these were side by side cuts off the same tree. I wish I could have found the final cut as well....
It is so cool how the branch extends through the other wood...
The one on the right has a minor split starting which is easily corrected.
  12 answers
  • Heather Heather on Mar 22, 2014
    This is awesome! The wood looks soooo cool!
  • Adrianne C Adrianne C on Mar 23, 2014
    How do you get rid of the mildew?
    • Redeemwood Redeemwood on Mar 23, 2014
      @Adrianne C I am belt and palm sanding down to the layer I like (HEPA mask, and dust vacuum outside...I also use a full hoody paint suit as I am not a fan of mold. I will try the bleach and then heat system. High dry heat is molds worst enemy. On wood like this I also use my propane torch because I like to highlight the softer wood grains as well and that also helps.Then a mold inhibitor if that is successful. If not then back to stronger systems. This wood is to pretty not to fight for.
  • Spheramid Enterprises Spheramid Enterprises on Mar 23, 2014
    That is called book matched, it happens when a thick board is sawn ( resawn) in half and opened like a book. You can get that effect in some striking patterns depending on the species and grain of the original fat board. I like to make small cabinets with double doors and use the book matched parts for the panels. MY biggest use of pallets is making flooring panels. I had worked in a shop way back in my teens making pallets, we made 720 a DAY..hard work. Here is a floor panel like I mentioned.
    • Redeemwood Redeemwood on Mar 23, 2014
      @Spheramid Enterprises Yes the same board was obvious and it would have been great if the pallet had the additional pieces of the same cut but it did not. Nice work on the floor panels and cabinets but I stay with the simpler tabletops and wall décor style stuff.
  • Spheramid Enterprises Spheramid Enterprises on Mar 23, 2014
    Right, the 1x6 come from one stack, and the 1x4's from another..never will you find the same particular wood mixed in size like that. Some palelts are hand made on tables, usually odd sizes and small runs, but the 40x48 GMA are all machine nailed and fast paced. Oddly , we got paid by the NAIL for pallets...about .011cents each. Do the math, it ain't much money..LOL
  • Spheramid Enterprises Spheramid Enterprises on Mar 23, 2014
    Guilty as charged..LOL
  • Janette Janette on Mar 23, 2014
    Wonderful piece of word. What a lucky find. Make sure youu post what you make from it. Would love to see the finish product.
  • Pat Lindau Pat Lindau on Mar 23, 2014
    I believe it would look fantastic in a foyer on the wall with a faux painting connecting the side branches with perhaps a tree swing. the way the branches face each other it looks very welcoming.
  • Rose knight Rose knight on Mar 23, 2014
    I think I would make a small entry table from them. Let's see pictures when you are done.
  • Patsy Price Patsy Price on Mar 23, 2014
    Redeemwood: I also think that I would make the entryway table. Neat find. I will surely be on the lookout for me something like this.
  • 99 Pallets 99 Pallets on Jun 18, 2019

    I found these projects to reused pallets wood.

    150 Pallet Projects and Pallet Furniture Ideas

  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Feb 19, 2021

    Be careful, many pallets are tainted with toxic chemicals. Be careful and wear masks and gloves when handling.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Nov 02, 2021

    HI, I would oil or wax them and Hang up as Art just as they are! They would look fantastic and truly original.