The Pallet Tin Lamp

What inspired me?

I love pallets! Not just because you can use them for so many projects but because of the colour and texture of the wood! Anyway I was given a large pallet by my step dad and thought of so many different projects I could complete with the pallet and some other materials lying around my room. This is my first project using the pallet. The circuit is something ive constructed in a previous instructable so feel free to have a little read of that first!

For this Instructable, you will need;

- A large wooden pallet (well you will need 700mm)

- A tin can

- 7mm threaded bar (length of 100mm)

- 4 nuts

- 4 washers

- 4 two inch screw

- 3mm drill bit

- Counter sink bit

- An LED circuit

- A jig saw, panel saw or tenon saw

- A claw hammer

Step 1 - Marking out the pine

After you have remover the strips of wood from the pallet (just remove one or two), you need to remove the nails. You can do this by placing the wood on a surface with a dip so the nail will not go into the floor. Hit the corner of the nail with the hammer and then use the claw to remove the rest of the nail. This is quite easy but sometimes the nail can be difficult. Use a pair of pliers to remove it.

When the nails are removed, lay the wood down flat and using a piece of 60-100 grit sand paper and a sanding block, remove the burs on the flat surface of the wood and if you need it, use a flat file.

Using a measuring tape, mark on a 400mm piece (40cm) a 100mm piece (10cm) and a 200mm piece (20cm). Use a tri-square to make sure the mark is 90 degrees.

Step 2 - Cutting the Wood

Cutting the wood is maybe the most important part as if the cuts are not straight, the product will not fit together as well.

Make sure the jig saw is set to 90 and then begin to cut the first piece. When cutting the second make sure the length is bigger then the can by about 20mm. The last piece is the most important as it involves setting the jig saw to 45 and cutting a very straight line.

When this is done and your pine is cut, use a file and 60-100 grit sand paper to eliminate any burs on the edges you just cut.

Step 3 - Marking and drilling the holes

For this step you will need a pencil, a measuring tape, tri-square and jig saw.

Okay, so place the 400mm piece and mark on 120mm from the bottom. Place the piece with a 45 degree piece onto this line and mark on where it will go. Remove the piece and mark on two Xs, make sure they are not too close to the sides of the rectangle.

Place the 3mm drill bit into the drill and begin to drill the holes. Place the piece with a 45 degree angle onto the rectangle and use the drill bit to mark on the holes on the piece. When this is Done, drill the holes.

On top of this, one the 200mm by 200 piece find the centre and drill a 120mm hole straight through.

Step 4 - Drilling the Can

Use a 12mm drill bit into drill. Find the centre of the can and drill a holes into the surface of the Can. When this is done, place the threaded bar into the hole making sure it fits. When it does, use a coping saw to cut the bar to 120mm using a hack saw. Grab two washers and two nuts and fasten the bar onto the can. Place the bar inside of the piece and use washers and nuts to fasten the bar onto the piece .

Step 5 - Attaching the pieces

First, grab four 1 and a half inch screws and place them in the holes. Using the drill driver with a star bit, begin to screw them in as tight as you can. If they dont go in, reverse the drill and then tighten it again.

Step 6 - the light

Okay well I guess you can just use any type of light. I used an LED circuit I made in a previous instructable. Check this out before you look and attempt this project.

Step 7 - YOU HAVE FINISHED!!

CONGRATULATIONS! you have now finished the lamp. This is one of my favourite projects that ive dome on this website and im sure ill upload a lot more pallet lamps. Feel free to comment on how you think the idea can be developed